Creative Reflections on the Impact of the Isolation Period: Short Film Workshops and Movie Making

<< Background >>The main goal of this project was to broaden opportunities for film-making, integrating the entire preparation, production, and post-production process into the teaching framework while employing innovative methods such as design thinking strategies (DTS) and visual thinking strategies (VTS), as well as implementing hybrid, informal and online forms of learning. Additionally, we aimed to bring together partner schools from diverse cultural backgrounds, fostering mutual inspiration and showcasing the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Another key objective was to unite and connect young people in a meaningful, creative project after the pandemic (which no doubt had a profound effect on their lives and mental health) offering them a platform to reflect on their experiences during the period of isolation. We also aimed to demonstrate to the participants the connection between committing to a creative project and its impact on the quality and success of the final outcome.Ultimately, the goal was to inspire and motivate the youth to have the confidence to share their artwork and the messages within it with a broader audience.<< Objectives >>By implementing the project, we aimed to engage young people in creative and communication activities, empowering them with tools such as film- making and digital design to reflect on their mental health and well-being, particularly in the context of the challenges brought on by the pandemic. The project sought to help students explore their emotions and develop resilience through creative means, while also fostering cooperation, communication skills, and cultural understanding. We wanted to offer a platform for students to enhance their ability to express themselves, improve their language skills, and engage with European films, all while promoting mental well-being and combating the negative effects of social media and addictive behaviors.Ultimately, the project aimed to inspire students to share their art and reflections, and to support them in expressing their thoughts on the post-pandemic world in a collaborative, culturally diverse environment.<< Implementation >>- a preparatory visit where the project representatives from each country met in Estonia where the plans for the project were discussed, an activity plan was set up, tasks and roles were assigned, agreements were signed.training sessions of film-making focused around the development of participating students’ practical film production skills in all three phases of film-making (pre-production, production and post-production)- training sessions on mental health which took the form of local seminars, the content of which was planned by the psychologists of TKG and modified to be suitable for each group of students in the participating countries by the mental health workers of their respective schools. - film-making sessions which encompassed the actual making of the eight short films, including all three stages of film-making (from pre- to post-production- a film festival and public events that included a special public screening of the final 8 short films completed as the result of this project by each country (Estonia, Portugal, Spain and Poland) in a cinema shown as part of a larger 3-day film festival.- project management which centered around structured cooperation between representatives of the participating countries.<< Results >>- We deepened our ties with our project partner countries through collaborative planning and execution of the project activities.- Students gained practical knowledge of the different stages of film-making (pre-production, production, post-production), with learning materials created for future use at each stage.In the first stage, students learned about and applied design thinking principles, with support materials provided by a participating teacher.During the second stage, our partner Justfilm developed learning materials for future use.We created a dedicated webpage to offer resources and information on post-production for students and teachers.- The student teams successfully produced 8 unique short films, totaling about 106 minutes of video material, all of which will be available for public viewing.- The film festival, along with workshops and related events, provided students with travel experiences and opportunities for interpersonal communication, helping to improve their social skills.- The films were shared on YouTube, screened publicly in schools, and showcased at the film festival, inspiring both the students involved and the viewers who watched the films in different settings.