‘Sharp-Focus’ is a film production project involving youth organisations from socially disadvantaged areas. A film production team works with the groups on the writing and production of original short films. These short films explore the themes of Community and Identity The project culminates in a screening that gives the participants the opportunity to present their films on the big screen.
Calipo have produced thirtenn films under the Sharp Focus Project, twelve funded by the European Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and one funded by the National College of Ireland.
The project facilitates groups to devise and produce their own short film around the theme of Community and Identity. It involves two phases broken down into a number of different stages – orientation, introduction to the project for participants, devising the story, rehearsing the film, production week, post production and the screening.
The group work with their own film production team - both creative and technical- which will include two drama facilitators, a writer, a director, a production manager, a 1st AD, a camera operator, a camera assist, a production designer, a sound operator and an editor. The drama facilitators, who participate at every stage of the project, facilitate drama workshops with the groups exploring the relevant issues for the film and assist the writer and director with the devising, rehearsing and production of the short film. The young people are involved in the process every step of the way having final script approval and performing in their own film.
In addition there is a residential workshop where the group, the group leaders and members of the production team come together to explore issues relating to the theme.
