A family-friendly weekend of free Aardman animation workshops and screenings took place at Sparks Bristol last weekend (Friday 18th – Sunday 20th August), as part of Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover.
Delivered by Aardman and Global Goals Centre, the ‘Aardman @Sparks’ weekend is one of nine free events taking place across the city centre this summer as part of Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover, presented by Bristol UNESCO City of Film and partners.
Jim Parkyn images courtesy Aardman, event © Lisa Whiting / Bristol City Council
Natalie Moore, Bristol UNESCO City of Film Manager said: “Aardman’s award-winning films, TV shows and digital content is recognised and loved by audiences the world over. We are so excited to celebrate Aardman in its hometown of Bristol UNESCO City of Film with this packed weekend of screenings and workshops for people of all ages to enjoy – all absolutely free!”
Laura Burr, Aardman Senior Brand Manager said: “This event offers a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with families right here in our hometown, entertain them with our films and also encourage them to get creative with our hands-on workshops, hopefully inspiring filmmakers of the future.”
From 1-4pm on Friday 18th August, renowned animator Jim Parkyn kicked off the weekend’s proceedings with his ‘Amazing Scene Machine’ workshop. A freelance sculptor and model maker for Aardman for over 20 years, Jim has worked on a roster of hits including Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, Shaun the Sheep Movie as well as Creature Comforts and many famous commercials. Jim will be inviting visitors to get ‘hands on’ in creating their own characters that will join a large animation scene celebrating life on land and under the sea. The scene will be displayed in the window of Sparks Bristol along with a stop motion film of the creation process.
From 11am – 4pm from Friday 18th – Sunday 20th August, a pop-up cinema screened non-stop Aardman favourites, including Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas, The Epic Adventures of Morph, Lloyd of the Flies, Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave and Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year!
A sold-out series of free Clay Modelling workshops also ran on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August, where the skills of budding animators were unleashed to create a flock of over one hundred Shaun the Sheep and a giant pack of Gromits.
View the event here: sparksbristol.co.uk/events/aardman-summer-of-film-at-sparks
Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover was delivered as one of the activities under the City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority’s Love our High Streets project.