How to make a film or media product

3 and 4 September 2011, Roma

Journal entry: Chris Bennie (AoT Artist)

It was a shaky start. The conductor couldn’t guarantee the next train would arrive. Power down in the CBD apparently. But it came, and with time to spare.

I love those little regional planes - the ones with the propellers on the outside. The ascent is always a bit rocky, but if you try to not think about it, it becomes like a rollercoaster.

A motel with a couch!

10 o’clock starts are the way forward I believe, everyone is a little more ready it seems. After some discussion about video techniques and processes in the morning, I divided the workshop into two groups who then took Roma by storm. Video camera’s, stills camera’s and iPhone’s were capturing all the gold they could handle as each group acted out their prepared storyboard down local streets and in front of monuments and pubs. And before you knew it we had to pack up.

Day two and everyone is hunched over laptops figuring out editing while constructing their own version of the archetypal hero meets villain to save Roma scenario. There’s barely a peep. Future Jane Campion’s and John Carpenters wield editing magic through the practicalities of Windows Move Maker and iMovie. To top it all off, the afternoon heralds the premiere screening of each others work.

There are fanfare, and applause, recommendations and bashfulness, but overall smiles foreground the weekend of our new media immersion.

One last quiet night away from the hustle and bustle, then oh, terrific, back on the rollercoaster and another job well done, and another great experience.

Image: workshop participants during Chris Bennie's workshop in Roma.