Christie Walk, SA, November 2010
CHALLENGE: Change Media worked with members of the Christie Walk eco-housing project and Urban Ecology Australia to document and produce an exceptional resource about Christie Walk as an example of sustainable urban development.
Over 4 days Change Media delivered training in digital media and created two inspiring documentaries about one of the only inner-city eco-housing projects in the world.
PARTNERS: Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Urban Ecology Australia; Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board; CSR Hebel; Tallstoreez Productionz
Film: Christie Walk – a piece of ecocity
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Christie Walk – a piece of ecocity – 10min documentary.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
You can purchase the documentary together with the 35min guided tour on DVD and companion CDROM [with e-book Moving Towards Urban Sustainability] in our online shop and at Urban Ecology Australia.
OUTCOMES:
During the production in Adelaide’s CBD members of the Christie Walk community, alongside experts from Urban Ecology Australia involved in creating Christie Walk, shared their insights into sustainability, biodiversity and community living, and learned skills in film narrative, conducted interviews and took part in the editing. The result is an inspiring educational resource about one of Australia’s leading eco-housing initiatives.
The project was an overwhelming success. The team collected over 15 hours of fantastic footage, photos and interviews, and together with the community decided to make two different films instead of one: a 10 minute promotional short documentary and a 35-min educational documentary following two resident hosts on their guided visitor-tour through the project as they guide a tour group through the project.
Besides taking part in the production, the workshop participants learned skills in media literacy, production management, screen language and visual representation of ecological issues. The educational sustainability resource DVD featuring both films will be available in January 2011 in our online shop and at Urban Ecology Australia.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
An official launch is planned for February 2011, please contact Urban Ecology Australia for further details.
The project is nominated as a finalist at the 2011 International MyHero Film Festival in the community films category. Congratulations! Watch this space for future updates [winner to be announced in November 2011] and for screenings near you.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
The production process was a lot of fun and our team felt instantly at home at Christie Walk. Working through a host of issues and talking points to be addressed in the documentary, the team decided to document one of the Christie Walk guided tours. The resulting 35 minute documentary offers a great insight into sustainable inner-city living, covering issues of biodiversity, design, eco-building and community development, including a look into one of Adelaide’s first strawbale houses, the advantages of building with Hebel blocks and double-glazed windows, as well as clever garden design and careful recycling practice.
April 20th, 2010: Tallstoreez’ Change Media founders invited for national arts curriculum consultation forum
Change Media creative director, Jennifer Lyons-Reid, and executive producer, Carl Kuddell, have been invited to attend the national forum for the first Australian arts curriculum, to advise on media in schools and community empowerment. The forum is organized through ACARA, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, as part of their consultation process for the Shape of the Australian Curriculum.
Directing the Hero Within – DVD RESOURCE
Directing the Hero Within is a step-by-step guide to digital video production for young people and their supporters.
WINNER: Best Educational Resource, ATOM Australian Teachers of Media Award 2006
FINALIST: Best Learning, Australian Interactive Media Association Awards 2007
The unique peer-educational and cross-curriculum approach makes this guide an engaging resource for primary and secondary students in Media, Art, English, Drama and IT Studies. The teacher’s manual contains lessons plans, script examples, storyboards and assessment rubrics.
It is also ideal for youth empowerment training, community groups, personal use and tertiary education.
The DVD and manual offer tips and tricks to create short films with your class, youth group or by yourself. It covers hands-on digital video training; from first idea to realization: explaining in easily communicable terms, camera and sound work, storytelling and film analysis, story-boarding, screen language and digital editing wizardry.
DTHW Manual excerpt (288kb) DTHW Info Kit (1.24Mb) DTHW Order Form (107kb)
chapters menu
camera basics
rule of thirds
1. Behind the scenes
This module shows you how to make a film with a young team. It showcases a variety of documentaries and films by young people followed by a special ‘making-of’ each film to introduce all aspects of video production. This peer education format provides positive role models and is ideal for an introductory 1-hour discussion that covers the basics of most aspects of film-making.
sound is everything
2. What’s your story?
Click on the link to watch - Whats Your Story?.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
This module shows you how to develop your ideas and translate them into exciting films. How do filmmakers make their message interesting without compromising its integrity? It covers brainstorming, storytelling structures, storyboarding using cartoon techniques and how to prepare interesting interviews including several perspectives. We share lots of ideas to create a ‘funky’ story, including event coverage, satire and dramatic re-enactments.
Click on the link to watch - Convert Your Story To Film..
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Tip: When you do an interview, ask your subject to sum up in the end. This way you often get the most concise and vibrant statements.
Click on the link to watch - Screen Language Basics.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Click on the link to watch - Screen Language Exercise – Edit-in-camera.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
3. Using the camera
Click on the link to watch - Camera Basics..
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
camera sound
This module shows you how to become friends with your digital video camera. It covers basic camera work and compares different handling techniques, including hand-held and tripod, teaching your team techniques and practices that promote steadier, more interesting filming. Young people explore the reality of ‘just catching the moment as it happens’, setting up shots and things to look out for on location.
Click on the link to watch - Camera Handling..
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Tip: Use an L-shaped handle to hold your camera stable when shooting hand-held. This is a cheap and easy way to improve your shooting technique.
Click on the link to watch - Cool Camera Moves.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
4. The importance of sound
Click on the link to watch - Sound Basics.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
If you can’t hear anything, your film becomes flat…This module delves into the often overlooked world of sound recording and shows what microphones to use in different situations.
Click on the link to watch - Microphone Basics.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Tip: If you don’t have an external microphone, make sure to record your interview close to your subject – and always wear headphones to monitor your sound!
5. Putting it all together
Click on the link to watch - Editing Basics.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
This module introduces the basics of non-linear video editing. How to get your footage onto the computer, organize your files and start building your film. We share tips + tricks for adding sound effects, music, titles and how to pace your film to make it an exciting ride.
Click on the link to watch - Editing Basics – Effects.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Tip: Now you will appreciate the effort you put into your storyboards and the fun begins because you can cut it up and re-arrange it!
Coober Pedy Workshop
Warriappendi Workshop
Warooka SA, April 2009
CHALLENGE: Warooka CPC-7 are developing a fantastic digital literacy program, and want the school to keep up with their 21st Century students, (who are surrounded by technology at home and see this as part of everyday life).
The Hero Project were called in to work with 26 students from Warooka CPC – 7, Curramulka Primary and Yorketown Area School to explore innovative ways to incorporate digital media into the school curriculum.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Department of Education and Children Services; Warooka CPC – 7 School; Curramulka Primary School; Yorketown Area School; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: WURRAMOOKA NEWS
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Wurramooka News.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Wurramooka News: Keeping Warooka in the loop, live from our studios at Warooka CPC – 7 School. Stay tuned for today’s headlines: Locals tell us why they want a Media Centre. On the spot reports about the Easter tourist invasion. Why home grown food is great! Weather, sports and school updates. And some tips on how to make your own films!
OUTCOMES: To incorporate as many of the students ideas as possible, the team decided to produce a news show. The Hero Project tailored the workshops to suit a range of skill levels: focusing on motion graphics, green screen work and compositing for the students we had previously mentored. Introducing basic camera and editing skills for the Curramulka Primary students – and the Yorketown High School students were asked to delve deeper into screen narratives and production management. It is a rewarding collaboration when there are computers with teams editing, creating music, animations, designing name plates, while others are out filming on-location, scripting the news items and preparing cue sheets and props for the performers sitting at the news desk.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
DECS State Award for Innovation in Digital Media at the New Media Awards Screenings 2009.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
Apple Australia is using the film as a showcase example for innovation in the classroom.
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