Make a film in a day - for FREE!

Would you like to come along to a FREE filmmaking workshop in London SE15?

Our 'Make a Film in a Day' workshops give young people aged 11-18 the chance to:

• Make a film in a day
• Try out animation/documentary/drama and green screen
• See their ideas projected on a big screen.
• Learn camera and sound recording skills, and how to work as a team.
• See the best shots put together by the end of the day.

The workshops are run by Clapham Film Unit in partnership with Free Film Festivals. Participants create their own story ideas before scripting, directing, filming and editing their own videos - all in one day.

The dates for the 2012 workshops will be announced soon so sign up to the emailing list to find out about future workshops or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in coming to one.

Each workshop has spaces for 16 people.

Don't forget to find out about our SE15 Young Filmmakers Competition too, for young filmmakers aged 11-25.

This films below, Mind That Child and Area X, were devised, scripted, directed and edited by the drama group (aged 11-16) and animation group (aged 10-13) at our first 'Make a Film in a Day' workshop on Saturday 3 December 2011 on the Friary and Unwin Estate, North Peckham. A huge well done to the 16 young filmmakers who took part and contributed so much to the event!

What parents say...

“Thanks for booking us in to the Workshop on Saturday. My son had an amazing time and asked if he could know more about future events that you are likely hold. From a parent's point of view I was extremely pleased and impressed by the quality of work the children produced.” Laura (parent)

Report on our ‘Make a Film in a Day’ workshop, Sat 3 December 2011

A brief summary of the workshop by Charlotte Bill of the Clapham Film Unit. The workshop was held on the Friary and Unwin Estate, North Peckham, Sat 3 December 2011.

As people arrived I asked them to choose 'documentary', 'drama' or 'animation'. I had prepared three tables with lining paper and felt pens.

People chose which area they were interested in and began drawing (animators) and writing ideas (drama). When everyone had arrived we showed 37 to Heaven and Zombie Hamster (two films entered into the SE15 Young Filmmakers Competition 2011) as examples of drama and animation. No one had selected documentary so we didn't show a documentary film.

I gave each table ten minutes to idea-storm their ideas. I demonstrated the cameras and microphones, found out how much experience the participants had and discussed when to use close up and wideshot.

The drama group came up with their story so we went outside to shoot it. Their was a very talented actor in the group, Saffron, whose talent was so clear we all were brought to a high level of achievement.

Leila, the director, was also very clear about the shots she needed. The rest of the group collaborated well and took turns on roles of camera and sound. We shot the first part then stopped for lunch.

During lunch I caught up with what had been happening in the animation group. Darren had worked with the group to develop their character ideas into a storyboard, and had helped them to collaborate on backgrounds. They were making good progress although this group was more disparate than the other group. However they did all enjoy it and produced a crazy story of space and aliens and graveyards.

After lunch both groups carried on working, the drama group finishing then seeing their shots on the big screen. Darren showed how to put the shots together on computer and then worked with the animation group to put theirs together. They recorded some soundtrack effects but ended up performing a soundtrack live as their film was shown.

At 3.55pm we had a grand screening showing both films to the Free Film Festivals people and to various parents.

As a result of the workshop participants:

• improved teamworking skills
• grew in confidence and expressed their views
• aremore likely to go on and make further films (because they have the skills to do it)
• are more aware of opportunities to take filmmaking further (eg as a career)

I planned the workshop and chose to work with Darren as he is a flexible and talented filmmaker with good people skills and a wide range of teaching experience. I felt we had to respond to the ideas of the group and be open to them leading, whilst supporting them technically and in terms of team work. If the participants had been different ages or less motivated we would have changed things around to suit the needs of the group.

Charlotte Bill, Clapham Film Unit