However film education initiatives should be given their due, and this short case study will look at one of the major film education charities, Into Film, the work they are doing to combat some of the current problems in the film and television industries, and which of their initiatives might be useful to the younger generation if implemented nationwide.
Into Film describe themselves as seeking "to put film at the heart of children and young people's learning, contributing to their cultural, creative and personal development", focussing on watching films, filmmaking, teacher resources, training and development, meeting the industry and inclusion and outreach.
Into Film on: Privilege
The organisation put huge emphasis on allowing access to film education for all, regardless of background or ability. One such project launched in May of 2014 was the Lottery funded 'Opening Minds, Transforming Lives'. The initiative targeted children and young people from underprivileged backgrounds in Manchester, attempting to engage them with their local heritage through film, and in the process setting up 150 new film clubs in the Greater Manchester area. Sir Alastair Macdonald spoke at the opening event, saying;
If we want to narrow the gap in attainment we must give disadvantaged children what their middle class counterparts take for granted - art, culture, theatre, cinema, reading...film clubs help provide this
Sir Alasdair Macdonald, Former Headteacher
This programme's approach to inclusive film education is a particularly interesting one. By placing the focus on the local talent from the Greater Manchester area, the initiative is telling these students that coming from an underprivileged background does not determine their future, and they must strive to do what they want with their lives - whether it be in film, or an alternative passion. Given the universally acknowledged difficulty of breaking into the film industries, this approach gives resources and opportunity for young people, but most of all; hope.
Into Film on: Teacher Training
Into Film also place a particular emphasis on training teachers on positive ways to utilise film and moving image to engage students. We face a struggle today, created by the use of film and television in the classroom as 'treats', and often students see watching film as an opportunity to disengage.
They provide documents, resources and training sessions for teachers who wish to approach the use of film in their classrooms in a different way, and use it to help deeper engagement rather than the other way around.
Into Film's focuses themselves speak very clearly about the issues we're currently facing with film education, and with the industry itself. The inaccessibility of the industry, which I will address in more detail in a later post, can be off putting for any person, and especially those from underprivileged backgrounds. Into Film Into Film attempt to squander the notion that film-making is out of reach for those with less opportunities.
Education wise, we have a fundamental lack of understanding about how to use film in the classroom, and the current use of it is perpetuating and deepening the idea that the moving image is only a form of entertainment.
My hope for organisations like Into Film is that their work will be recognised and appreciated as important, not just in words, but in actions, by people in power who have the opportunity to implement some of their great approaches in schools nationwide, and help widen the pool of people they are reaching.
Footnotes
1) Information on "Opening Minds, Transforming Lives available at: "http://www.intofilm.org/news/articles/opening-minds-transforming-lives-manchester
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