On Friday the 4th December 2020, E.D.E.N. Film Productions will be showcasing the short films that were produced by members of the LGBTQ+ community on their online filmmaking project, E.D.E.N. Digital.
E.D.E.N. Digital launched in September, engaging 15 members of the LGBTQ+ community in 10, 2-hour interactive online filmmaking workshops, covering storytelling techniques, sound recording and editing. Alongside group discussions, feedback sessions and 1-2-1 Zoom call for each participant on the project. The aim of the course was to empower the participants with all the tools they needed to make a film using just their phone, or whatever camera they had available. The project was delivered by award-winning filmmaker Brett Chapman and E.D.E.N. Film Productions’ CEO and Founder Claire Watkinson.
A participant of E.D.E.N. Digital said “Being able to participate in this project virtually is one of the best opportunities to have come out of the pandemic, as it gave me the chance to connect with LGBTQ+ filmmakers that I would have never met otherwise! The workshops were really motivating and gave me the skills and inspiration I needed to create a film that I’m really proud of. I think the LGBTQ+ community in particular has historically been ignored or misrepresented, so I’m really grateful that a project like this exists, to equip us with the tools and the confidence to tell our own stories.”
E.D.E.N.’s CEO Claire Watkinson who also worked as the Project Coordinator on the project said “This project has been a delight to work on, from meeting LGBTQ+ creatives from across the UK to watching participants develop their ideas, confidence and film projects. Our project has provided a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to express their ideas, meet others and develop their skills. The world is going through such a difficult time and I believe E.D.E.N. Digital and the inspiration from those who have been involved has brought much needed positivity.”
Lead Facilitator Brett Chapman commented “I always love being a part of anything that E.D.E.N. does so to be invited back for this latest project was a joy. It’s obviously been a tough year for everyone but to be surrounded by such creativity and goodwill made the days seem a little bit shorter and kept me feeling optimistic for where we go next. I’ve been thrilled to see so many original ideas and approaches adopted by our new filmmakers and I could not be more excited to share the finished pieces with the world!”
On Friday 4th December, E.D.E.N. will be premiering the films made on the project alongside behind the scenes footage and interviews with participants. The event will start at 7pm via E.D.E.N.’s Facebook and YouTube. The film will be screened using Facebook and YouTube’s premiere functions.
E.D.E.N. Digital is an online filmmaking project for the LGBTQ+ community funded by the Government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund and distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund.
The poster was created by stc019, a trans comic artist and illustrator, devoted to telling trans love stories and colourful mini utopias.
Book your free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eden-digital-film-screening-tickets-128845866455
E.D.E.N. Film Productions details:
Link to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eden-digital-film-screening-tickets-128845866455
Link to the Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1KScC4MdI
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edenfilmproductions
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcTH850Kz5lZZsOyyKvrgGg
Twitter: @EDEN_F_P
Instagram: @e.d.e.n_film_productions
Website: https://www.edenfilm.co.uk
Email: info@edenfilm.co.uk
Funders details:
Twitter: @TNLComFund & @DCMS
Facebook: @TNLCommunityFund & @dcmsgovuk
Comic artist and illustrator details:
Twitter: @stc019
Portfolio: https://stc019.artstation.com
