As part of the 2006 Bayside Film Festival, Bayside City Council delivered an educational filmmaking project to more than 200 secondary students and local youth. The Bayside Youth Documentary Project aimed to develop skills of investigation and expression through the experience of making short documentary films. The project targeted year nine and ten students and youth groups within the Bayside area.
Council’s Cultural Development Officer, Anna Monea, said professional filmmakers worked directly with youth groups and alongside media teachers to deliver film production workshops over a four month period.
“The Youth Documentary Project created a positive environment of technical and creative investigation, encouraging participants to engage with issues that affect them directly or experiences or knowledge relevant to their peer group,” she said. “Viewers were provided with an insight into the world of their youth and Councillors, service providers, parents and guardians received an understanding of the issues concerning young people.”
Some 43 short documentary films were attempted through the project, with 33 completed and screened during the Bayside Film Festival last July. Topics explored body image issues, specifically around anorexia and bulimia; bullying; the environment; water conservation; recycling; and the pressures on young girls to dress older than their age.
Anna Monea said that by participating in this project, students had to determine their own topics, research and story board their ideas, film and then edit their work.
“They worked in small rotating crews, so that each person became familiar with camera use and editing software,” she said. “Furthermore, students were given the opportunity to work with professional filmmakers, and in the process were given unique access to, and more in depth training in specialised digital computer software. This enabled students to maximise the quality and appearance of their raw footage and create the final film product.”
The Film Festival concluded with Youth Documentary Awards, where 12 films received awards for excellence.
Bayside Youth Advisory Group member, Councillor Terry O’Brien, said working with young people in a way that encourages them to consider their place in the community, and encourages the community to support young people is vital.
“The Youth Documentary Project goes a long way to achieving our goal of building healthy, connected and inclusive communities,” she said. “We can all learn so much by watching the short films and documentaries produced as part of this project.”
The project will be run for the third consecutive year in 2007.
“Council has now broadened the scope of the Youth Documentary Project to include young people with disabilities, so each year the films can become more diverse, more confronting and more entertaining,” Councillor O’Brien said.
“The 2007 Bayside Film Festival will be a must see event.”
The Bayside Youth Documentary Project received a commendation at the National Awards for Local Government Innovation 2006. The Youth Engagement Award acknowledges innovation and excellence in the provision of services that engage young people and encourage them to participate in their communities.
