By Etta C.S. Etta is a film student at College of the North Atlantic, and an associate research assistant for the REAP project.
Photos courtesy of Ayla Lawlor.
In our “post-truth” world, where misinformation spreads rapidly through video, teaching youth to be informed about social media is critically important. Filmmaking offers a hands-on approach to media literacy, enabling youth to dissect and understand narratives carefully designed by content creators and companies. It’s time to embrace filmmaking as an essential skill in the 21st century.
The appeal of filmmaking
Personally, filmmaking fostered my love for storytelling at a very young age. I had always loved stories and photography, so being introduced to filmmaking in school was a revelation. Hands-on filmmaking projects engaged my creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. I learned how to think critically about narratives and reinterpret them in my own way.
Filmmaking continually throws people into a problem they have to solve. As someone who has now worked on several film sets, there is nothing quite as ‘educational’ as the first hour on set. The process of creating one film taught me more about myself and production in weeks than the classroom did in years.
Why is film comprehension necessary?
An astounding 5.3 billion people are connected to the internet, and 82% of internet traffic is people engaging with video content. The influence of video cannot be overstated.
Video has evolved into the language of the digital age, covering everything like news updates, virtual tours, and fitness training. Globally, the average person dedicates a staggering 17 hours per week to consuming video content! Recent studies highlight the incredible effectiveness of video, showing that viewers retain 95% of the message from video, and only 10% from text.
Corporations have recognized this trend and understand the large future of video; in 2022, the streaming industry had a market value of US $455 billion. Noticing this shift is critical, not only for adults but, even more so for the generations who have been born surrounded by video content – the “digital natives.”
Filmmaking is a necessary skill for kids. It offers a guide to navigating our changing digital landscape.
Social media and filmmaking
Social media has been a part of my life since I was 9, and younger generations are starting to engage with it even earlier.
Social media portrays a curated version of reality. While being disguised as casual content, it is secretly riddled with editorial choices, perfected scripts, and researched details. By delving into the behind-the-scenes process, youth can develop a critical eye for the content they are consuming.
Once you understand what lighting, filters, taglines, colours, sounds, fonts, faces, and even aspect ratio can do, you can understand how they influence you and your audience.
Equipping the leaders of tomorrow
The ability to create and understand video content is not just a valuable or fun skill, but a necessary one for the future. By encouraging kids to explore the world of filmmaking, we equip them with the tools to be informed, critical, and responsible citizens in the evolving world of social media