Camera 3

image from www.freeimages.co.uk


The camera has been round the whole class now. Some of the students are asking for it and can't wait to get their hands on it. There seems to be alot of footage where students are covering themselves as they don't like to be filmed. Unfortunately there is some decent footage where this is happening. Maybe it can be edited later.

There is also a bit of a problem with the sound on this wonderfully portable camera....
Portability has left one issue sound quality...and also image quality...

When the camera is still the images are ok....there still is lots of movement even with image stabilising.

Group Meeting

image from www.freeimages.co.uk


The plan was hatched. Some students thought it was a good idea to make a film about their experiences on their course. Others couldnt see the point. "To let new students know exactly what the course is like!" I said

Some had never even thought of such an idea. My job was to get them involved!

Tough but worthwhile....if the vision developed

The IT divide

image by unfurled, 2008 @ flickr.com

I walk into the class, which is being held in a computer suite, with banks of computers in rows. Sonya, Serban, Anicka and Tia are already experimenting with editing. It is clear that these students have spent some time using computers. I remember the conversations we had previously. Anicka said that she spent most of her free time chatting, as did Sonya. Chatting online!

Tomako and Mena are becoming angry. I don’t know if it is me or something else. Then I notice that they needed help using the IT. They start saying that they want to learn how to operate the machines. Ema looks blankly at me and then starts in her familiar way of sort of half shouting half speaking that she doesn’t know how to use the computer. “I told you before”, she says. Surely all 17 year olds know how to use a computer. Not if they have come from war torn Iraq or Congo they don’t. Then I ask her to pair up with someone who does know.

Camera 2

image from www.freeimages.co.uk

Shad seems to enjoy using the camera.... he wants to take shots of everything that we do....I am letting him as it keeps him quiet.

SO of the other guys: Adan and Moryl have enjoyed using the camera...they seem to get a sense of power, or a sense of directorship, asking other students to complete tasks, pose and get into shot.

Looking at some of the footage. There is lots of flitting between distance and close up shots. The shots move quickly and there is not much thought gone into planning a shot, panning and zooming slowly.

I have tried to get them to experiment with some shots but I can't push them.

They aren't film students they are students who want to be citizens!!!!