Going 50 Years Back in Time

No, don't get confused by the snowy landscapes and people buzzing in cafes, trying to get warm over a cup of tea! Christmas is not near, neither is Winter time! 

Here are some amazing pictures of snowy Essex posted by BBC News. You can see some unusual photographs as the one of an Amur leopard walking in the snow, cute photos of children making  snowmen and beautiful white landscapes! 

But what struck our attention was the picture of the frozen sea coast in Frinton! 

The reason is that Signals Youth Film Club are currently editing our latest film 'Turning Tides'. It is a documentary about the history of Essex piers, how they have been used, abused and enjoyed over the years. 

In the film we are also sharing the story of the Big Freeze in 1963 when  the people of Walton-on-the-Naze woke up to see the unusual sight of the frozen sea! The story is being told by Peter Frost, who was 17 years old then.

 He, and his colleague David West, had the chance not only to witness the amazing view, but to take some great photographs and help keeping this historical moment for Essex piers! You can read more about it in Peter Frost's blog - Walton Tales. 

You can also see the teaser of 'Turning Tides' which launching is coming soon! 

A Guest Post from the Filmmaker Will Stone

Now I am back from Kenya, have completed the editing and now gearing up for my videos screening at the House of Commons in March, I have had alot of time to reflect on my filmmaking experience. I left the story somewhere in the middle of Kenya. The highlights of the tip are so numerous, each as inspirational and life changing as the next. However, if I had to choose, two moments stand out.

Firstly, at 4 o’clock on the Wednesday morning, Justice (I know, such a cool name) the driver and I boomed down the dirt roads towards Nyumbani Village, racing the sun as it rose behind us on the horizon. I was determined to get a sunrise shot for the project no matter how early it was or how tired I was. With a screeching stop in the car and lightning fast equipment set up, the awe-inspiring shot unfolded in front of me. From the peripheral violet tinged clouds nestled around the orange warmth to the white hot quintessence at the centre of the slowing growing ball of light, it was the perfect sunrise. In that extraordinary moment, I knew then, with complete certainty, that I was experiencing what defines true cinema - going that extra mile to make films that matter.

Secondly, I learnt that even when you know an experience will be life changing (emotionally or professionally) you cannot know the extent until you actually live it and feel the indescribable emotional wave of something beyond our normal selves; it is the experience of doing or finding something that confirms our insignificance as individuals but greater significance as part of something much more important that ourselves. The moment that best illustrates this is my sponsorship of a 10 month orphan named Wonders. 

The great realisation dawned on me that giving enough every month to pay for his anti-retroviral drugs means that I am helping give life to someone who deserves it but was not as blessed with health as myself or almost all of you reading this right now. I am 18 now, when Wonders is 18 I will be 36. All that time I will help Wonders grow from a child to a man in a world where, before Nyumbani, everything was stacked against him and he would never have even had the possibility of reaching manhood. Wonders showed me that even a small act can bring so much happiness and have so much effect.

In short, the children of Nyumbani created an amazingly electric and dynamic atmosphere. No lack of sleep, camera difficulty or emotional strain was going to slow me down. These children that are  stigmatised in their own society, have lost their parents and are afflicted by one of the nature’s most unforgiving viruses still always manage smile and make all the trivial worries from my life in the ‘bubble’ of the UK wash away. Thank you Nyumbani for all that you do. I hope there is a day that they no longer need to exist! 

A very humble filmmaker,

William Stone

Have you seen the amazing video Will shot at Nyumbani Art Festival?