Overview
Our Video Advocacy Projects provide participants with the opportunity to gain visual media production skills, and then support them in creating visual media for social justice purposes.
Although project designs vary slightly, because each are tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of each particular group of participants, our projects contain three core components:
- Training
- Follow-Up
- Mobile Cinema Program
Training
Trainings focus on teaching participants the basics of visual literacy, technical skills (pre-production, production and post-production) and advocacy strategies in order to visually communicate their social justice messages to target audiences.
The hands-on learning experience will include exhibition and distribution methodologies. Participants will also work in small production teams to create a video that will be fit for public screening. The trainings are generally designed for approximately 20 participants. The diversity and language skills of OVP staff members allow us to conduct trainings in various cultural settings and different languages.
Follow-Up
Following completion of the training, OVP provides support and guidance for a few participants who are dedicated to completing a visual media production specifically for their local social justice efforts or research. The Follow-Up, therefore, ensures that participants complet e, exhibit, and distribute a visual media production that is ready for screening. During these production cycles, OVP’s local staff will provide guidance and close assistance to make sure the production and post-production will run smoothly, as well as arrange access to equipment (local OVP staff travels to participants’ communities).
Mobile Cinema Program
The Mobile Cinema Program is designed for participants to screen their productions to their target audience. OVP arranges access to projection equipment and supports participants in the development of outreach materials (pamphlets, network resources, etc.) so as to effectively contextualize their productions to raise awareness on specific local social justice issues and discuss sustainable solutions.
The Program utilizes OVP networks to attract target audiences, connecting participants to other media makers, NGO workers, and community members and will start after the participants in the Follow-Up part have completed their productions.
Most Recent Training (February 8th-20th, 2010)
Sri Lanka Visual Media Advocacy Project (Foundational Training)