In Summer 2022, a group of year 12 students from Blackpool Sixth College joined an intensive work-experience course to conceptualise and create a set of films about Fleetwood.
Over 10 days, students learned new skills such as film-making and editing, storytelling and script writing, working with archival material, and conducting oral history interviews. Students went on field trips to Fleetwood where they explored the library archives and discovered histories at the museum.
In addition, a 'Living Library' of knowledgeable Fleetwood locals was set up to give the students the opportunity to put their new interviewing skills to work. Both students and members of the Living Library had a lovely afternoon of talking and sharing memories and ideas over tea and cake.
The end result is this set of location-based film-trails around Fleetwood: Codzilla; Soldier On; Trawlers, Trains, and Tourism; and Fleetwood Docks: From Fishing to Fashion; Blue Bridge.
Codzilla is an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure style trail about a monstrous fish which threatens to destroy Fleetwood. Start with Codzilla part 1 and see where your story takes you!
Soldier On portrays two struggling young men in Fleetwood's past and present.
Trawlers, Trains, and Tourism tell the stories of major industries which have shaped Fleetwood.
Fleetwood Docks remembers the docklands which are now home to Affinity Shopping Outlet.
Blue Bridge tells the story of an abandoned port now visited by Fleetwood's youth.
Special thanks to all the student participants, staff at Blackpool Sixth, staff at Fleetwood Library, staff at Fleetwood Museum, all participants in the Living Library, and Wyre Council.