Movies from Communities
PROGRAM OUTLINE
VICHEALTH EVERYDAY CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS 2020-2022
Smartphone Stories is a fun, interactive project led by expert facilitators that teaches participants how to make films using a smartphone.
While designed as a two-day workshop, due to current Covid-19 restrictions the program may run in a slightly different or remote delivery format in some locations. Check the main page calendar for specific dates and times in your location.
During the introductory workshop you'll learn the skills to produce, write, direct and edit a film made entirely on a mobile phone.
DAY ONE
In Day One, we'll learn about the basics of filming with a smartphone.
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Why use a smartphone to make a film?
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Elements that make up a film
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Things to do before you shoot
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Using your phone's camera
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Using natural lighting to get a nice image
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How to record usable location sound
We then break into small groups to start filming your personal story using an interview or narration set up, inspired by the 60 Second Docs format. (Participants are still free to choose a different format if they like).
Finally, we will set you off with a homework task to film the rest of your one-minute digital story!
As a bonus, we invite participants to stick around in the evening to watch a few selected short films from the St Kilda Short Film Festival's mini-touring program.
DAY TWO
In Day Two of the introduction to smartphone filmmaking, you'll bring back footage and clips from home to use as overlay in your digital story, and we'll begin putting your film together.
Topics covered in Day Two include:
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Using editing apps such as Adobe Rush, iMovie, Power Director
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Editing picture
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Editing sound
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Adding titles and credits, and finishing off your film
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Sharing to platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok
We'll screen and provide feedback on your films as a group, and then discuss your own original ideas that you will start to make after the end of the workshop.
Following the week of activities, participants will start to make their own individual films in their own time.
On-call remote support is then available individually to all participants after the workshop over a three-month period to develop and make an original short film idea, on your own.
Your idea can be as long or as short - or as simple or as elaborate as you like!
Ideas include
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a short drama
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a short comedy (or any other genre)
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a documentary
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a vlog or travel film
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viral content
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an artistic or experimental film
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a music video
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filming an event
Approximately three months after the end of the introductory workshop, you'll be invited to screen your short film back to your community in a live public screening event, and your film will also be showcased on the Smartphone Stories YouTube channel. You also own your completed film to submit to other festivals or online platforms, including the Victoria Together web site!
The introductory program is designed to be accessible to everyone, and therefore is mainly focused on simple processes, using tools that everyone has at their disposal.
If you are interested in a deeper dive into film making using a smartphone, take a look at our optional three-day extension program
This is also free to participate in, by application, and may only be available in some locations. If not offered in your location, you can apply to attend in an alternative location.
Click here to read more about the Extension Program