Youth Media Internship 2013: It's a wrap!

I was the Senior Gallery Educator who planned the Youth Media Internship, helped select the candidates, prepare AUT mentors and gallery staff, and facilitated daily sessions with the interns, providing them with guidance and encouragement while letting them maintain creative control over their projects. I was there from beginning to end. I can honestly say, it was one of the most exhausting – yet most rewarding – programmes I have ever worked on professionally and personally.

Because of this, the screening event that happened last Saturday – where interns, family, friends, teachers and Gallery staff all came to watch the films for the first time – was particularly meaningful. At the screening event, each group introduced their films and got to celebrate together for the first time since the internship ended. Our Director Rhana Devenport spoke and I talked through the process so teachers and family had more context behind the finished products.

Over the seven-day internship I watched these incredible young people gain confidence, interpersonal skills, decision-making skills and take full creative control of their films. All of them brought their own strengths, which translated clearly onto the screen, whether it be editing, illustration, interview or directorial skills. With what was only 38 hours contact time (and of this only 5 hours of filming and 10 of editing), this year’s interns took the project-based learning experience to another level. Needless to say, I became really invested and attached to these young adults, and would like to say again to them, a huge thank you for the passion and energy they brought to the Gallery.

I hope you all enjoy the films as much as we have. Seeing the Gallery through the voice of these interns has been fantastic.

Group one: The Groovsters


Group two: Hinoliee


Group three: The Pickles


Group four: Gender Group


- Selina Anderson, Senior Gallery Educator

Final day of the Youth Media Internship

The Youth Media Interns celebrate the end of the internship at Auckland Art Gallery. Photo: Waimarie Dashper, AUT Media Mentor

The interns were surprised with an extra hour of editing this morning, this came as a major relief as they now had the opportunity to perfect and polish any areas needing work. Once this was finished, we were able to leave the AUT building, and head back over to the Gallery for a final staff viewing session after lunch.

After a couple of humorous skits by the teens acting out their experiences throughout the past week, the staff viewing session took place in the auditorium. Once each group presented their short clip, the staff had a few questions and feedback for them;

Group one: The Groovster’s – ‘What is the value of perceiving art?’ 
By researching this particular question, it really helped them ‘realise the amount of work that goes into conserving art, and the many hours of effort involved’. A staff member asked whether or not anything was surprising, their response being: ‘The amount of attention given, and the different technologies and techniques used.’ The Groovster’s really emphasized how much fun they had, and that they really enjoyed this entire experience.

Group two: Hinoliee – ‘What do children think and feel about art?’
The three girls had their ‘preconceptions and opinions changed around how children perceive and view artwork.’ Two main questions that the staff asked once having viewed their short clip, was whether or not anything surprised them, and what it was like interviewing children: ‘Their answers were interesting as they didn’t have time to think about or really prepare before the interview, in ways they tried to make it into more of a conversation - Some of the children’s answers were really in depth, and they saw many things in the art work which we didn’t even pick up ourselves.’

Group three: The Pickles – ‘What is the importance of viewing original artwork in the flesh?Although The Pickles did not get many questions, they got some really excellent feedback;
‘Sleek editing’
‘The animation helped bring what could have been a dry narrative to life’
‘Great illustrations’

Group four: Gender Group – ‘How does the gender of an artist effect how we view an artwork?’
A discussion took place after their short clip was shown – many of the staff were interested in the raised question. The Gender Group stated that it ‘definitely should be, because it gives you a sense of where the artist is coming from and helps engage with the artwork more.’ They also suggested for the Gallery to experiment and see if this changes how people view art.

Once the questions and feedback session had finished, each of the Interns were presented with a certificate presented by Principal Curator Zara Stanhope, stating that they had successfully completed the seven days at the Auckland Art Gallery.

Overall the feedback from the teens was that they had a wonderful time working with and meeting new people, and that each of them have and will take heaps away from this experience. On behalf of the AUT Mentors I would like to thank Selina Anderson, Vivien Masters and Meg Nicoll for all of their hard work and contribution towards this internship, Nicholas Maw for helping with the social media side of things, the Gallery staff for their help and support with the interviews, the interns for their incredible participation, Clinton Watkins and AUT University for supplying the technical gear, and Trade Aid for their generous donation of chocolate. Without all of the above, the past seven days would have been nowhere near as much of a success!!

- Waimarie Dashper, AUT Media Mentor

It's show time!

The Interns editing their films ahead of the class critique. Photo: Rachael Short

This morning the Interns only had four hours left to complete the editing of their short films. The pressure mounted as they prepared for a class critique at 2pm, followed by feedback and comments about their work.

It’s really important that the teens remain focused, keep their proposed questions in mind, and most of all, enjoy and really take in this entire experience. This afternoon they will be able to reflect upon their experience throughout the past six days, and think about whether or not they achieved their desired goals.

Getting some final tips from Jacques ahead of the class critique. Photo: Waimarie Dashper

Each and every one of these groups have a lot to be proud of. The amount of work they have done since last Monday is really astonishing, creating a short film in such a small amount of time can really prove to be a stressful task, yet each of the interns have dealt with, and handled the process really well. Not only have they had to plan, storyboard, film, and edit, but learn to make harsh creative decisions along the way.

Two lessons that the teens will take away from this experience is the importance of process and time management, these are both vital when studying at university. Learning that the process of a project is just as important as the finished product, will be incredibly beneficial for their future studies – along with the importance of time management, a vital ingredient for success within any subject field.

Watching Hinoliee's short film during the class critique. Photo: Nic Maw

It was now time to show everyone their short films, followed by a short critique afterwards from their peers, mentors and staff. It was really good being able to see each of the different voices and ideas coming through the films, which shows how good a job each group has done.

Once the critique was over, we went around the circle to find out what each teen took away from the day and the whole completion experience, here’s a few examples:

• ‘Proud of my filming as it was my first time’ 
• ‘Glad we managed to get everything finished in the last twenty minutes’ 
• ‘Proud of what I achieved with my editing’ 
• ‘Proud of my illustrations’ 
• ‘Pleased that I could trust and rely on people in my group’ 
• ‘Surprised and happy that we finished everything without getting stressed’ 

Overall the critique and final editing phase was a success! Finishing at 2pm today instead of 4pm, gives the Interns a much-deserved rest.

- Waimarie Dashper, AUT Media Mentor

Lets get filming!

Youth Media Interns interviewing Assistant Curator, Mathew Norman.  Photo: Vivien Masters, Gallery Educator

Today the Interns began to film, finally putting their ideas and concepts to the test, and to the big screen! However, today was a little different, as the teens were in total control. It was purely their responsibility to step up, manage themselves, have a good grasp of time management, make sure their filming is relevant to their proposed question – also keeping in mind their own individual roles and requirements. Along side of this, they were given guidelines on what and what not to film:

Here’s a list of what they couldn’t do in the gallery:

• Use hairspray (As this can damage the work) 
• Use strong lighting (This can also damage the work) 
• Use a tripod (This can be dangerous) 
• Film an artwork without permission (Copyright issues) 

Youth Media Interns practising using their new tools.  Photo: Vivien Masters, Gallery Educator

Jade Lucas, the Gallery's Communications Coordinator was kind enough to get down to the nitty gritty of copyright issues, ensuring the interns had permission forms ready for anyone who they filmed to sign. Then with a brief overview of filming protocols by Sarah and Jacques, the teens were ready to create their shoot lists, and to be issued their equipment for shooting.

The interns learnt today how important the past three days have been. The many hours that were put into goals, values, storyboarding, and tutorials, all lead up to and help make this entire filming process that much easier. Keeping in mind that there is quite a lot of pressure to ensure they got all their desired shots, and that its better to have more footage than you need, opposed to not having enough.

Interns filming Principal Conservator Sarah Hillary in her  lab. Photo: Vivien Masters, Gallery Educator

Each group filmed in the public gallery spaces, and back of house for the interviews with staff. Each of the groups had to organize interviews prior to today, ranging from many different specialties within the gallery:

• Zara Stanhope – Principal curator 
• Mathew Norman – Assistant Curator 
• Robbie Butterworth and Selina Anderson – Senior Gallery Educators 
• Jack Hadley and Helen Finlayson – Gallery Guides 
• Sarah Hillary – Principal Conservator 

The teens were lucky enough to have twenty minutes to interview different staff members, and to gain further insight, knowledge, opinions and suggestions towards their proposed questions. Four hours of straight filming made it the most intense, full on and busiest day yet for the interns.

Tomorrow the interns begin editing!

- Waimarie Dashper, AUT Media Mentor