To study abroad with Actuality Media
Program Overview
students travel internationally to a developing community where they produce a short documentary film about a local changemaker: an individual or organization working to solve chronic social or environmental problems in innovative ways.
Crews choose a character from within the world of their changemaker and find the story they want to tell. Working as a Producer, Director, Cinematographer or Editor, crew members work collaboratively to produce a short film from research to delivery in one month’s time.
On location Actuality Media instructors serve as educators and Production Supervisors they will conduct training, oversee research, manage operations and approve production documents throughout the program. A local guide and translator will be provided by the changemaker.
Production Schedule Week One: Research Instructors and crews meet for briefings, screenings and exercises on documentary filmmaking. Each day crews visit locations, scout operations, and conduct pre-interviews to gather more information and find the right people to take part in the story they want to tell.
Week Two: Prep Crews prep for shooting week by developing a story outline, shot list and other production documents with instructor oversight and approval. Crews also conduct a camera and sound test while creating a micro-doc for another local changemaker. Week Three: Production Shooting is complete in five days. Crews shoot on location to capture the people, events and environments necessary to tell their chosen story. Each crews schedule is different based on Changemaker accessibility and crew preference. Dailies are reviewed and critiqued in group sessions every evening. Editors begin work early and end the week with a visual assembly. Week Four: Editorial While the Editors focus on taking the film from rough cut to picture lock, the rest of the crew helps with interview selects, music and sound effects, as well as any extras. Producers gather post-Outreach information for distribution. Before crews leave, locals are invited to join them at a wrap party where the films premiere.
Student crews are
Training and Equipment
instructed in documentary storytelling with a focus on visual, character-driven narratives. In each stage of production there are handson workshops and classroom instruction. Instructor led briefings cover research methods, casting, dramatic elements, creating meaning, story outline, shooting for visual motivation, interviewing techniques, ethical concerns, digital workflow, visual assembly, sound design and more. For reference and future replication, students will receive reading suggestions, worksheets, and checklists. Both short format and feature length documentaries will screen throughout the program. Every student will be actively involved in constructively critiquing the work of all crews for each milestone of the production process.
All equipment required for production and editorial will provided on location during the program. Students may elect to bring additional, personal equipment but should remember that the priority is not on how to use the tools of the trade, but rather on how to tell the best story.
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala May 23rd - June 21st, 2015
Known as the “unnofficial capital of the Maya,” the city once
called Xelajú was founded over 800 years ago. Quetzeltenango is a bustling city high in the mountains of Western Guatemala, its diverse mix of culture and history is a fascinating contrast to the modern industry and urban life at Quetzaltenango’s core.
“The Soul of Culture” is one more title the city holds – not only does it play host to countless native musicians, but decorative art abounds. A host of architectural styles survives in buildings throughout the city; some surviving since the 1500’s, a host of colonial-style public buildings sit around Parque Central, and two of the largest, most celebrated buildings in town are the Gallo beer factory and Estadio Mario Camposeco where the local soccer team plays. Outside the city are many small villages, each with their own unique flavor, as well as Mayan and Olmec ruins, Lake Atitlan and of course – volcanoes.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 27th - July 26th, 2015
Just 150 years ago Kuala Lumpur was still a small village on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Today the city is a metropolis with over 6.5 million residents, and the “Greater Kuala Lumpur” area has come to encompass several other cities as well.
In a location of this size it’s more amazing what you can’t find than what you can – colonial buildings still sit in the old City Center while the Petronas Twin Towers stand out amongst skyscapers and giant malls in the nearby Golden Triangle.
If you’re looking for experiences over sights, the city has concerts, theaters, spas, sports, museums and nearby theme parks. Thankfully this city has a far-reaching rapid transit system to carry you over top of traffic snarls on the city streets – unless you are heading further afield. There are islands, beaches, fishing villages, old colonial centers and mountanous jungle to explore if you choose.
Kampala, Uganda
August 1st - August 30th, 2015 The people of Kampala, and in Uganda in general, are
considered some of the friendliest in Africa. The city of Kampala is very old, and sits at the heart of ancient empires that once ruled in these parts. Within the city sit the Kasubi tombs, a World Heritage Site where four Kings of Buganda rest. As the largest city in Uganda and a central point of North-Eastern Africa, it has become a base for many international NGO’s.
Within the city are many religious sites, galleries, museums, and theaters – but the biggest attractions are outside of Kampala proper. The closest access to Lake Victoria is to the south, but to the East is where the lake feeds the start of the White Nile. There are many activities around the lake from boating to visiting an island of chimps, and further away are the lands of hippos, zebras in more in parks like the Lake Mburo National Park.
Program Costs 2015 Study Abroad Outreach Program Fee:
$2750 USD
Program Fee Includes: Pre-departure materials Documentary instruction and support Production and editorial equipment rental Shared lodging in traveler’s hotel or hostel Two meals each day Ground transportation in country for production Office and meeting facility use Group tourist excursion Production legal documentation Visa documentation Access to a translator for production Travel Health Insurance One local cell phone for each crew 24/7 emergency assistance Additional Expenses: Airfare to program location Visa Fees Additional food and drinks Additional travel excursions Souvenirs
Frequently Asked Questions Who can apply? Our past crew members have included enrolled university students, young professionals, and adults interested in expanding their knowledge about documentary production. Anyone 18 years or older with an adventurous spirit may apply. I am no longer a student, can I apply? Yes. Anyone over the age of 18 can apply.
What does the program fee include? Students receive documentary instruction and support, shared housing, two meals each day, ground transportation for production and on arrival/departure days, use of production and editorial equipment, use of group meeting facilities, one tourist excursion, legal documents, visa documents, translator access, a local cell phone, and access to emergency assistance.
Is prior video experience required? No. Actuality Media programs are educational in nature. We will teach you everything you need to know.
Do we need to bring equipment? No. A production package is provided to each crew that includes all production and editorial equipment you will need.
Is there a cost to apply? No. There is no cost to apply.
What kind of equipment do we use? Each crew receives a production package that includes a Canon XA10 HD camera, standard tripod, shotgun microphone with XLR input, wired lavalier microphone, boom pole, multidisk light reflector, 13” Macbook Pro, Adobe Premiere CC, various hard drives, and an equipment backpack.
When is the application deadline? The early decision deadline is December 1st, 2014. The final deadline to apply is March 1st, 2015. How can I apply? Visit actualitymedia.org/apply to begin your application. What are the costs involved? The 2015 Outreaches have a program fee of $2750 USD. You will also have to budget for airfare, a visa fee, additional food and drinks, and additional tourist excursions you want to arrange. Do you offer financial aid? Visit actualitymedia.org/funding to get more information on funding, including fundraising suggestions.
Can I bring my own equipment? Yes. You can bring any of your own equipment to use in addition to the production package. You will be responsible for your own gear and we highly recommend purchasing personal property travel insurance to cover loss or damage. Should I bring my laptop? It is not required but you may find it helpful for completing research and writing assignments. There are also internet cafes available to use in every location.
What are the documentaries about? Each documentary will explore the work of a local changemaker in the region of your program. The crew decides what story they tell within that world by choosing a character to focus on and struggle to follow. What is the Producer’s role? The producer is the leader of the crew, in charge of keeping everything organized and is the liasion with the changemaker. What is the Director’s role? The director is in charge of the story, has final call on the main character and ensures that the issues are explored in the most engaging way. What is the Cinematographer’s role? The cinematographer designs the look of the film, captures all the needed footage and brings visual motivation to the story. What is the Editor’s role? The editor supervises post production, managing all the media and cutting the final film. Can I choose the crew I work with? If you and your friends are applying, indicate on your application and you can choose to work together on the same crew. Can I choose my Changemaker? Our Advisory Board selects the the changemakers that we work with on each outreach. From those chosen you can select which you would prefer along with your crew position once you are confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions Can I watch films made in the past? Visit actualitymedia.org/films to watch all the films produced on our past programs. Can I suggest a Changemaker? Yes. Please email us about changemakers you would recommend so we can research them for an upcoming program. What is the production schedule? Crews will work Monday - Friday with weekends off. The first week is focused on research. The second week is focused on prep. The third week is focused on shooting. The fourth week is focused on editorial. The day to day schedule will vary based on crew, changemaker and subject requirements. Students can expect 8 - 10 hour work days during the week. Will I have any time off? Yes. Weekends will be free for students to plan additional excursions on their own. What is the housing like? Students will stay in a secure traveler’s hotel or hostel, in multi bunkbed, mixed gender dorm rooms. Bathrooms and showers are usually communal. What is the food like? The two meals provided willl be typical local style food that varies each day. Most locations can accomodate vegetarians, although the fare may be less varied. Do I need to speak the language? No. A translator will be made available to each crew by their changemaker.
How will the films be distributed? Crews will collaborate on a distribution strategy unique to the goals of their film. Distribution efforts will be implemented by the crew and other Actuality Media team members upon film completion. Additionally the top 3 films of the 2015 Outreaches will each receive $500 backing for festivals. Can I submit the film to festivals? Yes. Film Festivals are an important part of any distribution strategy. However, the festival needs to accept short documentary entries that are also distributed online. This does exclude some festivals, but each year more and more update their policy. Can I screen my film at my school? Yes. Students are encouraged to arrange any kind of screening of their film and may choose to feature others from the Actuality Media library as well. Who owns the rights to the films? Films are Creative Commons licensed so that every stakeholder can screen and benefit from it. Crew are encouraged to adopt any traditional or innovative distribution strategy as long as it is non-commercial. Actuality Media retains official copyright in order to ensure compliance with creative commons licensing. Can I see past program photos? Visit actualitymedia.org/behind-the-scenes to see photos from our past programs.
Is it safe to travel to ...? Each program location is chosen after a careful security review. Every location is clear of any travel restrictions and is deemed safe for tourists by the governments of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Austraila. Do I need travel medical insurance? Each student is enrolled in a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan for the duration of the program as part of their program fee. What vaccinations do I need to get? Talk to your doctor or local travel clinic about what they recommend for the location you are traveling to. What happens if I get sick or hurt? The instructor on location will make sure that you seek medical attention from a trusted hospital or doctor if needed. In the unlikely case of an extreme emergency you will be flown home for medical attention.Travel insurance included in the program fee will reimburse all medical costs. Should I travel after the program? Yes. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the plane ticket and plan travel in the region either before or after the program. Can I earn University credit? Yes. We are happy to work with students individually to arrange for you to earn academic credit from your own school for based on your completion of a program.
WE ARE A BAND OF STORYTELLERS
ARMED WITH CAMERAS
OUT TO REVEAL THE GOOD IN OUR WORLD