Participatory Film

School children acting as sound crew Participatory film projects actively use film as a tool in community and personal development.

The process of participating is as - or even more - important than the production values of the finished film. Taking part in a participatory project can be an empowering and even life-changing experience for participants.

Here's how it works: the group, facilitated by mediaco-op, usually with the backup of their support worker, does some or all of the following:

comes up with an idea, usually linked to their area of knowledge or interest
develops a script or documentary storyboard
learns to use the camera, sound and lighting equipment
shoots the film
edits the work, with the support of a professional editor
is supported throughout the entire process to deal with any issues that come up
... and is always totally amazed at and delighted by the resulting movie!

See below for examples of mediaco-op's participatory film projects.

Give Me a Chance

mediaco-op worked with a team of four talented teenagers who are in care to create a video clip for Who Cares? Scotland's anti-stigma campaign, "Give Me a Chance". The film was released to the mainstream news media and featured on BBC Newsnight.

Who Cares? Scotland commented that the resulting 2-minute film is "brilliant.... dead stylish" and "absolutely hits the mark."

Primary

What do primary-school children think of asylum-seekers and refugees? mediaco-op put asylum-seeking youngsters behind the camera to ask them. This 90-second film, 'Primary' was funded by Oxfam Scotland and distributed by Oxfam, Amnesty International, Scottish Refugee Council, the Red Cross and others. It was screened on TV news, and on public sceens in shopping centres and train stations, and by asylum campaigners across Europe.