They also saw their winning film on the Stadium’s big screens and met Wales and Scarlets player Jake Ball.
Pupils from three schools, Lansdowne Primary and Dansecourt Primary in Cardiff, and Cadoxton Primary in Barry, attended the once-in-a-lifetime event as a prize for submitting the best entries in a competition designed to boost young people’s literacy and creativity by harnessing the broad appeal of rugby and film.
Launched last October by Into Film – an education charity supported by the BFI through Lottery funding – the competition invited 5-19 year-olds across Wales to create a superb storyboard or fabulous short film (up to two minutes) that shows ‘What Scorch did next’.
As an additional prize the storyboarding winner was presented with a professionally made, framed version of his storyboard from Sunrise Productions, the creators of (the animated) Scorch.
WRU Chairman Gareth Davies said: “Rugby in Wales is more than just a game it is an integral part of communities, bringing people together and reaching out.
“In both film and rugby you need to be creative and this Scorch competition is a great example of how rugby and education can work hand in hand to inspire our children.
“A huge congratulations to all the winners today and we look forward to seeing these children as future movie-makes or even rugby stars in the coming years.”
Lansdowne Primary teacher Bruce McInnes said: “The Intofilm/WRU Scorch competition provided an engaging and inspiring opportunity for the pupils to explore new skills. It was a fun, creative way to introduce the pupils to visual storytelling and has been a springboard into further work on animation and film-making.”
The WRU mascot, Scorch, was first brought to life in 2013 when, as well as featuring on the Millennium Stadium’s match day big screens, he was introduced to schools around the country in the form of a graphic novel.
There are currently three instalments of Scorch’s story available free of charge to download alongside a variety of games and other apps at http://supporters.wru.co.uk/scorch/
Launched in Wales in 2014, Into Film provides numerous opportunities for learning and teaching through film.
Free to all state funded schools and non-school settings, its film clubs offer free access to a diverse catalogue of over 4,000 films including Welsh language titles, dynamic enhancement and curriculum linked resources, guidance for filmmaking and film reviewing, opportunities to go behind the scenes of the film industry, and one-to-one club support that enables leaders to improve the social, cultural and academic development of young people, helping schools achieve Estyn requirements.
Primary aims of the programme in Wales include tackling cultural poverty in disadvantaged areas, boosting literacy, and nurturing the potential for creative industry careers.
For further information about Into Film and to start an Into Film Club visit: www.intofilm.org/schools-film-clubs or call 0207 288 4520.
