By Hannah Grun, Competition Facilitator
Kia ora koutou! We’re almost halfway through the six week submission period for the Rangatahi mō Papatūānuku video competition (open to ages 16 – 25).
From our analytics we can see a lot of interest in our social media and webpage from Canterbury, Northland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Otago and Auckland. What about your region? How are you planning to share your vision on how to ensure Papatūānuku thrives?
There’s still time to plan, shoot and edit your 2 minute factual video so you can upload by 15th March. Upload on the DOC website once you’re ready.
You will have the chance to win prize money of $1000 or $500 out of the six categories: Creative content; Te reo Māori; Memory; Funny; Ambassador for protection of the rohe; and Rangatahi presenter choice.
KAUPAPA
We’ve received a really positive response to the kaupapa of the competition so far. Rangatahi mō Papatūānuku is a space for you to share your voice and ideas and partake in the kaitiaki conversation.
So how is the making of your video going?
Two minutes might seem like a short amount of time, but working out the story you want to tell and preparing before you shoot can really help you make a powerful factual video and keep your narrative strong.
If you’re a bit stuck on how to kick start things, think about the message or the feeling you want your viewer to come away with.
How are you going to communicate your story? It could be through interviewing someone with a particular memory of what once was or, someone who is active in the protection of Te Taiao. You could also focus on your own personal experience of the health of Papatūānuku that is specific to your region. Your video will speak to your friends, whānau and the people of Aotearoa. We hope you give it a go.
Consider all the different shots you want to collect – and add a few more for luck. Try and get wide shots with views and scenery, close up shots of specific things, different sized shots of the people in your film. Having a choice of images when you come to edit your footage into your story means you can stitch together different shots into meaningful sequences.
Shots in a factual film nearly always include:
• A Roll: The best of your footage, often interviews or vlogs that help narrate the central story.
• B Roll: Also known as ‘cutaways’, these are contextual shots which are edited together and cover any edits in the interviews you use. They may feature what that person is talking about. You’ll thank yourself for getting enough of these shots when you get to the editing stage!
Looking at the different forms of factual filmmaking can help you turn your idea into a powerful story and make it stand out. There are different ways to tell a story; you can use a personal point of view; you can use metaphors, parables, poetry and/or music. You can tell a a story by observing someone going about their daily life as in ‘a day in the life’, or, you could become an actual character in your film. Maybe think about a style that would best get your idea to your audience.
Whether you’re new to filmmaking or are experienced, the competition is open to your interpretation of what we can do to ensure Papatūānuku can thrive – so give it a go. We are offering support to anyone who would like it.
WORKSHOPS
We’ve partnered with production company Storybox to run four free online workshops.
If you’re looking for inspiration, keen to pick up some basic filmmaking skills or have specific questions about the competition, come to our last workshops (running on Thursday 4th March ‘Editing & Upload at 4pm). Check our website for more workshop specific information including the zoom links to join them. If you can’t make those times, we’ll post a workshop blog, including a recording of the presenters.
Head to www.doc.govt.nz/rangatahivids for up to date information on the competition and how to join these online workshops. Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us at rangatahivids@doc.govt.nz.
Make sure you tag your friends who might like to participate too!
Kuru raki!
Good luck!
