Commissioned by 'A Curious Agenda', our workshop drew inspiration from the wood wide web of mycelium focusing on the oldest tree in the woods, often named ‘The Mother Tree’. These older, more seasoned ‘hub’ trees have a more complex web of connections, giving fungi, seedlings and other plants better resilience within their woodland community. A group of over 55+ participants built individual dioramas using props and lights. They used their smartphones to make short experimental film-clips. They brought to life ideas about the deeper connections and communications between trees, fungi and plants that thread beneath our feet using Rachel’s hand-crafted silver and copper mushrooms, collections of natural found items from the local woodlands and objects from home. Music by 'Jury Service' with SFX and voice-over by participants.

A commission by Hastings Museum and Art Gallery in March 2024 for a workshop to make a collaborative film using mobile phones, and a downloadable activity pack. New filmmakers filmed original artefacts in individual sets, drawing inspiration from the dreaming and determination of the inventor of television - John Logie Baird. https://www.hmag.org.uk/see-and-do/digital-museum/the-sleepers-awake/

Filmmaking Workshop at Hastings Contemporary 2023. Supported by BFI's Powell and Pressburger Season. Rebecca E Marshall gave a talk about Powell and Pressburger and examined the framing of 'A Matter of Life and Death'. “Listen to all the noises in the air” says the narrator at the start of the film. The participants were encouraged to respond by filming their own clips on smartphones in the surrounding area, seeking out visions of everyday life, influenced by the lens of Powell and Pressburger. Rebecca used the footage to perform a celebratory live film mix at Electric Palace Cinema. Sight and Sound film critic Pamela Hutchinson introduced the event.

A workshop in Powdermill Woods, 2023. Participants took part in a Forest Bathing workshop. We considered our footsteps, intentions, indentations, breath, chance, new cycles and our traces left in the woods, both witting and unwitting. Rebecca E Marshall filmed and later performed a live filmmix at The Electric Palace Cinema, Hastings with live music performed by Ed Boxall.

Clip from a small workshop in which Rachel Pearson shows her collection of lost and found objects from the River Thames - teeth, bottle tops, lost coins, glass fragments.

Clip from a small film and discovery workshop in which children played with fossils, stones and other precious objects.