01 Make Your Own Movie!

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1. The project in a nutshell

The project aims to introduce young people ages 8 to 18 to filmmaking by helping them discover all the stages involved in making a film. Through these film workshops, they develop their creativity, critical thinking, and reflective skills, while gaining an appreciation for the language of moving images.

2. The Project’s Objective

The goal of these workshops is to introduce young participants to the process of making a film through its various stages. Another objective is to raise their awareness of the language of moving images, help them express their creativity, develop their critical thinking skills, and encourage reflection through discussion and active listening. Designed for young people (ages 8 to 18), the film workshops offer them an opportunity to express themselves, starting with a technical approach and culminating in the creation of a short film—an approach that also aims to stimulate their artistic development. The film workshops thus offer young participants the chance to explore the world of cinema—a unique opportunity to make a film, tailored to their interests, their desire to film, and the stories they want to tell. Wide-Reaching Visibility: The films produced during the workshop will be screened in the participating neighborhood as well as in a real movie theater in Lausanne. The films may also be screened in various neighborhoods throughout the city of Lausanne thanks to a traveling cinema. This will provide young filmmakers with the opportunity to present their work. The theme should help people feel a personal connection to the films. Based on these thematic choices, the filmmakers will provide guidance on their projects.

The educational objectives of the workshops:

• Discovering and understanding cinematic language: understanding and analyzing films, learning to interpret images and the messages they convey.

• Stimulate creativity and self-expression: tell a story, create a visual and auditory world, and work on a theme that resonates with the young participants.

• Develop critical thinking and active listening: learn to exchange ideas, collaborate, and reflect together on artistic or technical choices.

• Learning the technical basics of filmmaking: framing, sound recording, editing, directing actors, etc.

• Foster social connections: encourage teamwork in a friendly environment, while allowing young people to discover the cultural resources of their neighborhood.

3. The Project in Detail

Make Your Own Movie! : “Learning About Images Through Images”

The project offers a comprehensive introduction to filmmaking for young people ages 8 to 18 from various neighborhoods in Lausanne, immersing them in the filmmaking process. Through five days of hands-on, collaborative workshops, participants will discover every stage of filmmaking, from writing the script to the final screening. The goal is to stimulate their critical thinking, creativity, and reflection while raising their awareness of the language of moving images. These workshops, led by professionals, allow young people to understand filmmaking techniques, learn to collaborate as a team, and express themselves artistically in a supportive and fun environment. The project also aims to broaden their perspective on the world by offering them the opportunity to tell stories that directly relate to their lives. The films produced will be showcased through several screenings: first in the neighborhoods where the workshops take place, then at a movie theater in Lausanne as part of the Festival Cinéma Jeune Public. Finally, thanks to a partnership with the Doc’it Yourself association, the films will be screened at various locations throughout the city via a traveling cinema, providing the young filmmakers with broad exposure.

An Inclusive and Empowering Approach
The film workshops are designed to include and empower every participant, regardless of age or experience. Each young person will play a key role in the collective creation of the film: whether as an actor, director, screenwriter, or technician, everyone will be able to express themselves and contribute their unique vision. The overarching theme, defined in collaboration with sociocultural centers, will ground the films in the realities of young people and their neighborhoods, fostering a strong sense of connection to the project.

Promotion and Distribution of the Films Produced Local
Screening: An initial screening is organized in the neighborhood where the workshop took place, attended by families, friends, and residents.

Young Audiences Film Festival: The films are then screened in a real movie theater in Lausanne, offering participants a rewarding experience.

Traveling Cinema: Thanks to the Doc’it Yourself Association, the films will travel to other neighborhoods in Lausanne, allowing these creations to be shared with a wider audience.

Conclusion
This film workshop project is much more than a simple introduction: it is an artistic and human adventure that invites young people to express themselves, learn, and create while discovering the behind-the-scenes world of cinema. Through this experience, they develop technical, critical, and creative skills, while broadening their perspective on the world.

4. The amount requested to carry out the project

CHF 20,000

• Cultural Mediation Support: CHF 2,400

• Professional Film Industry Professionals: CHF 6,400

• Rental of professional film equipment: CHF 4,000

• Screenings in neighborhoods + at movie theaters + traveling cinema: CHF 4,190

• Professional film post-production: CHF 3,010

5. Neighborhood(s)

Bellevaux/Boveresses/Prélaz