Dyfi Film Ysgol
In Spring 2022, Dyfi Film School launched with the generous support of Ceredigion Council, Visual Impact Cardiff, and Vitec Solutions. This initiative aimed to empower young individuals in the Dyfi Biosphere with essential skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm for film and TV production. Despite the thriving industry in Wales, the cost and commitment of a full degree posed challenges for local youth.
The project had clear goals:
- Provide courses for film and TV enthusiasts without formal training.
- Introduce possibilities in the industry and pathways to careers.
- Help students enhance their CVs for opportunities like the BFI Residential Film Academy and university courses.
The project was driven by principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability. Courses were promoted widely with non-discriminatory language and imagery. Efforts were made to accommodate participants with disabilities, aiming to establish a reliable path for Dyfi Biosphere youth to gain valuable skills.
The pilot project, supported by Ceredigion Council, Visual Impact Cardiff, and Vitec Solutions, took place in Spring 2022, concluding by May. The program included 10 sessions: 5 for skills and 5 for student-led film projects.
Workshop Highlights:
- Week 1: Technical training for cameras, sound, lighting, and editing.
- Week 2: Idea development, team formation, schedules, and legalities.
- Week 3: Basics of producing, directing, and photography.
- Week 4: Post-production skills, from file management to editing and sound.
One distinctive aspect was student-led projects. Over weeks, they crafted a documentary about Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Community Gardens, showcasing their growth through interviews, filming, and editing.
Student feedback was positive, even from those without experience. Challenges included the weekly format and timing, especially for students with other commitments. Suggestions included more planning.
As the initial phase closed, Dyfi Film School achieved its aim of imparting knowledge and skills. Students left with a professional film for their CVs, thanks to the support of Ceredigion Council, Visual Impact Cardiff, and Vitec Solutions.
Future plans involve a condensed, intensive two-week structure during the summer break. Broader advertising targeting schools and colleges is suggested. Learning from the experience, adherence to funding partners' timelines and a slightly streamlined curriculum are noted.
Connections with institutions like the British Film Institute and Film Cymru are opotions to explore int he future. The collaboration of Ceredigion Council, Visual Impact Cardiff, and Vitec Solutions remains instrumental in Dyfi Film School's success.
Week 1: Equipment learning day Workshop leader: William Tremlett
This workshop covered all the technical knowledge and skills required to operate the equipment and editing software which would be used during the course.
Week 2: Pre-production training Workshop leader: Helen Jones
How to have an idea and develop that idea into a story that will interest audiences How to assemble the team needed to make a film How to make a production schedule Release forms, risk assessments, and other legal requirements
Week 3: Production training Workshop leaders: William Tremlett
Producing fundamentals Directing fundamentals Photographic fundamentals
Week 4: Post-production training Workshop leader: Rob Featherstone
How to download and organize video files How to assemble a story out of video files How to color grade your final film How to mix your final film's sound
Student Led Projects - Supervised by Will Tremlett
Week 5: Pre-production for student-led project. The students decided to create a documentary about the Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Community Gardens in Machynlleth. They organized themselves into a crew, with each member having a designated role for the project.
Week 6: Shoot 1 In the first shoot, interviews were conducted with Angela Paxton and two of the gardens volunteers.
Week 7: Shoot 2 Three more volunteers were interviewed by the students.
Week 8: Shoot 3 "B Roll" footage of the wildlife and nature in the gardens was collected by the students.
Week 9: Editing day 1
Week 10 Editing day 2
Week 11: Editing day 3
Week 12: Screening
Week 13: Community film-making Workshop leader: Anne Marie Carty
Anne Marie led a workshop examining the 2019 climate strikes footage and how to edit this footage in a way that represents the interests of the film's subjects. The Dyfi Film School students were involved, as well as some of the young people who participated in the Youth Strikes and appeared in the footage.
