Garda Olga Bacon from the Community Policing Unit, Trim Garda Station signed up for Kinia’s Introduction to Mobile Filmmaking. Garda Bacon explains why she decided to sign up for the training and what it covered.

“I’m working with a lot of young people and this is their world. It’s a way for me to work alongside them in a unique way. It’s so far from the norm for a Garda to do so I thought, why not.

 We covered how to make a ‘movie on my mobile.’ Well, my first one was 58 seconds long and I wasn’t sure how to do a voiceover. That was covered in the second session. I also learned how to use some of the different effects like putting in images, transitioning images, using green screens.“

In advance of training, participants receive a Kinia Kit which has all of the equipment required to learn about mobile filmmaking. The equipment is supplied so attendees get a practical, hands-on learning experience, but also so it can continue to be used with young people long after the training sessions have taken place.

After training has been completed, Kinia provides ongoing support so all participants can feel confident and comfortable implementing the new skills they have learned with the young people that they work and interact with.

“We have a local Youthreach group here in Trim and it was them I was mainly thinking of when I applied for this course.  This term I’m going to start working on a project with them. The topic of the movie has yet to be decided but I’m thinking of either showcasing Youthreach Trim and the fantastic young people who are part of it, their talents, learning experiences, activities, things that show others what Youthreach Trim is all about.

We will have to discuss the audience, where they are happy to have this broadcast, the permissions needed, the story they want to tell. I’ll be in with them regularly and we will work on the storyboard, through to production. Needless to say, they’ll know a lot more about the technology than me but I find young people love to teach others about their talents, especially a Garda.”

“Our young people don’t get a chance to sit with a Garda and work on a project. Hopefully it will be a successful project and I will measure part of that success as how they get to know me, as a Garda. That I can take away the unknown of a Garda. That if the day comes that they need to speak to any Garda I have gone some way to breaking down any preconceptions they might have.

 The other marker will be this group will have a movie, they might only see it themselves or it could go to a wider audience. But they will have made it and that alone will instil confidence in them.”