Digital Connections Blog
Football United Digital Connections project wrapped up for 2011 with a high profile showcase event. Over 200 people squeezed into the Scientia Building at the University of NSW to view the Digital Connections Photo Gallery, watch Football United films and mingle with participants and special guests.
The World Game and football commentator, David Basheer, kicked off the event, performing the role of MC. Mr Basheer Introduced Special Guest Professor Lisa Pulver-Jackson AM who Acknowledged Country before Dr. Matt Miles of UNSW spoke of the impact that Football United has had on the University. Our very own Anne Bunde-Birouste spoke of Football United in 2011 before Dr. Helen Szoke of the Australia Human Rights Commission discussed race and the rights of young people.
Digital Connections Co-ordinator Stuart Meney stepped up to thank the participants, teachers and facilitators and discussed the Digital Connections journey through 2011. Yousif Yousif (below, third from right) from Fairfield Intensive English Centre introduced his class' effort. Working in partnership with Shopfront Theatre, 15 students explored animation, art, photography and film that culminated in a masterpiece, put together by Shopfront's Sarah Emery.
Karen from Miller Technology High School introduced a number of short films that students worked on from start to finish. Jay Johnson facilitated a number of workshops and teacher Ms Sally Atkins coordinated proceedings. In this film, Alex Lovas put together a Football United film from the 2011 Festival that explored what Football United meant to the participants, volunteers, players and Founder Anne Bunde-Birouste.
Evans High School's Al Hassan presented an inspiring speech about the exceptional participatory photography workshops that he and his class had taken part in with Mickey Kovari and Leanne Townsend from Flashpoint Labs. Over a ten-week period students were provided access to cameras and the opportunity to explore a whole lot of photography including portraiture, catching the moment, light and movement. A slideshow of photographs compliment the exceptional gallery in the Scientia foyer.
April and Aisha from Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School spoke of their workshops with Ben Rose from Information and Cultural Exchange. Visual Arts teacher, Ms Husic, put in a great deal of time and effort, allowing students to explore camerawork, photography, music, film and editing. The 5 minute film they produced asked "how does football bring people together?" and brought in a whole host of creative elements.
Finally, Jayke Cooper-Martin from Airds High School spoke to the 200 strong crowd about how Football United had impacted his life since May. He introduced the final piece of the Digital Connections jigsaw, a music video of Airds High School's Football United song. Mayu Ganeshan worked his magic in the studio at Switch in Parramatta and produced this song. The visuals represent the journey that Football United and Airds High School have been on in 2011.
The diversity of the guests was only matched by the diversity of their own stories. Corporate partners, community partners, football partners, volunteers, participants, coaches, donors, academics and parents were well represented, coming from all over the world to share in the end of year party, celebrating Football United in 2011. We're already looking forward to next year!
As part of the 2011 Leadership Camp, Young Leaders participated in their own Digital Connections project throughout the week. Here are the results:
Superstars of Tomorrow (Yellow Team)
Young Stars (White Team)
You'll Never Walk Alone (Grey Team)
Green Tigers (Green Team)
Blue Stars (Blue Team)
Assassins (Black Team)
Great Work. Thanks again to Flashpoint Labs for their Participatory Photography Workshop.
through the Digital Connections project we were able to shoot and produce this short film with the help of Airds High School students. Superb effort!
The whole team at ICE, wonderfully coordinated by Leeanne, were extremely accommodating and dished out advice and direction at every opportunity. The facilities were exceptional and, on the whole, participants were wowed by the opportunity to access all of the equipment. The recording studio, in particular, gave Football United staff an alternate view of some of our longstanding players.
After I talked a short while about the project, Assmaah led everyone in some tremendous ice-breaking, allowing students the opportunity to meet their peers from other schools. Self-drawn flags - representing each participant - were drawn, analysed and attached to one giant flag. Representatives from Airds, Granville South, Miller Technology and Fairfield presented their personal flags to the whole group.
Flashpoint Labs, led by Mickey Kovari and Leanne Townsend, put on an exceptional participatory photography workshop in the gallery. Students, armed with a camera each, were spotted snapping away, taking photos of everything they could find. After, a picture analysis session allowed students to describe what and why they'd taken particular photographs and what they represented.
Saber Media hosted a studio role-play style workshop, where participants were interviewed and got their hands on microphones, professional camera equipment and performed roles as directors, camera assistants and interviewers. Saber has supported Football United in recent months with expert editing workshops and coordination of filming at our major launch at Miller Technology High School.
Michelle Cotterill provided some expertise on storyboarding and creative thinking with participants. Some top storyboards were put together in the short space of time available and it was great to hear some wild ideas being bounced around. A couple of days later some of the same students were filming a football match and presented me with storyboards of the game: crowd celebrating, goals being scored, post-game interviews. It was great to see the skills learned at the workshop already being implemented in their projects.
Simon Giles and Richard Withers worked wonders with Football United's Canon 600D range, providing an introduction to camera work and filming. As student models juggled footballs or answered interview questions, participants were encouraged to test out zooming, panning and tilting techniques as well as framing their subject. Simon and Richard have since signed up to produce some films for our Jinta Sports collaboration, where they will continue working with the students.
Evans High School's Digital Connections teacher, Zena Redondi expressed her feelings post-workshop:
"We were blown away by the wonderful energy of the day and would like to congratulate you on your great efforts thus far! We were happy to liaise with artists and other media specialists, all so willing to lend their support to a great cause. Our students were able to engage in relevant,high tech workshops which will only further enrich their learning!"
I look forward to working with all of these excellent people and groups in the coming months and years with Football United projects.
Here's some photographs that the students took on Friday at Switch as part of the Digital Connections project. There's a post on the way!
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