Highlighting climate change with Options in Life
We share more about this partnership project to mark Climate Week 2025
Scotland's Climate Week runs from Sun 29 September to Sun 5 October. This annual event is designed to raise awareness about the climate emergency and encourage collective action to combat climate change. To mark the week, we wanted to share more about a project from earlier this year that focuses on these issues.
In January, our Learning team worked with Options in Life, welcoming ten participants to take part in an exciting stop-motion animation course. The participants decided that they wanted to make a film about climate change and the environment. Over 8 weeks they created a powerful film, learning lots of new skills along the way.
Find out more about the process and watch the finished film below…
Published
Exploring the theme and pre-production
The group discussed issues surrounding Earth’s climate and came up with several strong ideas. These were worked into a film ‘treatment’ containing details of possible scenes. Three distinct production teams emerged, each one concentrating on a different sub-topic to be covered in the film: deforestation and wildfires, the impact of litter in the ocean and the shrinking polar ice caps.
Over the next few sessions, scenes were scripted and storyboarded, characters were designed and constructed, and techniques (including time-lapse, paper cut-out and stop-motion) were explored. Participants learned all the technical skills necessary to make their animation and collaborated together to make it happen.
It was exciting and challenging to work as three separate teams but working towards the common goal. Seeing all that come together was very rewarding for everybody.Albert Options in Life Support Worker
Production
With pre-production complete, the groups moved into animating. Several sessions were spent working with paper cut-out shapes and a polar bear model in front of different backgrounds. The process of stop-motion animation required lots of concentration, attention to detail and patience, and the participants’ approached the process with commitment and their confidence grew throughout the process.
I liked working on my own and as part of a team. It helped my confidence grow.
Mark (Participant)
Post-production and screening
With the animation sequences complete, the group moved onto working on the sound. This involved ‘spotting’ where the sounds should go in the film and then creating original sounds (foley) to fit with the visuals. Having created some of the key elements of the soundscape, some participants then recorded the voice-over parts for the film.
In May, the finished film, Climate, had it’s big-screen premiere in DCA cinema in front of a packed audience of family and friends. Attendees also had the opportunity to view the paper cut-out artwork and models up close at a post-screening reception, as well as watching animation tests and deleted scenes that provided a further glimpse into the production.
Watch the final film below and visit our Information Space during Climate Week to see more behind-the-scenes of the process.
Climate
Feedback
Feedback from all the participants was very positive, with everyone relishing opportunities to use existing skills and develop new ones. The filmmaking process provided great variety in ways of working - some tasks allowed individuals to shine with their own artistic practice while others relied on a high level of collaboration.
This has been my favourite course I’ve ever done
Arianne (Participant)
It went above and beyond my expectations
Liz (Options for Life Project Lead)
This has been an amazing course, and I get to see and use my art in the film. I really liked getting to be in the voice-over!Michelle Participant
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