Dachaigh bheurla
It would be naive to ignore the omnipresence of the screen in daily life and our familiarity with its use for a myriad of purposes, including:
Fortunately, the reluctance to bring something so familiar into the learning environment is being eroded, and the use of film is increasingly being given higher priority within the school curriculum and lifelong learning.
Until recently, filmmaking in the classroom and other non-professional contexts has been a difficult, and financially prohibitive, endeavour. However, the digital revolution is changing that, as affordable high quality cameras, faster computers and entry level editing software become more accessible.
Nowadays, when we talk about 'filmmaking' what we really mean is the art of 'programme-making', using digital video tape and computer editing, rather than traditional celluloid film. It is possible to do amazing things with very little equipment, yet the right equipment remains a key part of the filmmaking process.
The most important resource is of course people. As an educator or faciltator you will be using film not just to find tomorrow's Richard Attenborough but to help young people develop skills and personal strengths and to learn.
Film demands lots of different skills which means that a whole class or community group can participate. Not only writers, artists, performers, musicians and technicians, but organisers, planners, computer wizz kids.... everyone will have something to contribute to the group activities. In addition, the making of the film creates an opportunity to extend existing talents and draw out new ones while building team spirit and empowering people.