The year long Seed Cinema project is coming to an end as the participants get ready to screen their films to the community.
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The idea for the Seed Cinema project came about when the three women, Charmaine Smith, Kylie McRae and Katrina Douglas, each with their own experience in the film industry, wanted to do something together.
“We wanted to offer a creative arts project for our children. There are not as many creative arts projects for kids in regional Victoria as there are in urban areas,” Ms Smith said.
Ms McRae said the project was an introduction to the world of storytelling through film.
“It warped from the idea of showing films, to showing the participants how to tell their own stories. We wanted to give the kids the tools to tell their own stories, but by communicating that they are just tools – technology keeps changing. The key is the idea in a story, then you look at what the mode of expression will be.”
Ms Douglas said another factor was empowering the participants to use everyday tools, like digital devices, “for good not evil”.
“Going back to the grassroots of film, it is simply just storytelling. Every single person has a worthy story to tell, so we wanted to get kids to look at devices as a means to create valuable content.”
Through the four workshops, which centered on storytelling, film-making tips, editing and sound and post production – hosted by industry professionals – the idea that films have to be big blockbusters was unfolded, as the children’s views on the world were validated to inspire them to create their own short films.
Going back to the grassroots of film, it is simply just storytelling. Every single person has a worthy story to tell, so we wanted to get kids to look at devices as a means to create valuable content.
- Katrina Douglas
As a result, 17 films were made by the primary school aged children – from music videos to animal documentary. Some even used green screens.
Ms Douglas said the project had been “bigger and better” than they had imagined with 75 children attending the first workshop.
“Whether they made a film or not, the project has done what we intended it to – the kids know more about storytelling and film making. They have all taken something from the process,” she said.
The films will be screened from 4pm at Quarry Street Reserve, Trentham, on November 10.