Environmental scientists from the University of East Anglia kicked off the project with presentations on key green issues for Norfolk. Dr Gill Seyfang introduced approaches to sustainable and organic food production, and how to select a greener shopping basket. She calculated food miles and linked these to carbon emissions and climate change. Dr Saffron O'Neil discussed climate change and how the impacts of global warming might be felt in Norfolk, paying particular attention to the vulnerable coastline and fragile Broads ecosystems which would be threatened by rising sea levels and increased flooding. Finally, Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh looked at ways we might evolve a sustainable transport infrastructure for Norfolk over the next 30 years. She outlined current environmental, social and economic problems and suggest possible solutions such as alternative technologies and lifestyles.

Martin Sercombe and Britta Pollmuller introduced the techniques of model and 2D animation and showed us an example of shadow puppetry.

Matthew Reeve showed some hilarious puppet videos, and demonstrated puppet making techniques.

Jonathan Lambert demonstrated Acid Pro composing software, and showed us how to write music for films using loop libraries, then adding our own voices and instruments.

We split into four production teams and storyboarded our ideas for the film. The environmental scientists helped us get the facts behind our stories accurate. The film makers talked about the different techniques we might use to tell the stories.

We then designed our characters and puppets.

The following day we made all the characters and sets for our films. Here is Mr Recycle, the sock puppet.

These are the plantation workers being animated, using shadow puppetry techniques.
These are the plasticine chickens in their battery farm coup. We rehearsed live links for the world premiere at Norwich Puppet Theatre.
Practicing with TV news reporter, John Anannab. The Green Machine News crew, deep in thought, somewhere in darkest Norfolk.