workshop: film activism

Media: Video
Date: September - December 2008
Location: Beirut
Facilitator: Chantal Partmian
Participants: Inaam Fakih, Jamal Aridi, Patricia Beaini, Nader Houela, Zainab Nasser

Description of the Workshop

The Lens on Lebanon Video Workshop concentrated on an introduction about the history of activism throughout film and how, briefly, history and movements have been influenced by the visual arts. We also discussed the power of the image and the possibility of its manipulation and try to comprehend the idea that a frame is a limitation and that reality is fragmented on screen.

From there we moved to the different ways of shooting a film and expressing an idea. After having understood the importance of a synopsis and a shot list and the division of the main tasks in a production document, we later concentrated on the technology, on what is a camera, its functions, its possibilities and how to use it to its best potential. Shooting starts in the final part of this phase. During shooting more technical questions were raised and enabled a more thorough understanding of the material at hand.

By the end of the workshop, the main goal was to have given the trainees the technical skills so that they can conduct their projects themselves. It would be amazing to manage to give them a new tool for expression specifically since digital technology enables a possibility of creativity that is very accessible to amateur work.

View the short films >>

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