"a perfect example of how to adapt a folktale to the screen. I show it to my students."

- Ari Berk

professor of literature and mythology, Central Michigan University.

Why is the Acorn Cottage Kitchen "a magic bubble?"

It all began in 2004 as a group of Chagford young people were hanging around the kitchen of founder Elizabeth-Jane Baldry complaining that there was nothing to do in the holidays.

"Let's make a movie!" said mum (who is a concert harpist in her grown-up job)

Out of this rash suggestion came Woodwose, a half-hour adaptation of a Grimm's fairytale. A £500 bursary from Exeter Phoenix funded a second film, this time an English fairytale, Pottle o' Brains. After this, the group was set up as a non-profit, voluntary organization focusing on the fantastic heritage of British fairytales.

Around seventy people were involved in the making of the third film, Childe Rowland, and over a hundred for Cherry of Zennor, a Cornish fairytale. Our fifth film Peerifool was shot in August last year and our sixth film - a Northumbrian fairytale - was shot in August 2009. For 2010 we have been awarded EU funding to shoot our seventh film partly in Brittany.

And although large numbers of young people are still hanging out in mum's kitchen, they are no longer complaining there is nothing to do! In fact the tiny kitchen of EJ's cottage has been called "a magic bubble" because of all the madness that goes on there.

Related External Links:

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry - director/composer

The Dartmoor town of Chagford