StrangerAcademy 2009

All participants from the StrangerAcademy chose their workshop during the opening night on Tuesday. The workshops where devided into workshops for beginners and for more advanced video makers. In the beginner workshops the participants mainly learned technical skills that helped them to get the message across. The advanced workshops where more an official assignment given by a company or international organisation. The result are also shown on the commissioner's festival, conferences and websites.

Magic in One Shot (beginner)
In this workshop, the participants work in small teams to create one shot videos (i.e. without any editing) of approximately three- to five-minutes in length. By focusing on one shot and creating your own film tricks and original stories, you will not rely on solutions in editing or special effects, but instead focus on creating a solid production--or "choreography"--for your concept. This method emphasises pre-production to help create that "magic moment" when each of the film's elements comes together. By realising that you don't necessarily need expensive post-production skills to create a strong video, you will be able to continue making videos independently in the future. Be prepared to think creatively, work and plan ahead with a small group and to have fun--we will show you the rest.
Facilitators: Avi Krispin and Dafna Maimon.

      
It's you                              Melody of Memories          Stranger                           Mind the wedding

StrangerFestival Newsflash (beginner)
Ready for some action? This workshop is all about running around with your camera in search of the latest StrangerFestival news. As TV reporters you will be responsible for finding and creating daily news items that will be broadcast during the festival. "Newsflash" is all about production so by the end of week you will have had solid experience in filming, interviewing and editing.
Facilitators: Su Tomesen, Frank Straver and Julie Pagnier.

       
Veiled Woman                    Retirement age                 Opening night                  Magic in one shot             

 
The Journalist                    Amsterdam is strange

Cut It Up! (beginner)
Are you a rebel filmmaker? In this workshop we apply the sub-cultural philosophy of 'zine-making to create a scrapbook-style video that tells your story in your own way. We take on a do-it-yourself approach that is independent, playful, raw and even confrontational. First you will develop your story in a storyboard 'zine and then translate it to film using easy alternative filming and editing techniques including stop-motion animation, film-clip collage, visual metaphors, rough cutting and soundtrack manipulation. You will come away with a video, a 'zine and a whole fresh attitude to filmmaking. All you need imagination and an experimental mindset. We'll show you the rest.
Facilitators: Alessandro Raschella, Daniela Maffeo, Beatrice Clarke and Leonardo Franceschi.

       
Momotaro                         Pusher's Story                  Simon's Germany             Splash

     
Third Eye                          Un-escapable Truths         Maciek                              Everybody is somebody's...

Up Close and Personal (advanced)
So how exactly do you portray a "stranger"? During this workshop you will get the chance to make a short documentary while being closely monitored by professional trainers as you elaborate your ideas, make technical preparations, and then execute and produce. The focus is on the development of a more artistic approach, by stressing the work in process. What seems impossible to accomplish, will form the foundation of a very intensive time, leaving no room for big doubts. You will learn about idea development, visualisation, camera-work, editing and presentation. Participants need to have basic skills in using a video camera, computer/digital image manipulation tools and basic digital editing skills.
Commissioning party: International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
Facilitators: Jose Biscaya, Anneloor van Heemstra and Annegret Suaudeau

     
Unknown                          Daydreams                       Fascination                       Father and Son

       
In this skin                        Le Reflet                          Pigeons on bicycles            Me, myself and the stranger

Mike van Alfen

Amsterdam City Safari (advanced)
This workshop is an "autonomous field exploration", meaning you will get on a bus cruising through the city while you train your camera through your own window of perspective onto the city of Amsteram. Be ready to postpone dinner and venture "off the road" as you learn how to make an experimental video that may become part of an installation exhibited at the end of the workshop. Professional experimental video-makers will be on hand to help you investigate, research and develop your own unique vision. Participants need to have conceptual aspirations while being an independent collaborator and a deadline diehard.
Commissioning party: International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam/Amsterdam
Facilitators: Jeanette Groenendaal, Zoot Derks and Martin Hansen

     
(re) built                           Amsterdam                        Artimobiel                         Aye aye

     
Figuring out Amsterdam     Loving houses                   Mind your step                   Random Happiness (2 parts)

   
Stoned biking                     The bus                           The sky was glorious for a moment

Old Story, New Me (advanced)
How does history influence your life today? This "mash-up" workshop uses old copyrighted news footage that will be mixed with new created content--and thereby placing history in a more current and personal context. Open Images is an open media platform that offers access to a selection of audiovisual archive material to stimulate creative recycling. And in turn, these new works will be added to the platform. Open Images is based upon the Creative Commons licensing model which enables others to freely use the material under the artist's conditions-and the artist to be flexible in using copyrights. This "open" approach is carried out throughout the platform, by using open formats, standards and software. Every bit of software developed for Open Images will also become available as open source code.
Commissioning party: Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision in collaboration with Knowledgeland.
Facilitators: Maartje Jaquet, Nadine Hottenrott and Emile Zile.

     
3 Amigos from Hungary     Fishy Business                 Flying monsters from...      Loving nature

   
Running against time        Smetteloos                       !

Change a Tiny World (advanced)
This workshop offers the chance to make a video that will make a difference to an issue you care about. You will be taught the best ways to use video to change people's opinions and behaviour. It will also help you think more broadly about how to solve problems through the power of good communication. It will help you decide who you should communicate with and how you should do it--whether your video is for someone in your family, the people in your school or a distant politician. All you need for this workshop is to be frustrated or angry about something and interested in using video to fix it. If it ain't broke, we don't fix it.
Commissioning party: UNICEF
Facilitators: Peter Cooksley, Claire Medcalf, Charles Tims and Chris Schuepp.

     
Human cocktail                 Fuck the guidebook            What do you really...        Kiss

Customer feedback

60 Seconds of Fame (for British Council--INDIE participants only)
All British Council--INDIE participants will be divided into three workshops with different themes which relate to cultural diversity. The aim is to discover various aspects of video and how to deal with the moving image. The workshop will give you a possibility to work and learn by making your own projects in a hands-on and intensive way. Each group will write, produce, direct, and edit a film, and then screen it and engage in constructive discussion with the other viewers. All participants should be open to new influences and be motivated to work in a group.
Begins Thursday (14.00), ends Friday (18.00).
Facilitators: David Djindjikhachvili, Allard Zoetman, Kristina Kersa, Vava Stojadinovic, Selby Gildemacher, Aukje Dekker, Judith Leysner, Rogier Roeters and Taatske Pieterson from TheOneMinutesJr.

     
MultiColour                        I wish                               Anorexia                          As I am

     
Celebrate diversity             Differences                       Diversity Means                Endless navigation

 
Exclusion                           What diversity sounds like...