Initial Meeting

 We began the process by holding a meeting to discuss the project with The Adult A-Team. The session aimed to give us a better idea of what they expected and what they thought the film should be about. The participants were very articulate about the purpose of The Adult A-Team and what they wanted to show in the film. The overall message they wanted to convey was that they acted as a support network for each other, that the group consisted of strong friendships and had a lot of fun.

During this initial meeting we also discussed what we would need to make the film. We talked in terms of equipment (film cameras, sound equipment, monitors etc), people (director, cameraperson, soundperson etc) and organisation (filming schedule, contact details etc).

It was during this meeting that we announced that we had arranged a residential weekend at Castle Toward in Argyll. We explained that the purpose of the weekend would be to build skills and confidence as a group and an opportunity to think more about the film away from our busy lives back in Glasgow.

Workshops

Three full day workshops were held prior to going to Castle Toward. These were drama/skills based workshops aimed to allow the group to get used to working in front and behind the camera. These days included fun drama games, creating images, brainstorming, interview techniques and working with equipment.

The most vital task of these sessions was that the group got to know the Fablevision team, we had a short time to build a rapport with the group and it was important that a certain level of trust was built prior to leaving for Castle Toward.

Castle Toward

 At Castle Toward the group spent their time taking part in activities most of which they had never taken part in before. The main challenge was the high rope abseiling task. Not all the group felt they could take part but they supported those who did be cheering, giving words of encouragement, holding ladders and forming part of the film crew.

The group also enjoyed an evening at the local bar and walks in the beautiful grounds of Castle Toward. It was an opportunity for them to relax and reflect. The weekend ended with an evening round a camp fire where they told each other about their wishes for the future.

At Castle Toward some of the participants really came out of their shell, and some revealed hidden talents.

Filming

The main bulk of the filming took place over the two weeks after Castle Toward. This involved us visiting participants in their homes to interview them, attending activities that they took part in (basketball, college classes and a Country and Western night), taking participants along to meet people they wanted to interview. We also had more group sessions where they filmed each other.

Event

It was decided that the Glasgow Film Theatre would be the perfect place for the premiere of The Adult A-Team: Wan Big Family. The event was the ideal end to the project, giving the group a real sense of achievement. They arrived in limousines and walked up the red carpet. Over one hundred people, including a number of people from interested agencies, arts workers, funders, groups from other areas as well as friends and family attended the event. Bill Butler, the local MSP in Drumchapel, opened the event saying-

“I am very pleased to have been invited to the premiere of The Adult A-Team …I have long been impressed with the work of the Drumchapel-based group …I am looking forward to working closely with them in the future”

 The event ran smoothly thanks to the organisation between Fablevision, Social Work Services, The GFT and The Adult A-Team themselves.

The People

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