What do we want to do?

Working with local filmmakers, Pageant Productions, we want to create opportunities for marginalised groups, to share their experiences and influence the move towards a fairer and more equal society.... and we want your help!

Much of Pageant Productions work is within the voluntary sector, providing filmmaking services, workshops and training. We share their strong sense of community and we want to play an active role engaging with and empowering marginalised groups in our communities.

What is the money for?

We have very recently (Jan 2020) been awarded £4000 by Dorset Council to start up a pilot filmmaking club for adults with learning disabilities in Dorchester, Dorset. This is fantastic news but we don't want to stop there... we're hoping to raise additional funds to develop the project further, creating more resources, providing additional support to people on their projects, making things more accessible, opening the club up to more people and collaborating with other creative professionals to offer enhanced experiences. We also hope to set up a website where films can be shared and stories told.

Will it cost participants?

It's likely those we engage with will be on low incomes or receiving benefit payments. So there are no financial barriers, the club will be free at the point of use to those taking part. We will teach skills and support people to make their own films about the things that matter to them. In this way we hope to challenge negative stereotypes and break down barriers to inclusion.

Outcomes

Participants will be supported to identify their desired learning outcomes, based on their interests and strengths. The group will work together as a team to plan and produce films; they will learn as they go along, working through their plans and working at the necessary pace.

Participants reach their full potential by identifying which aspect of filmmaking draws on their strengths, then developing those skills, which are used within the team when working together.

While attending the club participants will learn how to….

Develop their ideas and produce a storyboard. Use a video camera and tripod. Frame shots and think about visual interest. Use light to their advantage. Record better quality sound. Conduct and film an interview. Film cutaways (secondary footage) to add additional visual interest. Make films on their own devices, such as mobile phones and tablets. Edit a basic film.

We hope the films members make will be used as a tool for feeding back to Disability Partnership Boards, giving boards an honest voice from disabled people on the subjects that matter to participants.

As well as learning practical digital skills participants will:

Become aware of their individual strengths and draw on them to effectively work as part of a team.

Become confident to communicate in a range of situations; in one-to-one interviews or as part of a group.

Demonstrate the ability to convey their thoughts and ideas within a group when developing a plan of work.

Feel empowered to share their experiences with their peers and the wider community through the medium of film.

Demonstrate the ability to use their preferred device to produce a basic short film and share this online through platforms such as You Tube, Facebook and Twitter.

The Future

Our hope is that over time we can grow this project into a (CIC) community interest company and role it out in other towns and to other marginalised groups. This project is scalable and based on workshops and clubs we have already trialed. In the event that we exceed our target funding for this initial project, additional funds will be used to expand our offer to additional clubs in more locations. We would like to make this an ongoing project and you can help make this happen by choosing to make a regular donation.