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Film-making programmes for young people

Poplar Film School was originally devised in response to a call for out-of-school projects to help achieve young people’s educational attainment in certain areas of Tower Hamlets. It ran from 2005 to 2006 and was funded by Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, and worked in partnership with Tower Hamlets Arts Service, The Paradise Zone Youth Club (Salvation Army), Poplar Harca, Tower Hamlets Secondary Schools and Street Soul.

The programme targets young people in need of support at Key Stage 3 and 4. It is designed to develop literacy and IT skills through the filmmaking process, to enable participants to gain practical film making skills, and to assist in their creative, social and personal development.

Hi8us South’s film-making programmes are facilitated by professional film-makers and media practitioners who combine skills and experience in both film production and working collaboratively with young people.

The film-makers are supported by local youth workers and peer mentors and all project team members hold current enhanced police disclosures.

There are two models for delivering Poplar Film School
• A term of after school sessions including a half term intensive week
• Intensive week long courses
‘I’ve learned lots of new stuff, how to edit, how to put music over it, how to cut it off, how to hold the camera and use the camera and set it all up’

 

 

Achievements and outcomes of Poplar Film School

Participants in Poplar Film School achieve a range of outcomes:

• Basic camera, sound and editing skills
• Planning and storyboarding
• Development of creative thinking
• Working as a part of a team
• Taking responsibility for their part of the work
• Increased motivation
• Increased self confidence and self esteem
• Communication & negotiation skills
• A sense of commitment

Several youth workers and teachers have commented on how their own skills and knowledge has increased through participating and Poplar Film School, that they feel less nervous of technical projects and more able to see the links with their own subject areas.
‘J, over time moved from being a quiet seemingly dependent and introverted young person to someone who was able to act on his own initiative, give his opinions confidently and when necessary take a leading role in the group. He challenged his comfort zone to gain new knowledge and skills in film making and in building relationships which paid the dividends of a range of new skills and abilities, new friends and a new found confidence and self-esteem, which will help him to more easily do the same in the future.’ - (Youth Worker)
 
   

© Poplar Film School is a Hi8us South project