November 2011: Australia Council for the Arts publishes Tallstoreez’ opinion piece in digital media in CACD
Follow the link to our provocative article here or use http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/artforms/community_partnerships/opinion_piece
We would love to hear your thoughts and will publish feedback on our site. Find the full version, amendments and comments also on our director’s blog.
From the Australia Council for the Arts website:
A DIGITAL DIVIDE? DIGITAL TOOLS IN CACD PRACTICE
Using digital media is increasingly popular in Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) practice. But is the increasing use of digital media in itself an innovation? Where does the balance of technology skills and storytelling sit best for community? Is it different at all to long standing methods of collaboration in the CACD sector?
Whilst the proliferation of digital tools has in many ways democratised the means of making, has it changed the way the CACD artists engage and work with communities? Have emphases shifted? Is there a presumption of skills-building in using technology as a means to sharing stories, and how does this impact upon existing power relationships between community participants and facilitators? Have the central notions of ‘participation’, ‘engagement’ and ‘shared space’ been transformed through the use of these tools?
The Australia Council asked five artists/arts organisations to reflect on the use of digital media in their own practices.
Murray Bridge, SA, June-July 2011
CHALLENGE: The Change Media Team conducted 4x 1-day workshops with Ngarrindjeri Caring For Country and Heritage Rangers at the Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Contracting Depot.
During the production in Murray Bridge, Raukkan and Meningie members of the Ngarrindjeri Ruwe and the Raukkan Caring for Country organizations learned skills in film narrative, interview and editing techniques.
PARTNERS: Indigenous Cultural Support, Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Indigenous Coordination Centre SA; Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority; Ngarrindjeri Land & Progress Association; Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Contracting; Ngopamuldi Aboriginal Corporation Raukkan; Ngarrindjeri Heritage Committee; Tallstoreez Productionz
Ngarrindjeri Ruwe – Working On Country
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Ngarrindjeri Ruwe – Working On Country.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
The team also made several peer-produced training videos, that form part of our Indigenous Media Training online resource.
Click on the link to watch their training clips here.
OUTCOMES:
The project covered storytelling and camera techniques, shooting on traditional heritage locations, interview and event coverage techniques and editing. The resulting 10min film, Ngarrindjeri Ruwe – Working On Country, is available online and will be used by NRC staff for training, recruiting and PR. This project built on the success of the workshops in the last two years.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates! This film will be used as training and induction tool for Caring For Country projects in the Coorong and also features as part of our online training resource.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: We have retained several young members from our first groups at Camp Coorong, Meningie, and Talk Kin Jeri in Millicent/Murray Bridge, while gaining new participants from Raukkan and Murray Bridge. All of the team have recorded their own training videos and had hands-on task during the production, including production skills ranging from organizing the shoots, securing interviews with elders and representatives, storytelling, creating digital storyboards, presenting on screen, camera and sound work, uploading and file management, to editing and music production.
May 2011: Australia Council grants Tallstoreez’ Change Media project triennial Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative funding
Change Media has been successful in Stage 2 of our CCPI funding proposal to the Australia Council for the Arts, to produce new and exciting works as part of our proposed Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative for three years, 2011-2014.
The Australia Council supports us to deliver new programs for marginalized and young people and their communities across Australia over the coming years, alongside our other partners such as the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet – Office for the Arts’ Indigenous Cultural Support Grant, Bell Shakespeare Company, the Australian Refugee Association; the Ngarrindjeri Land & Progress Association, OurCommunity and all our other partners.
Thanks to all our supporters for all your fantastic work over the last years – we are looking forward to establishing Change Media as a leading initiative for disruptive innovation in the CACD sector nationally and to continue the incredible success we had over the last 7 years in South Australia.
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.
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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