outoftheboxcreativemedia.org

Out Of The Box Creative Media

ABOUT US

Out Of The Box Creative Media works primarily with people who have autism and learning difficulties through media and film. We run a variety of projects that includes filmmaking, web design, music, stagecraft, photography, sound mixing, publishing and any field within the media range. We connect young people with volunteer experts who can provide mentoring for individual projects and will provide positive objectives regarding wellbeing, personal development and active involvement in the projects. We aim to nurture individual needs and develop strategies and support to help stimulate growth, knowledge and friendship. We provide a compassionate and understanding environment where respect and openness will be encouraged - the work we do has major positive benefits on participants! Within this website you will see our mission and the impact of our work.

"What I really enjoyed about the filming experience that we did at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway is that the whole thing felt like being on a real-life movie set. Using the clapper board to say what scenes we’re filming and then holding it upside down to end the filming process felt like a very important job to get right and it even made me get myself a clapperboard of my own to use. Holding the boom mike takes a good set of arms to hold up and above the camera to help get the quality of the recorded sound to be heard more clearly, and when I held it over my head, it felt heavy, but it was very enjoyable as that, as well as learning about proper movie making, was something that I had always hoped to have done in college, which unfortunately, I never got to do because college never did give me that experience, which was quite frustrating. The tri-pod was a real challenge to move up and down because of how heavy it is to pick up and carry around, but you feel like being a professional member of the crew when you’re carrying a tri-pod, as well as filming with the camera attached to it, with a cool camera covering scope on the front of it. And my favourite out of all the equipment we got to use was the director’s portable TV screen, which allows for you to watch the test footage of what we were filming at the railway come through on a bigger screen. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of doing professional filming at the railway, and I’m determined to learn more about it, and make better movies with those skills once they have been learned." - Thomas Coombes, Pontypool

Mission Statement and Core values

Our mission is to provide a unique and proactive experience of learning, inclusion and teamwork for people with autism and learning disabilities in all aspects of the media. Each project will be mentored by a volunteer expert in a friendly, understanding and safe environment where the participant will be encouraged to be creative, expressive and inventive in the field of visual arts and communication.

We believe in inclusion, enhancing lives, empowerment and teamwork in an environment conducive to support and learning in all aspects of creative media for people with autism and learning difficulties. These areas include video production, web design, stagecraft, photography, sound mixing, publishing and any other field of the media that may be suggested by a volunteer or participant. The groups volunteer experts will mentor each project and will give people a chance to become a part of a team where they can garner friendships, become empowered, learn responsibility, build self-esteem and confidence as well as gain knowledge and a degree of training in the technical aspects of each discipline. It is to create a resource and make it available to individuals and groups for whom such resources are ordinarily not easily accessible.

"I really enjoy being part of the team's film projects. It has given me firsthand experience with how the film industry operates. I have learned more from them than I did in college. My college focuses on the academic side of film, which wasn't relevant to my interests. However, they taught me how to operate a camera, clapperboard, and synchronize audio and visuals in editing programs. My college never taught me these practical skills. I appreciate Nic's knowledge and apply them to my own projects. I've made new friendships through the projects, including getting to know Luke, someone I went to school with. Listening to Luke's insights on trains and filmmaking has inspired me to further develop my interest in filmmaking. Finally, I'm able to get out of the house and gain valuable experience. Between semesters, there wasn't much I could do related to filmmaking on my own. With the team, I can pursue filmmaking outside of college, improve my skills, and gain new knowledge. Everyone I've met on the projects is passionate about what they do, from acting to working behind the scenes. They are truly amazing." Cian Pritchard, Llantrisant

Our Strategy

Young people with learning difficulties are often excluded from basic life activities and our intention is to identify and create individual projects that connect young people with professionals in the world of media to help improve outcomes and achieve a better quality of life for the young people.

We are a not for profit organisation and as such we will identify the appropriate funder and funding for each project, every project we develop is co-designed with young people so that it meets their needs, expectations and most importantly develops their strengths!

"My experience of film making has benefited me a lot in life giving me opportunities for different things like getting me out of the house, making new friends and helping me find new talents for things I didn't know. I am hoping in the near future these qualities are going to push me more further into what I want to do." Sam Summers, Pontyclun

Governance and Safeguarding

Out Of The Box Creative Media has a full constitution along with Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding and sustainability Policies these can be supplied upon request.

Work example - Diamond Gal

Diamond Gal was our most recent project, we connected a mentor who empowered and guided the participants through all aspects of production from scripting to storyboarding, design and casting into full production. Young people were involved in the correct use of camera equipment, sound apparatus, lighting and on-set effects work up which lead to the development of the film!

National Lottery Community Fund has been one our first funders - We would like to thank National Lottery players! The impact of our awards for all project can be seen below.

IMPACT

We work with young people through film! Film has the power to connect and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds.

Young people are empowered through active inclusion in the film making process. As a result of our work they improve confidence, skills, knowledge and experience.

Young people with learning difficulties are often socially isolated and this has been exasperated post-covid. Our work really brings people together and the young people we work with report improved skills, friendships, wellbeing and confidence. The Photos below really highlight the impact of our work with young people!

Luke and Ange share a funny moment

Sam and Luke with the camera

“I really enjoy the filmmaking projects because it’s a chance to meet new people and I’ve made so many new friends which is good. This is a good way to get out and meet people. I’ve learned a lot about making films and how to edit them and I’m starting to try my own now. Everyone is kind and helpful and we have some fun as well. We get a chance to do all the different jobs on a film and sometimes we go to different places to film. There isn’t much to do where I live so this is good for me and the other people who are involved.” Luke, Abercynon.