Hello everybody - first of all click on the flicker link on your left to see the updated pictures - when you get in, if you look on your right you will see the words 'slide show' which allows you to view them as a continuous slide show - Lieve looks absolutely amazing.
So like day 1, day 2 was another tremendous success. Everyone fedback how much they enjoyed themselves (see Emma's comments on the blog today) and felt that they could have gone on for days. The level of creativity was fantastic.
Directors feedback
Here is a brief summary of what each group achieved. Jenny's group built on their personal content from last week and decided to develop some of these themes after establishing that participants were happy about this. Nina and Donald developed a dance which they filmed in the studies as a thread to run through the piece. Ellen, Deniece and Paul then devised some questions in order to interview Nina and Donald about their experiences of being 'older'. They experimented with dancing in the studio and their own 'stories' meaning that they now have so much material to edit!.
Peter's team went out - voxpop in the street for an hour whilst the sun was shinning and interviewed some passers by about their attitudes towards dating across age groups and their responses to questions about attraction towards older men and women. They got a range of responses, some very stereotyped, but others very interesting. In the afternoon they went on to film two scenarios in the studio. The first involving John and Massey to explore the experiences of a person who is transvestite and moving into a residential home. They explored issues around emotion, loss, problems and the type of support someone would need. The second scenario with Vi and Khakoli explored Vi's character being in love with Khakoli's brother, cross cultural issues around love and family reactions. Peter shot them in an unusual way. The group also reshot the poem. Peter comented on how impressed he was with the standard of the student's improvisations, straight to camera - amazing work.
Finally Amandas group had an enjoyable day although would have liked to have a whole week to develop the number of ideas that emerged. They filmed the scenario of a social worker and older service user completing an assessment using a tool that has 'smoking/alcohol/sexual health’ questions. This used improvisation and was filmed to show the internal dialogue of social worker’s reactions and the older persons thoughts. They then did some work outside around issues of moving into care in a comedy style and reshot Sue's poem. Then ended up in a grand finale with Lieve's striptease.
The whole group finished the day by filming a stand-up routing with a canned laughter audience using Jim's recommended jokes.
Student feedback
Great, exploring issues, laughed so much, went so quickly, 6 ideas, did 3, could have done more.
I enjoyed the diversity in the group, mix of young and older people, the different views and it was all so honest. Made me think how as a social worker how people are put on the spot by asking such questions, the embarrassment, the intrusion, need to be more aware. Fantastic, loved the whole experience.
Felt shy at beginning about mingling – now ‘Yeah, bring it on’! Became aware of so many issues usually subconscious but this brought them to conscious level so could discuss, e.g. transvestite scenario – realised that social workers don’t really know about transvestites and their needs.
(John added that when went out for fire alarm dressed as tranvestite more people talked to him than usual!)
It was interesting filming out on location in the street – some passers by were interested, some not.
Loved it, thoroughly enjoyed it all: finding out about sound, cameras, doing something different and getting ideas going. Thanks to directors. There was lots to share and not much time but Jenny controlled it all well.
I discovered a creative part of me don’t have time for me in the day job and now need to decide what to do with it (Sue).
Lots of thanks to Trish and the actors and directors.
We have another workshop booked on Wednesday 11 June from 2 - 5pm, watch this space for the location.
This workshop will start by looking at the second lot of edited material and then we will have some focus groups on looking at how we might use them and develop them as learning materials. Please put any ideas on this blog or e mail Trish. There will need to be a full discussion about who will access and see the materials, public vs restricted and consent issues to be clarified. In the meantime, all filmed material remains within the group.
Last but not least - here is Sue's poem!
When I was 19
I wore a tie-dye shirt
Had an Afro style haircut
And smelt of Joss Sticks
I yearned for a black PVC coat
Enjoyed Tamla Motown
And danced in the street
When I was 40
I wore a fitted trousers suit
Had my hair permed
And smelt of Channel no 5
I yearned for a Hermes bag
Enjoyed jazz and blues
And danced the tango
Now I am 84
I only wear beige
My hair is lank and greasy
I smell………of urine
I yearn…….. to be valued
I enjoy…….. very little
And dance….in my dreams
I’m in a care home
By Sue Shaw
Please go on to the blog if you can and contribute to keep in touch. If you can't get on, e mail it back to me and I will put it on for you.
All the best
Trish
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Hi everyone,
What fab project! I've been talking about it since we finished filming - shocking people with the thought of Leive's strip tease and quoting the first line of her poem: "I'm not into scrubbing and brooming, I'm more into rubbing and grooming"! What a chat up line!
Thank you so much to all the organisers, actors and students for making it an amazingly creative day. The gentle, supportive environment, contributed to by all, allowed us to cover hard hitting topics in a non threatening way. I hope these sentiments, coupled with how much of a laugh we had, will come across in the film clips produced.
Looking forward to the premier!
Love to all,
Emma x
What fab project! I've been talking about it since we finished filming - shocking people with the thought of Leive's strip tease and quoting the first line of her poem: "I'm not into scrubbing and brooming, I'm more into rubbing and grooming"! What a chat up line!
Thank you so much to all the organisers, actors and students for making it an amazingly creative day. The gentle, supportive environment, contributed to by all, allowed us to cover hard hitting topics in a non threatening way. I hope these sentiments, coupled with how much of a laugh we had, will come across in the film clips produced.
Looking forward to the premier!
Love to all,
Emma x
Friday, 23 May 2008
Post filming blues
Well done everybody - after a very stimulating and enjoying day and thank you for your participation. How can I sum up, perhaps around some of the themes that emerged and came out of your creativity.
Some people focused on thinking about older people they knew and perceptions of them as sexual beings or being sexual. One group talked about the rape of an older people's identity that can happen in institutionalised care arrangements and settings, for example, the importance of clothing and appearance. There was some reflection on whether it was appropriate to use public funding to meet older people's sexual needs and how this sits within government policy. And many others.
Have a look at the feedback below (in no particular order):
What people said they enjoyed
The filming - sound and setting frames
The imediacy of it. Very raw material, no sense of it being 'scripted' or rehearsed
People's stories - really interesting
Working with a diverse group. Being creative - writing something original and working with actors/directors.
Everybody co-operated well - staff, students, actors, guests.
Getting a new perspective on things from the actors and watching them in action - very impressive.
The atmosphere - very calm and hardworking but we laughed quite a lot. We did tackle some interesting angles on the main topics too.
Enjoyed listening to personal experiences from different cultures.
I enjoyed the idea of sharing emotional feelings together. It was therapy to me because some of these things being bad memories and the sad thing about it is we cannot change the past. If our individual contributions can change other people's lives in a more positive way, then it will be great.
Being comfortable with being as open/bold in revealing stuff to do with sexuality.
I enjoyed being taken out of my comfort zone.
What people said suprised them:
How open people are on the whole
So many stereotypes about older age
The depth to which people opened up
How passionate I felt about this topic
The chap in the film about running a cafe was considered 'old' at 55!
I was surprised how eery it was to get the ideas flowing
That each group only concentrated on one area.
Small discussion groups were very informative and educational. No suprises at how hard to recognise older people thoughts and preferences about sexuality.
The interaction with students and actors suport.
Enjoyed the group I worked with - suprise the way we were filming, the slots and how we acted.
Why is it so difficult to talk about still in this day and age when we are all doing it and it's so natural.
What people said made them feel uncomfortable
None - I was comfortable talking about the issue.
My emotions almost overwhelmed me. However I had a good interview where prompting helped me stay in control.
Next week I'd like to get opinions of other groups and ideas/ suggestions before we start filming our piece.
Nothing, I felt really comfortable - very welcoming group, good sense of humour but also calm and not pressurised - perfect!
No everyone in the group were relaxed.
Speaking about family's sex life on camera, knowing that they would be uncomfortable about it (i.e the ethics of it).
Uncertainty about visualisation
Not used to talking about sexuality.
Using some sexual terms, I couldn't even say it which might be part of my cultural upbringing..
Ideas /Thoughts for next week
Ideas/ Role play
A visual dictionary (e.g, film of peoples mouths) saying multicultural 'rude' words and euphamisms for rumpty - tumpty/goolies.
Gestures and words to express sexuality (gentle) in outdoor environment, for filming
Next week I'd like to get opinions of other groups and ideas/suggestions before we start filming our piece.
Explore more of the ideas using cultural differences.
Some people focused on thinking about older people they knew and perceptions of them as sexual beings or being sexual. One group talked about the rape of an older people's identity that can happen in institutionalised care arrangements and settings, for example, the importance of clothing and appearance. There was some reflection on whether it was appropriate to use public funding to meet older people's sexual needs and how this sits within government policy. And many others.
Have a look at the feedback below (in no particular order):
What people said they enjoyed
The filming - sound and setting frames
The imediacy of it. Very raw material, no sense of it being 'scripted' or rehearsed
People's stories - really interesting
Working with a diverse group. Being creative - writing something original and working with actors/directors.
Everybody co-operated well - staff, students, actors, guests.
Getting a new perspective on things from the actors and watching them in action - very impressive.
The atmosphere - very calm and hardworking but we laughed quite a lot. We did tackle some interesting angles on the main topics too.
Enjoyed listening to personal experiences from different cultures.
I enjoyed the idea of sharing emotional feelings together. It was therapy to me because some of these things being bad memories and the sad thing about it is we cannot change the past. If our individual contributions can change other people's lives in a more positive way, then it will be great.
Being comfortable with being as open/bold in revealing stuff to do with sexuality.
I enjoyed being taken out of my comfort zone.
What people said suprised them:
How open people are on the whole
So many stereotypes about older age
The depth to which people opened up
How passionate I felt about this topic
The chap in the film about running a cafe was considered 'old' at 55!
I was surprised how eery it was to get the ideas flowing
That each group only concentrated on one area.
Small discussion groups were very informative and educational. No suprises at how hard to recognise older people thoughts and preferences about sexuality.
The interaction with students and actors suport.
Enjoyed the group I worked with - suprise the way we were filming, the slots and how we acted.
Why is it so difficult to talk about still in this day and age when we are all doing it and it's so natural.
What people said made them feel uncomfortable
None - I was comfortable talking about the issue.
My emotions almost overwhelmed me. However I had a good interview where prompting helped me stay in control.
Next week I'd like to get opinions of other groups and ideas/ suggestions before we start filming our piece.
Nothing, I felt really comfortable - very welcoming group, good sense of humour but also calm and not pressurised - perfect!
No everyone in the group were relaxed.
Speaking about family's sex life on camera, knowing that they would be uncomfortable about it (i.e the ethics of it).
Uncertainty about visualisation
Not used to talking about sexuality.
Using some sexual terms, I couldn't even say it which might be part of my cultural upbringing..
Ideas /Thoughts for next week
Ideas/ Role play
A visual dictionary (e.g, film of peoples mouths) saying multicultural 'rude' words and euphamisms for rumpty - tumpty/goolies.
Gestures and words to express sexuality (gentle) in outdoor environment, for filming
Next week I'd like to get opinions of other groups and ideas/suggestions before we start filming our piece.
Explore more of the ideas using cultural differences.
Monday, 19 May 2008
Grumpy, rude whatever!
Thanks Paul - beautiful filming about the child soldiers and poignant music and words - we will be thinking about what music and words we want in our filming. Any ideas come to mind? Trish
Session Schedule
May 22nd, Meet in K302
12.30 - 1.30 Lunch and breifing, choose and agree topics and look at some film clips - what does film do?
2.00 - 3.00 Break out into groups, Director/camera person, actors, students and create a script and allocate jobs and parts
3.00 - 4.30 Shoot sequences
4.45 - 5.30 End of day debrief and refreshments
Between session 1 & 2 sequences will be edited at 1 London Bridge, if you can make it, come along and observe.
May 29
10.30 - 11.30 viewing of first sequences and discussion
12 - 1 Break out into our groups again and agree on any new topics or expansion
1 - 2 Lunch (K302)
2.15 - 4.45 Shoot new sequences or re-shoot previous ideas (perhaps 'on location')
5 - 5.30 Debrief and agree next stage.
12.30 - 1.30 Lunch and breifing, choose and agree topics and look at some film clips - what does film do?
2.00 - 3.00 Break out into groups, Director/camera person, actors, students and create a script and allocate jobs and parts
3.00 - 4.30 Shoot sequences
4.45 - 5.30 End of day debrief and refreshments
Between session 1 & 2 sequences will be edited at 1 London Bridge, if you can make it, come along and observe.
May 29
10.30 - 11.30 viewing of first sequences and discussion
12 - 1 Break out into our groups again and agree on any new topics or expansion
1 - 2 Lunch (K302)
2.15 - 4.45 Shoot new sequences or re-shoot previous ideas (perhaps 'on location')
5 - 5.30 Debrief and agree next stage.
GRUMPY OLD MAN
Hello, I'm Paul Vincent - another MSc Yr1 student.
I'm very interested in the arts - as both a learning and practice skill in social work. I think that social workers should be taught circus skills, performing arts etc, as well as how to fill in forms ! After all, isn't 'narrative' one of the key aspects of the work ?
The Managers and Markets have taken over - it's time to take it back to the people !
When I'm not doing my day job, I work with African artist BEN OKAFOR, in a support role. (Check out www.benokafor.com or just Google his name). The African tradition of 'storytelling' is very interesting, as well as the recognition / respect for the wisdom of the Elders.
How rude do you wanna be ??
I'm very interested in the arts - as both a learning and practice skill in social work. I think that social workers should be taught circus skills, performing arts etc, as well as how to fill in forms ! After all, isn't 'narrative' one of the key aspects of the work ?
The Managers and Markets have taken over - it's time to take it back to the people !
When I'm not doing my day job, I work with African artist BEN OKAFOR, in a support role. (Check out www.benokafor.com or just Google his name). The African tradition of 'storytelling' is very interesting, as well as the recognition / respect for the wisdom of the Elders.
How rude do you wanna be ??
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