Screen Education Edinburgh promise top tips for all Capital's budding film-makers during lockdown

'LIGHTS, music, action...' Budding young film-makers are to be given the chance to demonstrate their cinematic talents through an exciting new initiative from Screen Education Edinburgh.

Screen Education Edinburgh have launched Your Take

Your Take, a free online film-making course open to young people, families, and teachers throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians will provide learning and support for all aspiring Steven Spielbergs out there, allowing them to make a short film at home during lockdown.

Project manager Laura Findlay also hopes the course will provide a creative outlet for young people and families to alleviate the stress of current social distancing. She explains, "The aim of Your Take is to engage more people in film-making and I would encourage people to take part as film-making is a brilliant creative outlet that also gives the chance to gain new skills.

"We want our course to be both fun and educational. It has been designed in such a way that it’s suitable for all types of learners. Young people may want to make films independently or with siblings or other family members. Parents may want to learn alongside too. We’ve also had interest from teachers who want to use Your Take virtually with their pupils.”

To take part in Your Take, no experience is required as all films can be shot on equipment that would-be film-makers have to hand, whether that be phones, iPads or tablets.

Once signed up to the course, learners will have the choice of producing their very own drama, making a documentary about a subject close to their heart or even trying their hand at making an animated film. Throughout the filming process they will be supported by from Screen Education Edinburgh's film tutors.

Laura explains, "Tutors will support learners through Q&As, scheduled feedback sessions, and a combination of live and recorded video sessions - where they can take learners through certain aspects of the course, such as creating characters for animation, setting up a shot, getting sound levels right, or story-boarding a drama, for example.

"Learners can access our materials by registering for free on our website. Once registered they will be invited to join our secure online learning portal which houses all of our learning resources and video guides - learners will also be able to chat to tutors here and watch live workshops, take part in Q&A sessions, watch films and discuss them."

Over the years, Screen Education Edinburgh has helped to develop its fair share of talent currently working in the industry.

"We have had people come through our programmes who have gone on to become film producers, such as Wendy Griffin (The Uncertain Kingdom, Calibre, Not Another Happy Ending), documentary filmmakers, such as Grant McPhee (EIFF audience winner Big Gold Dream, Teenage Superstars), and directors, such as Andrea Harkin (The Trial of Christine Keeler, Come Home, Clique)," says Laura proudly.

"And in terms of future talent, there’s a host of young people currently about to graduate alongside many other freelance film and TV technicians that have came through our organisation. The main thing for us is promoting the fact that this industry is for everyone, so we work to make film accessible for all. It’s always exciting to see anyone, young or old, that works with us be inspired by film."

Your Take is the latest in a series of similar initiatives which have proved popular in recent times.

"Since lockdown we have seen others host film challenges or offer online courses. These have proved popular and we are certainly receiving a healthy number of applications with several coming in daily. We have lots of teachers wanting to use this in virtual classrooms they’re running, parents who want to make a film with their child, or siblings of different ages making a film together."

Although, not a competition, films, which should be no more than two minutes long, will be viewed by Screen Education Edinburgh's Youth Advisory Panel in order to select some for Special Mentions and, under normal circumstances, all films would also be shown at a special screening.

"At the moment films will be hosted on our website as well as our Vimeo channel," says Laura. "We have discussed the possibility of a screening but this would have to be looked at in the future when there’s a clearer picture of how that might happen safely and responsibly."

Your Take is one of several programmes Screen Education Edinburgh runs throughout the year, including advanced film-making courses as well as a Moving Image Arts course.

A part of the Edinburgh City Film Education Programme, Your Take has been developed in partnership with other film-making and education organisations in the Capital, including Into Film Scotland, Centre for the Moving Image, and Arts and Creative Learning at City of Edinburgh Council.

To register to take part visit the Screen Education Edinburgh website at https://www.screen-ed.org/your-take​

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