Civil Society Consulting | Intro to Filmmaking Workshops for Grassroots Organisations
Using Film to Communicate Impact
As part of their Kinder Communities: Steps to Sustainability project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Civil Society Consulting facilitated a number of free events, designed to support community organisations through workshops, 1:1 support and a peer network of like-minded individuals. We supported CSC by delivering workshops focused around communicating impact, through film.
Importance of skill sharing
As well as making films, one of the aspects of our job we love is consultancy. This is because we really enjoy being able to share filmmaking skills with communities - we don’t see it as something that might potentially put us out of work. There’s a difference between professional video and user generated content, and we believe that community groups have so much to share, and who better to shine a light on the parts of their work no one else has access to? We also think UGC and professional films can work in hand in hand. We regularly use archive footage in our films, particularly films for Voluntary and Community Sector clients, because that’s often the only content they have that showcases their past. We want to ensure that going forward they can get the most out of the resources they have, whether that’s a camera or a phone.
Crash Course in Storytelling…
Both of the workshops we delivered were extremely succinct, averaging at around 30 minutes, which meant we had to really simplify the message we wanted to get across. The most important thing we share with people is that filmmaking is storytelling. No matter the context or approach to your video, you need to take the audience on a journey. It doesn’t have to be a conventionally linear journey, but the aim of video content is to evoke a reaction from the audience, whether that’s sadness, anger or intrigue. Not only that, but to make a successful video campaign there’s more to think about than just a creative direction, and that is something we cover in every workshop we deliver. Thinking about pre-production as well as the life of the product post-production can drastically impact the effectiveness of your video.
Advantage of speaking to professionals
Of course, the internet is your oyster, and there’s plenty of information online on how to create video content. But what the internet lacks is the personal experience and nuances of video production, which is why having us to share the lessons we have learned in this industry, as well as answering questions with context and personal experience makes webinars and in person workshops so much more valuable than browsing the web. As well as this, we can deliver practical demonstrations. Sometimes people bring their own cameras that they haven’t quite sussed out yet and need help with, and sometimes people aren’t aware of the capabilities of the cameras in their pockets, their phones!
Outcomes
Attending a quick 30 minute workshop has many advantages. Time is precious, this gives a quick overview of key concepts of video production, so that you have the basis of the knowledge to either begin your own project, or give you a starting point of what to search for if you wish to expand your knowledge. We also make sure to include actionable tips and tricks to get you started on your journey immediately. As well as practical skills, it’s a time spent gathering inspiration for your next video project and connect with like-minded individuals. Collaboration is key, especially in the Voluntary and Community Sector, and working as a team we can achieve so much more!