Youth are invited to participate in a filmmaking and content creation program centred around personal and political storytelling through video production.
Through "Made By Us: A Youth Media Project," young people will be able to explore how social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram can be powerful tools for self-expression and activism. Over the course of four days, they will learn the ropes of filmmaking, from concept to creation with low-cost DIY tools that can be used beyond their time in the program.
By the end of the workshop, youth will create one short video for TikTok or Instagram and will be left with skills to continue building on.
The program has two facilitators, Zain Burgess and Sophia Hughes.
Burgess is a filmmaker with over a decade of experience working with Indigenous communities across Canada.
Hughes is a youth worker and TikToker with over a decade of experience working with children and youth in community settings.
"Together, we hope the program will be a great blend of traditional/professional film making techniques with some fun and contemporary exploration of creating content," said Hughes. "We want it to be a place for participants to explore film making and learn skills that they can use to keep telling stories that are meaningful for them."
"I love the role that social media content has played in expanding minds and opening doors for people to share their creativity and voice," she said. "I’m enthusiastic about the potential that apps like TikTok have for everyday people to share ideas, art or stories. I know how empowering it is for youth to learn skills to share their experiences."
"My message for participants would be that this is an opportunity to gain skills they can use to keep making their own content, and to have a fun time learning about film production and video editing," Hughes said.
"The idea for Made By Us stemmed from a program we ran last year in collaboration with Reel Youth, where youth created three documentary films featuring elders in the community," said Shochoy Fray, Youth Leadership program director. "Seeing the impact of that project, we wanted to continue providing young people with creative opportunities to tell stories that matter to them."
Currently, six out of the 15 slots in the program are still available. For more information, email shochoy.f@volunteerterrace.com.
The workshop is funded by the Government of Canada.
