Introductory Filmmaking Diversity Workshop

Introductory Filmmaking Diversity Workshop

Fun Fact It takes 29 Mins to reach Perth Underground Station

Fun Fact it takes a further 3 Mins to reach Claisebrook station

Fun Fact it takes a further 5 mins to walk from Claisebrook station to Fielder Street and the ABC Perth building.

Fun Fact Screen West are also inside the same building as the ABC

But what you may all be wondering is what have the above all got in common?

Well I’ll tell you…

Program Overview

AFTRS, in partnership with Screen West and DADAA is offering an introductory filmmaking workshop for emerging creatives from diverse backgrounds (CALD ‘Culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA+, living with a disability and/or low socio-economic).

The workshop is free and will take place at the ABC Studios from Monday 10th to Thursday 13th December 2018.

Led by Dev Hasan a Cinematographer, Filmmaker and Lecturer based in Sydney (ex-Perth) who has been working in the Australian Film and Television Industry for over 18 years, this four-day workshop, will provide a hands-on introduction to the basics of filmmaking.

Participants will develop a concept, plan the production, record it on camera and then edit it into a short film.

On the last day the short films will be showcased in a final screening presented to the class.

Details about the course can be found by clicking on this link

https://www.screenwest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Initiate-Guidelines-November-2018-FINAL.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2CjgvbZeU8iKjby4OCdjyxzMdKzjjMBlHvI8C9ahFxcQiU3x_buGCWtT4

So on Monday morning I caught the 9.04 train to Perth Underground station, and then the 9.45 train from platform 5 to Armadale getting off at Claisebrook station and walking towards Fielder Street.

I was very nervous but had prepared myself to know exactly where I was going by travelling into the East Perth by car with my mum and familiarising myself with where the train station was and where the entrance to the ABC building was.

Which helped massively and relived my nerves.

In the room where we would be working and after doing the who we are introductions (I hate those) we got down to work.

In the foyer of the ABC building they have a red sofa which was perfect for our (after two days of planning and discussions) our short spy movie that we were going to be making. Behind the red sofa there was art work which added to the scene because as we didn’t specify where the location was the audience (mainly staff from Screen West) could make up their own minds of where they thought the action was taking place.

I played Spy (A), another member of our group Tina played non spy person (I get confused and think that I am here to meet her, but in the confusion she’s just an ordinary member of the public and not the spy that I am supposed to meet!) and then Liam played Spy (B) the actual spy that I was supposed to meet.

The backstory is that it’s my first day on the job hence the confusion!

Anyway after 2 and a half hours of filming (there’s a long process involved of close up shots, mid shots, etc.) we broke for lunch and my other fellow actors and I discussed our performances over a pasta salad.

The other project involved all of us. This was a series of interviews where we answered the question what did creativity mean to us?

Again this took a few days to film, there were about 10 of us in the workshop.

On the last day we spent it editing each project.

Individually we sat down and with help from Dev and Lincoln we broke down the sections of what we had said into our favourite bits.

Then Lincoln chopped, diced and sliced and put it all together into a short 3-minute film.

We were also treated to a studio tour of the set from the up-coming ABC drama ‘The Heights’.

Basically they had built several apartments within the studio space and it was eye opening to see just how much detail that they put into a fake apartment building.

For example, the bricks on the wall were in fact wall paper and someone had painted them onto the paper!

Everything that we were shown was so realistic.

You can read more about the ABC soap here

https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/10/abc-soap-the-heights-now-in-post-production.html

and the official press release here

https://tv.press.abc.net.au/abc-begins-production-on-new-series-the-heights-in-western-australia

So thanks to Emma at the ABC for showing us round.

I was exhausted by the end of the week, due to the long hours that we did.

But I am very proud of myself in A) completing the course and B) gaining an insight into the filming process from an experienced filmmaker Dev.

I would like to thank Screen West, AFTRS and DADAA in providing me with this opportunity.

To find out more about Screen West you can click here

https://www.screenwest.com.au/

for AFTRS you can click here

https://www.aftrs.edu.au/

and for DADAA

https://www.dadaa.org.au/

and here on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DADAALtd/

I am staying in contact with Simone from DADAA as she wants to put me in contact with some industry professionals who may be able to help me with my drama TV scripts.

Carry on the Conversation

Would you have participated on a course like this?

Do you work in the TV industry and would help me to get my drama scripts onto TV?

If you can you help me out please get in touch with me

Let me know in the comments below.

As always, I can also be found on Twitter: @AutisticNick9 and at my email autisticnick9@gmail.com

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Thank you for reading and I will see you next time for more thoughts from across the spectrum.