Leeton, NSW Sep 2012
CHALLENGE:
The Change Media team traveled to Leeton Shire for a collaborative workshop about binge drinking, as part of the Leeton Shire Council’s Bidgee Binge campaign, supported by the Australian Government. The aim for the 4-day workshop was to co-create a 45-sec TV commercial with 15 young people from the region, to raise awareness about the issues around excessive alcohol consumption.
The workshop formed part of a two year collaboration with the Leeton Shire Council and Western Riverina Arts to respond to the culturally acceptance of binge drinking. This year’s collaboration created a powerful media message to be screened on WIN TV this summer to an audience of over 72,000 people in the Riverina. The Change Media team also produced a funky 15-min behind-the-scenes documentary and a 2-min web-only version of the TV commercial, which you can watch, right now! Don’t be That Guy – click the links above to start watching!
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Leeton Shire Council and its Bidgee Binge Project, supported by the Australian Government; Western Riverina Arts and Leeton’s Roxy Theatre; Tallstoreez Productionz.
Don’t be That Guy
Click the link to watch - Don’t be That Guy – 45 sec TVC.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Click the link to watch - Don’t be That Guy – Extended Version.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Click the link to watch - Don’t be That Guy – Behind the Scenes Documentary TVC.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
OUTCOMES:
During part 1 of this 2-year collaboration, we worked with 15 participants aged 12-16 years] to develop a creative concept for a effective TV commercial, including an engaging narrative, catch phrase / slogans, storyboards and visual style. All participants trained in acting techniques, basic camera work, screen language, editing, and were part of running and managing a professional shoot alongside our Change Media crew. We used our new Canon 5D Markiii HDSLR kit for the first time, with amazing cinematic results. And on top of that, the behind-the-scenes documentary was mostly shot by three 12-year old participants, who had a keen eye for bloopers!
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates! The TVC will launch on WIN TV on the Channel 9 network across the NSW Riverina region early this summer.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
We went through an amazing process with the youth team, looking at the best examples of alcohol-awareness videos globally, with the ambitious aim to match them during a 4-day workshop… The ongoing discussions on what binge drinking is, how it affects people and why people do it, was an incredible experience to be part of. The team co-created all aspects of the narrative with us and went through enormous efforts during a full day shoot of 30-odd scene set ups. We were very impressed with the professionalism of the teenagers – thanks again for sharing! We recorded some of the contributions during interviews and daily feedback sessions, as part of our performative evaluation, check out the amazing ‘Don’t be That Guy – behind-the-scenes’ documentary!
headspace, Elizabeth, SA, July 2012
CHALLENGE:
As part of our A Penny For Your Thoughts initiative, Tallstoreez’ Change Media worked with up 15 youth participants, during a hands-on 2-day workshop at the Northern Sound System. Participants include staff from the Adelaide Northern headspace office in Edinburgh North, Youth Advisory Council members and young people dealing with social problems and mental health issues. The aim was to engage with the Change Media co-creative production and training methodology, including a basic intro to equipment and digital media narratives and how to create relevant digital media art works to raise awareness for mental health for young people.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; headspace Northern Suburbs; Northern Sound System Elizabeth; OurCommunity; Tallstoreez Productionz
headspace media training
Watch: Mental Health Man.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Watch: Get Confidence.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Watch: Hopes and Fears.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
OUTCOMES:
All participants trained hands-on in no-nonsense video techniques, including HD camera and sound work on Day 1, a strong focus on recording interviews on Day 2 and how to build engaging narratives, create video messages and artistic documentations.
On the second day the group reviewed their footage and discussed improvements and changes for their second attempt at interviewing and developing story structures.
Topics included: interview techniques training and tips how to structure a story in 5 key points.
Special focus was given to cross-cultural process and equitable negotiations, the push for excellence as a political necessity especially in community youth arts. We demonstrated examples from our latest creative laboratories with Bell Shakespeare, Indigenous and refugee communities, to develop innovative strategies to craft messages and how to best use digital media for CACD work and social justice campaigns.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates!
headspace arranged for a fabulous ‘World Premiere’ of the films in September 2012, as part of their mental health campaigns.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
The headspace national office was very impressed with the results and offered our team to produce the Elizabeth branch virtual tour video with their youth participants.
HARC, Sydney, NSW, April 2012
CHALLENGE:
Tallstoreez’ Change Media worked with 12 participants, aged 14-63, during a hands-on 2-day workshop at the Sydney North Shore Hospital. Participants included director and staff from the Health and Arts Research Centre, HARC, Glebe community development workers, Burundi community members with refugee background and people living with mental health issues. All engaged with the Change Media production and training methodology, which included a basic intro to equipment and digital media narratives and how to create relevant digital media art works.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Health and Arts Research Centre; Tallstoreez Productionz
Health + Arts Research Centre training
OUTCOMES:
All participants trained hands-on in no-nonsense video techniques, including HD camera and sound work on Day 1, a strong focus on recording interviews on Day 2 and how to build engaging narratives, create video messages and artistic documentations. Three main project proposals were developed, alongside mentoring for several individual concepts.
We also developed a scope for a larger partnership with the Health and Arts Research Centre, to create art with people living with dementia, as part of a long term research project. We started to develop creative concepts to support survivors of involuntary ElectroConvulsiveTherapy, ECT, in finding creative ways to address issues around memory loss, the injustice experienced and ways to connect to other electroshock survivors and advocate for changes in the mental health system.
On the second day the group reviewed their test footage and discussed possible improvements and changes for their second attempt at interviewing and developing story structures.
We watched interview techniques training videos and tips how to structure a story in 5 key points, on the examples of our Ngarrindjeri workshops.
Before and during lunch we discussed different strategies to craft messages and use digital media for CACD work and social justice campaigns. Special focus was given to cross-cultural process and equitable negotiations, the push for excellence as a political necessity especially in community arts. We demonstrated examples from our latest creative laboratories with Bell Shakespeare and refugee communities.
After lunch we continued with viral campaign examples [The Perfect Refugee advert ideas and Sir Thomas More], and elaborated on ways to determine who is your audience, how to target campaigns, work with message ambassadors/ mavens, to reach inactive supporters and fence sitters, and how to avoid targeting hostile audiences or preaching to the converted. What is the buy in, what does it take to get anyone to act – who benefits, how do we reach [format, time frame, linkage, what is our power of influence, how can we increase it?]
Then the three teams continued to work on their creative 5 points plans and recorded high quality interviews, based on their experiments from Day 1. Special focus was given to working with radio mics, shot sizes and framing, using natural light and identifying design elements such as good backdrop. Another important areas was how to develop empowering questions and building trusting relationships within a short and formal interview set up, that make everybody feel safe and supported, while addressing issues around whiteness, privilege, equity and equality – how is your liberation bound up with mine?
One group developed digital storyboards for the ECT story, from idea to printed storyboard.
We set up computers for each team to upload their footage, manage their files, edit their interviews and story pitches and experiment with non-linear editing software and overlay footage.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates!
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
In feedback sessions during both days – from initial expectations, to how the process worked and what possible future collaborations may bring – we discussed our process, costs, time frames and how to engage communities.
Adelaide ARA, SA, July 9-10 2011
CHALLENGE: Change Media worked with 13 new arrivals and young refugees from Buthan and several African countries as well as Australian Refugee Association staff over 2 days, to continue training in film narratives, interview techniques and digital media skills as part of our 3-year multi-arts project, The Perfect Refugee.
PARTNERS: The Australia Council for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Initiative; Australian Refugee Association; Buthanese Community Association SA Inc, Bell Shakespeare Company; Victorian College for the Arts Centre for Cultural Partnerships; Tallstoreez Productionz.
How To Laugh In English
Click on the image above or the link to watch -The Perfect Refugee – experiment 1: How to laugh in English.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
The team also created a training video on how to use a professional HDV camera.
Click on the link to watch -Community training with young refugees – Damber demonstrate camera basics on Sony Z1.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
The team’s peer-produced training videos form part of our online training tool kit here.
OUTCOMES:
The participants worked on their main project ‘How To Laugh In English’. They used Image Creation techniques they’d learned at the Forum Theatre workshop in May 2011. They continued to work on their own digital storyboards for their individual films. The team also improved their camera work on HDV Sony Z1 cameras and started post production training on Final Cut 7.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: Stay tuned for updates.
Adelaide ARA-2, SA, June 4-5 2011
CHALLENGE: Change Media worked with 16 new arrivals and young refugees from Buthan and several African countries as well as Australian Refugee Association staff over 2 days, to continue training in film narratives, interview techniques and digital media skills as part of our 3-year multi-arts project The Perfect Refugee.
PARTNERS: The Australia Council for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Australian Refugee Association; Buthanese Community Association SA Inc, Bell Shakespeare Company; Victorian College for the Arts Centre for Cultural Partnerships; Tallstoreez Productionz.
Training videos: Camera Z1 – Kangimo
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Community training with young refugees – Kangimo demonstrate camera basics on Z1 HDV.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
The team’s peer-produced training videos form part of our online training tool kit here.
OUTCOMES:
During the 2 days, the participants engaged in comedy concepts and developed ideas for several projects.
Each team pitched their ideas as 5-point story plan. They also started creating their own digital storyboards and continued intermediate camera and interview training. Ideas presented included: How to Laugh in English?, Racist Car and Love Story Music Video.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: Stay tuned for updates.
Forum Theatre, SA, May 20-23 2011
CHALLENGE: Change Media worked with acclaimed director, actor, filmmaker and social animateur, Shahin Shafaei, and 18 young migrants, to create new work as part of a long term project. The forum theater workshop ran over 4 days, and mixed theater and acting techniques with digital media skills, to prepare for a 3-year multi-arts project , The Perfect Refugee.
PARTNERS: The Australia Council for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Australian Refugee Association; Bell Shakespeare Company; Victorian College for the Arts Centre for Cultural Partnerships; Tallstoreez Productionz
OUTCOMES:
This Change Media project aims to build the creative foundations for an exciting and innovative collaboration with young migrants and Bell Shakespeare in South Australia. The training covered forum theater, image creation and screen narratives, storytelling, interview and reenactment techniques and documentary shooting. The team also recorded some of the behind-the-scenes documentations.
We were excited to work with Shahin Shafaei [Through the Wires; From Bagdad to the Burbs] to kick start our newest creative challenge for the community arts and cultural development sector – to create high profile work that bring mainstream art and marginalized communities together to explore the ruptures of our society and our mythologies around refugees, racism and integration through a classical lens: Shakespeare In Times Of Crisis – The Perfect Refugee…
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: The training videos are now live and will also be included into our prototype community media training tool kit.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: Stay tuned for updates.
Training Videos: Theatre Games
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Images of a Struggle.
Working with forum theatre director Shahin Shafaei, the Change Media Team and a group of young migrants in Adelaide, spent four days learning Theatre Games and developing their skills in acting, filming and improvisation.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Showreel.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Sculpting.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Glass Bottle.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Slow Motion Boxing.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – The Plate.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Bears and Tree Planters.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Clapping in Time.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Blind Cars Trust Game.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Blind Buses .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Fox and Rabbit .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – The Protector .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Blind Sculpting .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Sword Leader .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Leading Hands .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Leading Noises .
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – West Side Story Game.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Energy Ball.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – Human Bowling Alley.
Click on the link to watch - Forum Theatre Tips with Shahin Shafaei and Young Migrants – The Talking Ring.
Adelaide ARA, SA, May 14-15 2011
CHALLENGE: Change Media worked with 18 new arrivals and young refugees as well as Australian Refugee Association staff over 2 days, to build on last years training in film narratives, interview techniques and digital media skills and prepare for a 3-year multi-arts project with Bell Shakespeare.
PARTNERS: The Australia Council for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Australian Refugee Association; Bhutanese Community Association SA Inc, Bell Shakespeare Company; Victorian College for the Arts Centre for Cultural Partnerships; Tallstoreez Productionz
Film: Video training: Camera Basics
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Community training with young refugees – Sita, Neru and Khagendra demonstrate camera basics.
If your device can’t play the clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Click on the link to watch - Uploading Demo with Devi.
The team’s peer-produced training videos form part of our online training tool kit here.
OUTCOMES:
This project aims to built on the success of the first workshop with ARA participants in 2010. The training covered basic screen narratives, interview techniques and how to upload your footage to computer.
The youth team also worked on the overall creative concept for the work with us and Bell Shakespeare, in preparation to the upcoming workshop with Shahin Shafaei.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Stay tuned for updates.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: Stay tuned for updates.
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.
Unley, SA, June 2010
CHALLENGE: The Change Media Team ran 2x 1-day video production workshops with young people in the Unley district at the Fullarton Park Centre on June 20th and 27th 2010.
The participants developed digital media and film making skills and produce 6 short film and dozens of interviews.
The “Unley – World In My Yyes” films are a quirky expression on how young people perceive their council area. The workshops supported them to learn digital media skills, from storyboarding, to camera work, sound recording and editing and enabled them to record their experiences about living in Unley.
PARTNERS: The City of Unley; Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Kiranari School, Unley High School; Unley Primary School; St Raphael’s Primary School; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: World In My Eyes
Watch - The Chase
Watch - Perspectives of Unley
Watch - Invisible Sports 1 + 2
Watch - Sanctuary
Watch - Unley In The Eyes Of The Unlians
Watch - Unley Witch Project
OUTCOMES: The Change Media team supported the participants to make an edit-in-camera film at the first workshop. The participants had the task during the following week to record additional footage using their own hand held video cameras / video enabled phones. The second 1-day workshop enabled them to learn basic editing and digital media workflow using the footage shot during the week and at the first workshop.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Please watch this space for updates.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: Change Media empowered the participants to create relevant snapshots of their life in Unley and its inhabitants. These stories encompass all ages and different cultural backgrounds. Change Media encourages participants to use popular culture references, mixed with the local environment, youthful ingenuity and lots of humour, as this often is a fantastic recipe for a successful empowerment campaign, to engage audiences in the subject matter.
Tom Price, WA, June 2010
CHALLENGE: The Change Media Team worked with the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation in Tom Price to train local Indigenous youth and community leaders in film narratives, interview techniques, editing and digital media management and create a peer-produced DVD about issues of juvenile justice for Indigenous youth in the Pilbara region.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Gumala Aboriginal Corporation; Office for Crime Prevention WA, Tom Price Community Arts & Culture Centre; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Marlpa Holiday
Watch - Marlpa Holiday
If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Watch - Recording My Elders
If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Watch peer-produced training videos made during the workshop:
How to set up Gumala Aboriginal Corporation’s Sony A1 HDV camera
If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
OUTCOMES: The production covered an introduction to screen narratives, storytelling for social issues, editing & file management and basic interview, shooting and editing techniques. The participants came up with strong story concepts and are keen to continue to make films. The workshop was the first of 2 projects as part of our 2-year community partnership with the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation in 2010-2011.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Please watch this space for updates. Marlpa Holiday will feature on Gumala’s website and we will present the film to NITV.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: The challenge this session was to create engaging stories that raise awareness about issues of juvenile justice, drug and alcohol abuse, faced by young Indigenous living in Tom Price and the Pilbara area. The workshop focused on short innovative story techniques, fun camera and sound work, and editing and music production. Each team member worked together producing two films, recorded several interviews and training tools. They planned, researched, scripted and conducted several shoots and took part of the edit. At the rough cut viewing in the Tom Price Arts and Culture Centre, the Gumala representatives were impressed with the outcomes and discussed the potential for future media work for the participants through the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation.
Millicent, SA, May 2010
CHALLENGE: The Change Media Team conducted a production workshop with members of the Tal-Kin-Jeri performance group, Indigenous students and community members from across South East SA to train them in film narratives, interview techniques, editing and media management. The aim was to educate students alongside the production of a DVD about River Red Gum Care, which documents the technique of making a traditional Ngarrindjeri bark canoe by Ngarrindjeri Elder Major Sumner.
PARTNERS: Indigenous Cultural Support DEWHA; Indigenous Coordination Centre SA; Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; South East Natural Resource Management Board; South East Aboriginal Focus Group; Aboriginal Sobriety Group; Millicent High School; Tal-Kin-Jeri Performance group; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Recording Culture
Click on the link to watch Recording Culture - a 6min peer-produced video, also included on the DVD resource Moogy;s Yuki.
OUTCOMES: The project covered an introduction to working with a client on location, intermediate interview and event coverage techniques and editing. The peer-produced content [the peer-produced film Recording Culture and photo slide show] will form part of the educational Caring For Country River Redgum resource called Moogy’s Yuki, to be delivered August 2010.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Please watch this space for updates. The plan is to exhibit the canoe along with the DVD at the OurMob exhibition at the Adelaide Festival Centre and in Millicent and Mt. Gambier. The Age and local WIN TV already ran stories about the project and we envisage to present the final documentary to NITV and ABC for broadcast.
Check out also our News section for updates on media coverage.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: The challenge this session was to shoot and edit a documentary for the South East Natural Resource Management Board, including traditional cultural knowledge of the caring for rivergum trees, making a traditional Ngarrindjeri canoe and shield out of bark, let by Ngarrindjeri Elder Major Sumner. After a great introduction day with over 20 participants, we focused on documentation techniques and educational narrative. Each team member conducted interviews and was part of the canoe-making shoot.
Camp Coorong, SA, May 2010
CHALLENGE: Change Media ran the fifth production workshop with the Ngarrindjeri Media Team to continue their training in film narratives, interview techniques, editing and train-the-trainer methodology. The workshop focused on the editing of the Murrundi Ruwe Pangari Ringbalin ceremonies, shooting of pick-up and and production of training tutorials.
PARTNERS: Indigenous Cultural Support DEWHA; Indigenous Coordination Centre SA; Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Ngarrindjeri Land & Progress Association; Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Contracting; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Currently in Post Production.
Available end of July, 2010
OUTCOMES: The training covered editing of multi-camera footage, shooting pick-ups on location, conducting interviews and creating peer-training video manuals. New team members entered the team and participated in a peer-training introduction to camera and editing basics. The shooting of pick-ups for the Murrundi documentary took place at the Murray River barrages and in Meningie.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Please watch this space for updates.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: The team’s challenge for this session was to continue the edit of the ambitious river ceremony and water crisis documentary. They also had to train new members and create bite-sized, hands-on peer-learning tutorials, to share their skills and demonstrate their acquired skills. As a direct result of our collaboration, one of the participants has now commenced a part time position as media officer for the RUWE Ngarrindjeri Resource Corporation to document their Caring For Country processes. Her role as media officer will also support her to continue to train with Change Media over the coming years.
May 5th, 2010: I Am A Rocket wins third place as favourite Australian child-made short
This weekend Little Big Shots Film Festival screened all the Australian films in this year’s festival to their official jury of 10 kids and they voted I Am A Rocket in third place as their favourite Australian child-made short.
Congratulations to Abby and the Change Media team at D’faces of Youth Arts Whyalla!
Some of the comments from the jurors (aged from 8-13) included:
“Unique, with a very positive message.”
“Very imaginative.”
Little Big Shot Film Festival is officially launching the festival at ACMI in Melbourne on Sunday June 6, 2010, and they will present a special Little Big Shots award to present to the Change Media team.
Australian Refugee Association, March 2010
CHALLENGE: Change Media worked with 15 new arrivals and young refugees as well as ARA / Pt. Adelaide Council staff over 4 days, to train them in film narratives, interview techniques and digital media skills. They created a peer-produced, fun documentary DVD about their lives and the challenges of coming to Australia: Culture Shock! Order your copy in our online store here.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; City of Port Adelaide Enfield; Australian Refugee Association; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Culture Shock
If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
OUTCOMES: The training covered an introduction to screen narratives, file management and interview & reenactment techniques, documentary shooting and Final Cut editing skills. After an involved debate about the many issues faced by young refugees, the team (comprising of 15 young people from Kongo, Sudan, Bhutan, Belarus, Tanzania and Burundi) decided to use a mix of fun and serious examples of situations they were faced with as new arrivals. The team also created the original soundtrack in Garageband and recorded most of the behind-the-scenes documentations.
See also participant interviews: Interview – AJ, Interview – Bikram, Interview – Bunam, Interview – Chris, Interview – Damber, Interview – Graick, Interview – Devi Interview – Kangimo, Interview – Peter, Interview – Maxim, Interview – Priyanka.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: Please watch this space for updates. The final film screened at ARA in April 2010 to huge applause. Several local councils and NGO’s have acquired copies of the DVD for their work with young refugees. Please order a copy of Culture Shock here. The project was one of the main reasons why Change Media was selected as winner of the Kookaburra Awards 2010 for Best Community Project.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: The team managed to create engaging stories that raise awareness about issues faced by young refugees living in the Port Adelaide Enfield district and wider Adelaide area. The participants hadn’t worked as a team were able to produce one film together; everybody conducted several shoots, interviews and took part in the edit and music production. By the end of Day 4 the team finished a rough cut of a funny and engaging documentary about appropriate / inappropriate behaviors and other challenges. The whole team agreed on the changes they wanted for the fine cut, for the Change Media team to clean up the edit, add title cards and insert the participants self-made music. We have already been approached by ARA to conduct another project soon, as the participants are keen to build on their new skills. Read the rest of this page and add your comments »
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.
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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
Renmark SA, November 2009
CHALLENGE: The Hero Project worked with 12 participants from the Riverland Youth Theatre to explore innovative ways to incorporate digital media into their creative programs.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Country Arts SA; Riverland Youth Theatre RYT; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Riverland Youth Theatre films
Greenies have feelings too!
Hard to Swallow
Tree Change
OUTCOMES: We tailored the workshop to suit a range of skill levels and experience, our aim to share as much digital media knowledge as possible in a 1-day session: with one group we focused on comedy and satire, another expressed an emotional journey with objects and the third team wanted to tell a real documentary story – the Herculean challenge was to convert each concept into film, script, understand film narratives and angles, act, and learn how to shoot an edit-in-camera video we will all watch at the end of the day!
All participants achieved basic camera, audio and screen language skills.
We also explored innovative ways to incorporate digital media into the school curriculum.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:: The group watched their films with appreciation at the end of a fantastic day workshop. Riverland Youth Theatre screened them at their annual general meeting Dec 2009.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
Working with regional youth, arts and theatre practitioners was an exciting challenge for our team. The diverse team of young and not-so-young artists came up with a range of fantastic ideas for their edit-in-camera films: how does it feel to make a tree change, the politics of politics and bullying from the perspective of gym balls…
It was amazing to watch their films at the end of the day, shot in only a few hours.
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Propel Youth Arts WA, October 2009
CHALLENGE: Propel Youth Arts WA created the PropFest project with support from Museums WA to explore how young people engage with the museums and galleries of Perth. The Hero Project worked with 15 young people and youth arts workers at Propel Youth Arts WA to teach them digital media and video production skills, so they could produce a film about this issue.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnerships Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Propel Youth Arts WA; Museums Australia WA: Lottery West; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Y ART?
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Y Art?.
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Y Art? That is the question for two Gen Y’ers who set out to prove that Perth doesn’t need a YOUTH ARTS CENTRE. This tongue-in-cheek documentary reflects on Perth’s vibrant youth arts scene, how to revitalise galleries and museums, and of course mining, monster trucks and shopping.
OUTCOMES: The newly formed team spent a lot of time debating what art, culture and gallery spaces means for them as young people. They settled on one main theme and created a film in only four days to address an urgently needed service to support young artists in the community; a youth arts centre for Perth.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS: The rough cut was screened at the end of day 4, to huge applause from all the participants, Propel Youth Arts and Museum WA staff.
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Whyalla SA, June 2009
CHALLENGE: D’faces of youth arts requested a professional development session to support them set up their youth media centre. They were also keen to produce a documentary about Port Lowly, but due to a last minute change in program, the Hero Project team tailored a workshop with a group of young people from D’faces and its HYPER Program to make a series of short films.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnerships Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; D’faces of Youth Arts Whyalla and its HYPER program through the Attorney General’s Office SA; SA Youth Arts Board; Middleback Theatre; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: I Am A Rocket
Watch also:
Word War 3
Josh Burns
the Failtaculars
OUTCOME: This workshop provided technical support and professional advise about making media in communities. D’faces are successfully using their new computer and camera gear to continue to make videos.
The anti-future awards: Change Media Film Challenge; Create a short film about your future you!
Through a series of brainstorming and hands-on sessions the teams produced 4 hilarious films: Abby follows her family tradition sky-high, soon-to-be hairdressers face it off, two jaded rock stars mop up their success and a bunch of understated super heroes are in search for their necessary nemesis…
The message: Don’t let anyone get in your way to do what you want with your life!
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
2010 I Am A Rocket wins third prize for Best Child-produced Film and screens at the international Little Big Shots Film Festival for Young People.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: The Change Media team provided a 1-day debriefing and professional development session on media strategies to deal with the impact of political community art and the restrictions sponsorship may impose on arts funding in general. Read the rest of this page and add your comments »
Yalata SA, May 2009
CHALLENGE: The Hero Project worked with the Yalata community and Tullawon Health Service to produce a short film addressing community concerns around healthy eating.
PARTNERS: Indigenous Cultural Support DEWHA; Indigenous Coordination Centre SA; Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Tullawon Health Service Inc; Anangu School; Yalata Aboriginal Community; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Mai Palya.Anangu Kunpu.Kata Palya
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If your device can’t play this clip, click here to watch it on Vimeo.
Mai Palya. Anangu Kunpu. Kata Palya -
Good Food. Strong Body. Good Mind
C’mon kids, you look tired! Lets go cook something healthy to eat, it’ll give you energy to run and play all day.
Fish is good for the brain, vegetables keep you healthy and bush tucker like kangaroo tails keep you strong.
OUTCOMES: During the 4 day workshop with over 25 participants the group brainstormed, shot and edited their film to promote healthy and active lifestyles. To get the whole team on board, we moved focus from healthy eating to healthy living; as there was huge pride for their sporting activities; BMX biking, acrobatic back flips, playing footy. To showcase healthy food the group prepared and cooked easy to make meals in the bush and kitchen. On location the whole team filmed the preparation of damper and kangaroo tail at a camp fire. The outcome overwhelmed the whole community.
The project is a benchmark for us to show how digital media (from making snapshots to complex films), can bridge cultural and social divides.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
The entire school attended the final screening on day 4.
Tullawon Health Service ordered 100 DVDs to distribute to other remote communities and health services.
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Gloucester NSW, April 2009
CHALLENGE: Arts Upper Hunter invited the Hero Project to run a workshop titled ‘Portraits of Place’, to work with locals to create a film about Gloucester. 20 participants from all walks of life decided very quickly they wanted to explore the potential impact of coal mining on their community and environment.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Arts NSW; Arts Upper Hunter Inc; Gloucester City Council Youth Centre; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: What’s yours, is Mine..d
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Whats Yours Is Mine…d.
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Join Eric Ingot as he shows Gloucester their future. With reassuring confidence and panache he identifies the multitude of benefits to enjoy from an open cut mine. “ At Envira-Coal, we dig the future! “
OUTCOMES: The Gloucester team met for the first time at the Council’s youth centre. Within an hour, they had identified their story – the looming open pit coal mine, that is threatening to destroy their beautiful environment. Their biggest challenge: how to make a community film that depicts a possible threat, raises awareness and educates without scaring your audience? They created a satirical pro-mining advertisement, applying spin doctor messages to sell-up potential problems as benefits! The diverse team, aged 14-65, learnt how to script and pace a comedic narrative, storyboard and film on multiple locations. 8 laptops formed a mobile edit unit, with every team producing a different chapter of the story, plus music, titles and GFX.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
AWARD WINNER at the International Foster Short Film competition 2009 – congratulations! Forster International Film Festival
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: Their 5min film attracted over 600 hits and many comments on YouTube within the first week of upload by one of the youth team members.
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Dungog NSW, April 2009
CHALLENGE: Arts Upper Hunter invited the Hero Project to run a workshop titled ‘Portraits of Place’, to work with locals to create a film about Dungog. In their first film workshop together, 12 Dungog locals explored a seemingly quirky topic, yet controversial expose of the hidden tensions in their town.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Arts NSW; Arts Upper Hunter Inc; Dungog Shire Council; Country Womens Association; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: On The Move
Click on the image above or the link to watch -On The Move.
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At first glance the country town of Dungog in NSW feels like any other quiet, small rural town. Driving down the main street, past the monument one would never suspect that the community is divided. The problem is the local icon in the middle of the main street. Is it a monument or an obelisk? A round about or a traffic hazard? And more importantly should it be moved?
OUTCOMES: Dungog locals explored how they could make a film that would portray their town and life AND do justice to all of their creative visions?! This resulted in several intense brainstorming sessions, teams conducting a series of interviews and a fabulous factory style editing suite as everyone crafted the final film. And finally it all revolved around the monument in the main street!
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
May 2010 ABC Online features On the Move and runs a story about the project.
March 2010 Great news for our Dungog team: Selected to screen as part of the world’s biggest film festival of Australian films, the Dungog Film Festival 2010
2009 Finalist in the Wollombi Short Film Festival 2009. Congratulations to the community media team in Dungog!
2009 Second place in the state-wide “My town is special coz’” competition run by the Department of State and Regional Development NSW. www.artsupperhunter.com.au/files/newsletters/October_Artsbark.pdf
IMPACT & FEEDBACK: After much heated debate and a story development process, the group formed a fantastic creative team…
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Hallett Cove SA, February 2009
CHALLENGE: Hallett Cove R-12 School and the Cove Youth Service asked the Hero Project team to work with their students to produce a documentary about their experiences coming to Australia, to support new arrivals from Britain.
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Cove Youth Service Inc; Marion City Council; Hallett Cove R-12 School; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Pom Fiction
There are many challenges for young British migrants when they first arrive in Australia. A group of teenagers from Hallett Cove have set out to demystify those first impressions: from flies, thongs, spiders, sharks, sunburn to football… Australia is different – but you are not alone!
OUTCOMES: The participants, who had only recently migrated from the UK, had a very clear idea how they wanted to proceed: create a tongue-in-cheek, humorous take on boring edu-videos. The adult supporters had a different vision about how educational material should look. The Hero Project brokered a viable compromise. This peer-produced documentary is full of heart-warming tips and tricks, to support new arrivals from Britain. It also keeps an upbeat and fun tone, no need to bore the students who watch this resource in school!
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
Cove Youth Service and Hallett Cove School ordered 20 copies, to pass on to other schools and to show to the State Education Department.
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Coorong SA, January 2009
CHALLENGE: The Change Media team were invited to work with the community at Camp Coorong to explore how they could use digital media for social change. 20 Ngarrindjeri community members from Raukkan and Meningie participated in the workshop.
The youth participants had an ambitious vision: they wanted to make a hard-hitting documentary about the water problem AND interview their elders in only four and a half days. To make things even more challenging, a professional TV crew came down from Canberra to document the Change Media process with the Ngarrindjeri team for ABC TV’s Message Stick, at the same time…
PARTNERS: Indigenous Cultural Support DEWHA; Indigenous Coordination Centre SA; Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnership Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Ngarrindjeri Land & Progress Association; Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Contracting; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: NUKKAN.KUNGUN.YUNNAN
Click on the image above or the link to watch - Nukkan. Kungun. Yunnan – Ngarrindjeri Being Heard.
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Buy your copy of the full documentary DVD with extended Elders interviews here.
This powerful 22 minute documentary presents the real impact the water crisis is having on the Coorong and its people. Driven by Ngarrindjeri youth it examines the effects on Ngarrindjeri culture as well as the damage for all Australians. The question is, what will we do to change it?
OUTCOMES: The Change Media team worked with the community to identify key issues and stories and trained the participants in digital media skills from scripting, storyboards, video and sound recording to editing.
The team conducted over 15 interviews with Ngarrindjeri Elders and youth to create an informative, emotionally charged documentary. After they recorded the interviews with their elders, the team weren’t keen to edit their stories and potentially loose important information or be disrespectful. We demonstrated how to use their footage to create a film and interview assembly clips to produce a multi-layered DVD: with a short, media friendly 5min trailer, a 22-min documentary and a sub menu with the entire interviews with their elders. During the workshop the 22 min rough cut was screened to over 40 community members and elders. One of the participants gained part time employment as a media officer for Caring For Country, at RUWE Ngarrindjeri Resource Corporation, as a direct outcome of the Change Media program.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
2010 The project has been selected to screen at the national Communities in Control conference in Melbourne, as part of Change Media’s Kookaburra Award for Best Community Project 2010.
2010 The film has been invited to screen at the International Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York in June 2010.
2010 National Indigenous TV Australia broadcast the 22-min version of the film February 2010.
2009 On Nov 16th, Ngarrindjeri elder and community leader Tom Trevorrow was awarded the Special MyHero Award at the International MyHero Film Festival in LA.
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Cherry Gardens SA, November 2008
CHALLENGE: Horse SA commissioned the Hero Project team to work with a group of teenage girls to produce a film about horse and land care. During the workshop the youth team met the challenge head on: in only 3 days they created Horse TV!
PARTNERS: Australia Council for the Arts Creative Community Partnerships Initiative; Arts SA Partnerships for Healthy Communities; Horse SA; Horse Owners of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges; the Melbourne Water Corporation; the Evironmental Protection Agency; the Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Film: Horse TV
Welcome to Horse TV: This series of funny TV ads and soap spoofs raises awareness about environmental issues around horse ownership and addresses 5 key messages:
Healthy Pastures all year round spells healthy horses
Cheap Cheap Cheap: reduce dust and mud, horses hate cheap pastures
Purer Trough: safe, clean, easy water for your horse that doesn’t impact on creeks and waterways
Silver Service – A Ladies Companion to Classy Compost: Horse manure management 101
Horse CSI: Control your weeds before it is too late…
OUTCOMES: The workshop focused on training teenage girls and in the brainstorming session they decided to create a series of TV Advert spoofs as an upbeat way to share land care messages for horse owners. During the workshop the young filmmakers learnt all basic skills required for video production, including scripting, story-boarding, camera + sound work, acting, directing, editing and music production.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
The final film was screened 4 day after the workshop to over 50 people in the Cherry Gardens community hall.
The film was distributed online through the Australian Pony Club to over 10.000 members.
Horse SA have presented it at several conferences.
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‘Mobilize This’ conference
Darwin, October 2008
CHALLENGE: The Hero Project was invited to present its community empowerment at Mobilize This 2008 in Darwin.
PARTNERS: the Australia Council for the Arts; Arts SA Partnership for Healthy Communities ; University Darwin; Tallstoreez Productionz; Apple Australia
Outcomes
Over 30 people attended our presentation at the Darwin University. We also managed during the conference to connect the Hero Project to Darwin Community Arts and Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, with the aim to collaborate in training Indigenous communities in the Northern Territories.
Big thanks to our friends at Formation Studios for setting this up!