Community Media - Interactive World

In pure, that is to say, realistic terms, a ‘no-budget film’ is a myth. Leave no- budget-film to rich kids. And over-hyped websites. For the rest of us, having a plan , and having a budget are essentials, not just media hype. I’m tired of reading no-budget sites that begin the words  ‘whether your budget is $2000 or $100,000’ – that looks to me like a budget.  It would be more accurate to speak about low -budget, non-commercial or volunteer-led film-making, rather than ‘no-budget’ film-making. Let's also admit that a film can be made for next-to-nothing if you are living in an affluent country. Let’s concede also that there are many ways to reduce costs, save money, and cut corners. Vision, versatility and sheer doggedness will get you a long way. But many of the 'costs' are simply transferred elsewhere: by borrowing equipment from a government/ community organization, or from an individual, or a private, a charity or an NGO; by shari...

Lord Puttnam in Birmingham. Screen WM Event at the Birmingham Hippodrome. 10th June 2009 It was reassuring to hear Lord Puttnam speak. What an asset he is for the industry and for those who care about film. In particular, I enjoyed his emphasis on the social role of film. It's so easy to fall in with the prophets of technological progress, innovation, and digital skills, as though these are a worthy end in themselves; as though we could eliminate poverty through digital equality and having more gadgets. (Across most of Africa 97% of the population is not online.) Lord Puttnam reminded us of need for a prior engagement with community and citizenship which might be supported by the dream of improved communications; social connection rather than fascist exclusion. Also resonant for me in his speech was the notion of global dialogues and environmental issues. He was looking to the new, younger generations to raise awareness and understanding. He appeared to be critical of the lack of a...

Time to turn up the volume and press record. Let's communicate. Getting your message out may not be as difficult as you think. When we started our community film festival in Northampton we had few difficulties gaining the attention of local, regional and national media. The BBC spent a whole day with us; we had several radio appearances and multiple pages of coverage in the newspapers. If we had paid for our publicity as advertisement we would have needed tens of thousands of dollars. As a small non-profit venture our project needed the oxygen of free publicity to make it a success. In these cash-strapped times a well-crafted press release is an excellent source of free publicity and not as difficult as you may think. In our rush to digital we often forget the reach, coverage and the value of the existing traditional media. In fact, local media are hungry for news items to fill their columns. National media and regional TV, however, tend to cover larger events of ‘natio...

Social Enterprise back in fashion but poorly understood Currently, governments across the world are promoting non-profit activity alongside local initiatives for community development. The popularity of social enterprise has been increasing as a marginal alternative to the dominance of public or government-led services. But the notion of social enterpise is not at all well known beyond the third sector (charities, not-for-profit, voluntary groups and social enterprise). Most people have not heard of Third Sector either, I suspect. I recall one of my University colleages responding with an indignant and rather dismissive reaction to social enterprise. He concluded that ‘social enterprise’ was just another example of Orwellian newspeak. Worse still, 'social enterprise' was a return to the agenda of 19 th -century capitalism - with its notions of the deserrving and the undeserving poor. Enterprise was business and greed, strife rather than harmony, and militated fundamentally...

Poststructuralism as performance.... The Fold of Creativity and Critique A Methodological Introduction by Dr Ian McCormick 'Poststructuralism' is a bewildering combination of theoretical projects and their applications. At best I shall be contending that elements of the poststructuralist approach afford the possibility of an open and balanced approach to the twin dynamics of criticism and creativity; poststructuralism folds one into the other. Underpinning my 'methodology' is the sense that both criticism and creativity are required in the shifting process of performance and that they are inseparable as the twin strands of participatory drama. Moreover, a poststructuralist approach serves to interrogate all conventional binaries such as teaching/learning, or acting/observing. More than just turning them upside-down, or reversing them, a poststructuralist would uncover the trace, play, or spectre, of one inside the other. Accordingly, poststructuralism employs an exhilar...

A Checklist of 30 Questions to support the community film-making process - from first ideas to mass distribution. 1. Is your film defined by the collective engagement of all participants? 2. Is it a group narrative with multiple visions and voices? 3. Are there elements which are collaborative and improvisatory ? 4. Are its questions and answers unpredictable and undetermined at the outset? 5. Is there a dialogue between creativity and critical analysis (making and reflecting)? 6. Is there a process or product that contributes to social change , empowerment and social justice? 7. Does you film build the social capital of the community? 8. Is there an opportunity for reflection and dialogue with other communities ? 9. Have you fully employed the skills of community agents and artists in a supportive and empowering environment? 10. Are you prepared to take risks? 11. Does your film challenge traditions or expectations within and outside the community? 1...

1. Questions Is it time to dump the traditional newsletter? Is your newsletter your jewel in the crown, or just junk mail, destined for the waste bin? Many voluntary and community groups are becoming addicted to e-communications. It’s quick, cheap and efficient. In a few clicks your message has reached millions! And the pressure is on to Modernise. The new social media scene from Twitter to Facebook offers bewildering, enticing, and self-indulgent opportunities. 2. Purpose I’d like to step back from the fast-track path to new technology and suggest that we ask some questions about what your organization is trying to achieve in and through its newsletter. Are you trying to reach out to the general public, to raise awareness, or to raise funds? Is your focus more on volunteers, or on users of your service? Are you directing your message at existing or new services users? Is your primary aim to recruit more volunteers or to inform the ones you have already? Is your ...