Bad Sisters star Thaddea Graham visits former school Bloomfield Collegiate to launch Into Film’s new Story Builder
Date Posted: November 28, 2024
Northern Ireland actress Thaddea Graham returned to her former school Bloomfield Collegiate today to launch Into Film’s new edition of Story Builder, an education tool created in Belfast that is now used across the UK.
Known for her roles in Bad Sisters, Doctor Who, Sex Education and Wreck, the talented Belfast actress and composer appears in two new feature films due for release in 2025 alongside George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.
As an ambassador for education charity Into Film, she visited Bloomfield Collegiate to speak to a class of Moving Image Arts pupils about the latest edition of Story Builder, aimed specifically at GCSE film students.
Thaddea said: “It was fantastic to be back at Bloomfield Collegiate, my old stomping ground and a place and people that have really shaped who I am today. Their motto, excellence in a caring community has and always will ring true. It was so inspiring to meet the pupils and see their work come to life through the new version of Story Builder which prompts them to develop ideas and outline their films. The level of creativity those young people have and their hopes and dreams for the future filled me with such hope. I sincerely wish them all the very best in whatever comes next.”
Story Builder is a free educational support activity pack that can be used in the classroom allowing pupils to develop a story using the building blocks of film including plot, character and setting to create imaginative narratives.
The idea was first developed by the Belfast team for the UK-wide charity Into Film in 2021 with funding from the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen. In the past three years, they have created seven versions aimed at different ages and also a special games development version.
It has been used by more than 10,000 Northern Ireland pupils and is now being rolled out in England, Scotland and Wales.
Sean Kelly, Into Film’s Northern Ireland Programme Lead, said: “We wanted to create something visually interesting and simple to use so the children didn’t need much instruction, they could just let their creativity flow. That’s how all resources should be but there was nothing like it combining the fun elements of filmmaking with the educational curriculum.”
Northern Ireland Screen got behind the project straight away, seeing its potential to develop the next generation of screen talent and inspire young people to use their creativity.
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said; “Northern Ireland Screen is proud to support innovative projects like Story Builder that harness the creative potential of our young people. It’s inspiring to see how this resource, developed here in Belfast, is fostering the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers not just in Northern Ireland, but across the UK. Initiatives like this demonstrate the value of investing in creativity and education to build a thriving screen industry for the future.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons attended the launch of Story Builder and welcomed the wider roll out of the resource. Minister Lyons said: “It is great to see first-hand how Story Builder is supporting film and media students, especially those completing the GCSE in Moving Image Arts. This initiative is supported through funding of £2m a year my Department invests in the work of Northern Ireland Screen. This work improves access to culture and creativity for all and opens up film and television career prospects for young people, whatever their background.”
Thaddea has recently completed work on thriller After The Hunt with Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield as well as starring in a new, untitled Noah Baumbach film with a star-studded cast headed by George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern and Greta Gerwig.
Students and teachers were delighted to welcome the young actress, who made it onto the 2023 Screen International Rising Stars Ireland list.
For more information about Story Builder, go to www.intofilm.org/resources/1748
