This workshop is being offered to persons with little or no prior experience of video production who wish to use video in forthcoming research projects. It is open to graduate students and others with at least three years of tertiary education. The workshop will include basic video training and theoretical discussions of how video may be applied to research and publication in anthropology and related disciplines. The emphasis will be upon the conceptual rather than the technical side of video practice. The workshop is intensive and will be conducted all day for each of the seven days, with morning sessions normally reserved for group instruction, screenings, and discussion, and the afternoons for individual practical exercises in and around Nuoro. Although the workshop will not provide direct instruction in video editing, it will make use of a strategic approach to filming and “editing in the camera” so that students will learn to produce materials that can be edited effectively.

We believe video can be used effectively in field research without extensive training, provided one learns certain basic skills and overcomes the most commonly made mistakes. We also believe video can be used to do more than merely gather visual records. It can be used to approach knowledge in new ways, in a form of discourse significantly different from that of written texts. We therefore approach this medium as a new “language” that researchers can acquire and apply to their own disciplines.

The workshop will be conducted over 7 days, from 25 September to 1 October 2006, at the Istituto Superiore Regionale Etnografico in Nuoro. It will be limited to a maximum of 12 students. 5 places will be reserved for qualified Sardinian applicants, 3 places for qualified Australian applicants, and the remaining places will be open to all applicants. In view of Sardinia’s geographical position in the Mediterranean, students from north Africa are encouraged to apply. Participants will be selected on the basis of: 1) having completed at least three years of tertiary education; 2) being presented by an academic supervisor. Italian applicants must be presented by an academic supervisor from the scientific area M-DEA/01; 3) having proficiency in English; 4) their intention to apply video to an imminent field research project; 5) the relevance of video to the proposed project; 6) how soon the project will commence; and 7) their need to acquire basic video skills. Students will be expected to provide their own video cameras for use during the workshop, as well as at least two hours of videotape. Cameras using most current analogue or digital formats are acceptable; however, the camera used should have provision for the connection of an external microphone, which will be provided by the workshop. A set of relevant readings will be provided. Readings, instruction, and discussions will be in English. A good command of English is therefore essential. Participants will be expected to attend all sessions for the full seven days.

THE INSTRUCTORS: The workshop will be conducted by internationally-known ethnographic filmmakers David and Judith MacDougall. The MacDougalls have produced over twenty-five ethnographic films and have wide-ranging experience in teaching ethnographic film and video techniques in Australia, USA, Norway, India, and China. Among their recent prize-winning films are Photo Wallahs, Tempus de Baristas (a co-production of ISRE), Diya, and The Age of Reason.

APPLICATIONS: Applicants are requested to complete the attached form and supply a statement in English of not more than one page indicating their prior experience and reasons for wishing to participate in the workshop. Priority will be given to applicants who intend to conduct their field research in the near future. Participants will be responsible for their own travel to and from Nuoro, however accommodation and meals will be provided for the period of the workshop by ISRE. The deadline for receipt of applications is 14 August 2006. Applicants accepted for the workshop will be informed by 21 August.

Contact us
Suzanne Groves, Reception
Centre for Cross Cultural Research
Australian National University
Liversidge Street, Acton
T: (02) 6125 2434
F: (02) 6248 0054
E: admin.ccr@anu.edu.au

Conveners
Prof David MacDougall & Ms Judith MacDougall
Centre for Cross-Cultural Research
The Australian National University