Check out the courses page for information on a fantastic new digital storytelling course that is being facilitated by Chocolate films with Adisa (poet) and Sophie Verhagen (photographer). Places are limited so apply soon!
0 commentsOver 5-days in August 2010 a group of young people gathered at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford to develop creative responses to stories of social injustice and the struggles against them. Inspired by the memories of Nigerian Writers and Activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and in celebration of the life of Stephen Lawrence, the young people took part in workshops in spoken word, djing, and filmmaking, learning how to put these art forms to use for creative campaigning and getting their voice heard about the issues that concern them. This was all part of 'Shake! Arts, Media, Race & Power', a summer school devised and coordinated by PLATFORM with artists DJ Eric Soul (Afrogroov), Zena Edwards & Simon Murray (African Writers Abroad) and Ana Tovey (Chocolate Films). The week was a huge success and some powerful work came out of it. The filmmaking group spent the week document the creative activity going on around the Stephen Lawrence Centre, and collaborated with the young people in the spoken word and djing group to produce a documentary combining all of the art forms and showing the passion and dedication of this group of young people to bring about change. The finished film is now online. Read more about the Shake! project and meet the Shakers and hear what they are up to now on the Voices that Shake blog.
0 commentsAs part of the Estate Visions Project young people at Fawcett and Fellows Court in Hackney are beginning to develop documentary ideas that reflect local concerns and most importantly the issues that affect them. These ideas will form the basis of short films the teenagers will shoot and edit. They will also have to establish relationships with local community groups and tap into wider networks to find contributors for their documentaries and also people who they can interview live on TV! Yesterday’s workshop at Fawcett Court was really positive. The young people separated into four teams to devise ideas which they also pitched to everybody. The group then voted for their two favourite ideas which will now be made into short documentary items for the live TV show. The most popular idea was ‘Bad Weave’ a light-hearted take on the importance of being well-presented! Two other ideas - a film about the need for positive activities for young people and one about postcode violence – were also very well-received, each getting the same amount of votes. After a tense tie-breaker vote, the group chose the film about positive activities for young people giving them two very strong ideas to develop. Ben and Eray, our Chocolate Films trainers, introduced the group to the practicalities of producing a live TV programme and the session ended on a high note with everyone filming and then watching a short, streamed programme.
0 commentsThe Village School in Brent (formally known as Haylane school) had their first Take me to London workshop today. They join a long line of community groups and schools from outer London who will go on a trip to one of the Olympic sites and document their journeys. The results are varied and fascinating. We look forward to taking the students to Wembley next week and to how they will tell their story! Please feel free to check out the other films from this year. Take me to London is a three year project running up to the London Olympics in 2012 in partnership with Watermans.
0 commentsA date for your diaries! The five www! films are to be screened on 23rd November along with the opening of an exhibition of photos at the Maverik Showrooms in Shoreditch. Details to follow...
0 commentsFollowing last month's successful Q+A session with director Ed Blum (Scenes of a Sexual Nature) and producer Havana Marking (Afghan Star), Matt Delargy (co-producer Nowhere Boy) and Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell in Eastenders) have been confirmed as the guest speakers for next week's event. Participants of the scheme will be able to ask questions and get invaluable advice from two experienced industry professionals.
0 commentsA documentary project supported by Chocolate Films appeared on the front page of the Guardian website this weekend. The film considers the impact that supermarket price wars in luxury fruit are having on local communities in Costa Rica. Focussing specifically on the pineapple trade, the documentary shows that the drive for profits in Europe can have devastating consequences for people and the environment in other parts of the world. Chocolate Films produced subtitles in six European languages for the campaign film which was commissioned by Consumers International. To see the English language version of the film click here To read Felicity Lawrence's article on the pineapple trade visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/oct/02/truth-about-pineapple-production
0 commentsThe first of Futureversity's WWW! projects starts filming this weekend. 'Mute' is a drama about an isolated young woman who becomes involved with the lives of some of her neighbours. The four film-makers have developed a narrative with an intense emotional landscape and the film will be shot on location in Dagenham. The group are still seeking a male actor for the project. Please see our jobs board for further details.
0 commentsFutureversity's WWW! scheme will give five teams of young film-makers the opportunity to develop and produce their project with the support of Chocolate Films. Having completed an intensive week of production training and met with industry mentors, the teams will begin shooting their projects this month. Each group has been supported at every level of their film's development from idea stage to script writing and production training. The scheme also includes technical training and an opportunity for the film-makers to see their films shown on a big screen and entered into short film competitions. To follow the teams' blogs visit: http://www.what-we-want.tumblr.com For more picture of the project visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tower_hamlets_summer_uni/sets/72157624818345124/
0 commentsEstate Visions is an exciting new broadcasting course running in Hackney's Fawcett Estate and Fellows Court Estate from today, 27th Sept through to the end of the year. It will provide 32 young people with the chance to get their voice heard about local issues, by creating their own short programmes and broadcasting them on internet TV channels live from their estates. Arts Award Accreditation is also offered as part of this Chocolate Films project. Estate Visions has been funded by Media Box.Mediabox is delivered by a consortium led by First Light and Media Trust in partnership with Skillset and the UK Film Council.
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