Storytelling for Screen

By Iris Artists and Lily Lunder

The Arts – Drama/Media | Digital Technologies | Personal and Social Capability | Critical and Creative Thinking | Ethical Capability

Students step onto a real film set to create their own short scene or music video, working as a filmmaking team in hands-on roles like acting, directing, camera, lighting, props and costuming. Along the way, they build creativity, communication and problem-solving skills while learning the fundamentals of visual storytelling.

With plenty of pre/post workshop activities available, each school receives a professionally edited video of the students’ work, perfect for a mini-screening or sharing with families.

Workshop content is tailored for Primary and Secondary year levels, see below in the offering.

“My kids loved this workshop. Making the film, learning organisational skills and picking Lily’s brain about film making were great experiences.” – Parent of Participant

The Offering:
3 x 90 minute sessions tailored to specific age groups
Additional/Extension sessions available in post production/editing available (at additional cost)
Max 30 students/session

Junior (F-4) 

In this workshop, students are introduced to filmmaking through the creation of a class music video. Before the artist visit, teachers use provided resources to guide students through the pre-production process, including selecting a song, developing a simple visual concept, watching inspirational materials, planning scenes, assigning roles and preparing costumes, props and locations. Each small group develops its own section of the music video, with the class project designed to come together as one cohesive finished work. 

When the filmmaker arrives, the session begins with a brief introduction to the film set, equipment and student roles before moving quickly into production. Students rotate through hands-on roles including performing, directing, props, costume and production assistance, with the artist guiding each group through the filming of their scene. The focus is on visual storytelling, collaboration and creative expression, while introducing students to how images, movement, performance and music work together to communicate an idea. 

Following the workshop, the footage is professionally edited and returned to the school. Teacher resources provide optional post-production, presentation and reflection activities, allowing students to consider how their ideas translated to screen, share their finished work with an audience and begin thinking about audience, responsible media practice and how media works are created and presented. 

Middle (5-8) 

The Middle workshop builds on students’ understanding of filmmaking by introducing greater narrative and visual complexity. Classes can choose between creating a music video with a stronger narrative arc or producing a short scripted scene. Before the artist visit, teachers use the supplied resources to guide students through pre-production, including developing the concept, script and/or storyboard, establishing characters and narrative structure, planning shots and determining production roles. Students arrive at the workshop with their creative decisions largely established, allowing the 90-minute session to focus on production. 

Following a short production briefing, students move straight into filming. Working collaboratively as a film crew, students take on roles including directing, acting, camera, lighting, sound, props, costume and production design. The artist supports students in translating their plans into practical filmmaking decisions, introducing concepts such as framing, camera movement, composition, performance, continuity and genre. Students are encouraged to problem-solve on set and consider how their choices affect the way an audience understands and experiences the story. 

After filming, the footage is professionally edited and supplied to the school. Optional teacher-led post-production resources allow students to explore editing, sound, titles and promotional materials such as movie posters. Students can then present their completed work to their class, school or another appropriate audience, using reflection activities to consider creative decisions, audience engagement, representation and the ways media can communicate ideas and meaning. 

Senior (9-12) 

The Senior workshop provides students with greater creative ownership, allowing them to develop and shoot a short film, cinematic scene or other screen-based work suited to their interests and existing experience. Given the 90-minute production timeframe, projects are intentionally designed around a focused concept that can be effectively planned and filmed within a single session. Before the artist visit, students complete teacher-guided pre-production using the supplied resources, developing their concept, script or scene, visual approach, storyboard and shot list, while considering genre, audience, character, performance and production requirements. 

The workshop begins with a concise production briefing before moving directly into filming. Students work as a collaborative crew and take greater responsibility for creative and technical decisions across directing, cinematography, lighting, sound, performance and production design. Rather than focusing solely on operating equipment, the workshop encourages students to consider filmmaking as a visual language: why a particular shot, camera movement, composition, lighting choice or performance communicates something about the story or character. The artist works alongside students to troubleshoot, refine and adapt their ideas within the practical constraints of the shoot. 

Following production, the footage is professionally edited and returned to the school. Teacher resources support optional post-production activities, including editing, sound, titles, promotional materials and screening preparation. Students can present their finished work to an audience and reflect on the production process, considering how creative choices shape meaning, audience response and interpretation, as well as the collaborative roles and practices involved in screen production.

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