Story boards and photo-movie workshops for ESL youths

The Storyboard and Photo-movie workshops will teach young people how to create and narrate a story using photographs, sound and music. They learn movie making skills, techniques and terminology. This workshop is designed for young immigrants of the community whose first language is not English. Five separate workshops will be imparted, each one lasting eight hours. Key activities include: writing a synopsis, making a storyboard, learning camera shots and angles, determining locations, sets and props; acting, teamwork, directing and delegation, delivering a quality final product. Using their own mobile phones or an iPad to take the photographs and edit.

This project will provide a creative means for non-English speaking immigrant youths living in the Western suburbs to tell short stories through drawing, photography, and video-making. By working in teams, interacting with people in the streets of our community spaces, this activity supports integration and understanding between neighbours. The resulting video clips can be projected in public spaces, at local cultural festivals or in the library, thereby creating a sense of accomplishment and recognition of this collaborative effort. These stories can participate in film festivals outside of the community, hereby promote our community and the work of young immigrant artists.