This weekend kicked off the future producers programme at Watershed. Here are my initial thoughts and reflections:
Film Programming
On Saturday afternoon we watched 3 hours of short films. On Sunday morning we programmed an hour of films for 12-19 year olds. I thought we’d be guided along the way, that we’d get to suggest our ideas and someone higher would validate them. That we’d be told if we were on the right path. But it wasn’t like that, we chose. We had creative control. We debated, we pushed for our favourites, and we created something that we all felt proud of. I can’t wait to see how the programme develops.
Pitching Workshop
I tend to have a lack of confidence in my ideas. I have a fear of failure.
If you’re constantly scared of failing you don’t try things. You don’t take risks. You hold yourself back, because it’s easier that way. Safer.
The session reminded me that failure isn’t something to be constantly worried about.
It taught me:
You need to push yourself out there.
You need to project confidence.
You need to be passionate.
Because at the end of the day I’d rather fail 100 times, than never try.
Projects
On Saturday Hannah explained for potential projects that we will be working on during Future Producers. The event that really captured my attention was the Arts Council family art event. Working with children and young people has always been a real passion of mine. Most adults are afraid to play, to engage and to give negative feedback, but children are honest. They interrupt shows, they shout their opinions, they laugh, cry, and sometimes they even fall asleep.
Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio provides a safe space for people to try out ideas, for them to follow their passions, to fail, to learn and to grow. We try to be open and engage with as many people as possible, but a lot of the work created is generally showcased to an adult audience. That doesn’t mean the work created won’t capture the imagination of a younger audience but with the usual limited funding and time that most creative projects face, engagement activity can often fall by the wayside. Yet engagement is such a vital part of sustaining the amazing creative culture we have. We need to show children and young people that you can take risks; you can be an astronaut, scientist, play video games all day, create robots, follow your passions, have a dream, do what makes you happy, because people will support you, and anything is possible.