CCAS: Filmmaking workshops in holiday centres

Filmmaking workshops in holiday centres.

Holiday centres CCAS traditionally offer holidaymakers many quality cultural activities. In the summer of 2018, we proposed an innovative, creative and participatory activity as part of the “Act’éthiques” cultural programme.

A committed creative workshop

The aim was, without prior registration, to allow, over two days of presence in the holiday centre, those who so wished, to make “committed” animated films on the theme “You do what in life?”, i. e. on the theme of work.

Children, adults, retirees, staff members... these moments of openness to expression were an opportunity for rich elaboration and exchanges. Indeed, at the end of the two days, a screening evening was organized, followed by an always in-depth discussion, full of important human issues.

How to make quality movies in a short time

The animation principle was as follows:

• Installation in the heart of the holiday centre of a mini shooting studio and a projection screen. So people could see the device and the films made as they went along. The decision to participate could come when you saw the others.
• I suggested to the person to make a drawing, or a diagram, that represented for him what work is. This drawing was being filmed.
• Starting with drawing, which often takes us to a place other than what we initially decide, is a way of liberating the imagination. Then, after the drawing was done, I suggested to the person to record his voice, to comment and explain the drawing. And finally a simple editing operation to assemble the two gave the film.
• The films were gradually broadcast on the big screen. So people quickly saw their film in large format and could show it to others, which is very rewarding. The films were also posted as they went along on this mini video platform, whose link was sent by SMS to the participants. Thus the children’s films were quickly shared with other family members outside the holiday centre for example. This exceptional object could immediately live its life, especially on social networks, thus building other links.
• This type of workshop works very well because the system is very simple technically, requires little time for participants to get involved, but allows them to express deep and important feelings in order to share them. The work, in essence, is more in the preparation time before coming to the workshop, where the ideas are organized in themselves, than in the realization time, which is quite short.
• Thus children, often quicker than adults to open their creativity, were important in inviting adults to overcome their barriers and dare to come and express themselves.
• The screening sessions on the evening of the second day were strong and intense moments, because what each person has put in intimate form becomes public, and also arouses the introspection of each spectator, thus a debate, sometimes long and passionate, at the end of the screening.
• In addition, thanks to the mini video platform, everyone could also discover the films made in the other holiday centres.

This workshop took place in six holiday centres, two days per centre. A total of 60 films were made.

The mini video platform

Direct link : https://www.benoitlabourdette.com/_docs/projets/2018/2018_ccas_vous_faites_quoi_dans_la_vie/

(this mini video platform works thanks to the free software BL Video CMS that I developed for this type of use)

Some sample films