EIGAKKO!
Workshops For Young Moviemakers

1Let’s make a movie, just like we make a diary or letter.

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“EIGAKKO!”
Thinking

A Workshop to develop
Thinking , Expressive and Inter Communicative abilities
Through Movie Making

For Children and Youth between the ages of 10 and 16

Led by Movie Directors and Producers

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Intercommunication

Expression

What is “ EIGAKKO ” ?	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  “EIGA” = “Movie”	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  “GAKKO ” = “School”	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  “KO” = “Children”	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  “KKO” = ”Like”

When we put it all together,
we get“EIGAKKO!”[AY GAH KO]

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Why I created “EIGAKKO!”
and digital cameras are increasingly a part of our daily lives,
I have long been aware, in filmmaking, of the necessity ofexperience, and environment. I have often found, however:inter-communicative ability and clear thinking. First of all, unlike

though younger people can easily "communicate" with computers

writing a novel, filmmaking is not a solitary activity. As a matter ofand game machines, that because they are still growing andcourse, the filmmaker must make his ideas understood by all

developing, they experience some limitations in expressing

concerned, actors and crew alike. He must impart what he has inthemselves, or in working with others. I also feel that there are notmind to many persons, and ensure mutual understanding andmany of them who can, for example, carry a camera with clear

cooperation among all participants, so as to be able to act together

thinking regarding an object that they wish to shoot; or when they

as one, in a kind of symbiotic movement.

encounter difficulties or even failure, they are not yet equipped todeal with, or even be fully aware of what is occurring.

In my work as a director, I have also learned that my own thinking
must be clear. I am often obliged to isolate myself for a time for

It is precisely through the creative process of filmmaking, inmeditation, reflection, and soul-searching. In so doing, I haveshooting images and working with others in this workshop totrained myself over time to be disciplined in my thinking; hazyachieve a specific end (the production and screening of the final

ideas and vague feelings can lead to confusion, misunderstanding

film product) that I wish to make my contribution to nurturing andand even conflict on the set!

developing these abilities in the younger generations.

Koto Nagata , Ginger Studio CEO

Image, communication, and information technologies havebecome something very close to us. Computers, mobile phones,5CONCEPT OF WORKSHOP: one step leads to the next!

STEP 1: Thinking
We first consider “What to shoot?”. It is not always possible for
us to come up with appropriate ideas quickly when asked to do so.
Consequently, a working script is provided, the same as in thecase of true movie production.
Participants will begin by thinking about or imagining certainobjects ( physical objects or objects in the mind ) around them
( for example, objects sitting on his or her desk, people or colorsof favorite fabrics, etc.) These things or people should be ofinterest and/or a favorite of participants.
We next take note of our impressions of these things and thenpractice "thinking".
This activity, as an example, but many other, eventually becomesa mental exercise, which gradually trains participants to makedecisions about shooting (what, where, when, who, etc. ) bygetting these objects "sorted out" in their minds: the first steps inlearning how to think!

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STEP 2: Production

Production stands for the process of shooting, editing and theoutput of the final product (the film). It is neither “freestyle”, nor
an hour upon hour kind of shooting. Attention will be focused onscreen images found among the objects of shooting ( which wereinitially chosen in step 1). The process can be compared to taking
pictures with a photographic camera. During this process, participants
will be induced to make decisions. They will not endlessly film until they
finally become satisfied.
Upon completion of shooting, materials will be downloaded intocomputers, as instructed, for editing.

Through the editing process,participants will realize (and be surprised by) how changeable initial
perceptions and impressions can be. They will place and replace apiece of the film on the timeline, and edit it repeatedly, until they reach apoint where the product expresses that which they intend to express.

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STEP 3: Communication
It would not make sense at all if the edited work remained idle on a
bookshelf. Similar to characters and words, image contains acommunicative function, and has meaning only when seen byothers. Therefore, at the end of workshop, there will be a screening offilms. Other participants are the first ones to view completed works, inessence becoming “the first audience”. Each participant will
experience how the image products produced by them are received byothers, as well as how this reception made them feel.
I always feel such mutual communication between the filmmaker andthe audience to be very important for film production. I would likethose who produce films in these workshops to also experience andlearn from such mutual communication. Participants can confirm
how much of their thinking got through to the audience, learn from it ,and then apply it to their lives, and perhaps even to their next creation.

The three steps would not make much sense if any one were missing. Step 2 makes sense because of Step 1; and Step 3
would make another Step 1 more meaningful, leading in turn to Step 2, and so on, in a perpetual cycle of growth: one
step always leading to, and impelling one, to the next!

8ONE
MORE
STEP!

EIGAKKO! hopes to expand its activities to foreign countries, beginning in India, in hopes of enlarging thecommunicative horizons of youth at home and abroad. This means that by exchanging their works with those producedby young people in other countries, participants can learn how their works are received where languages, cultures, andperceptions are quite different from their own. By the same token, they could give their own impressions of works fromabroad, thereby enriching each others' communicative possibilities.

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STEP!

International Youth Film Festival
EIGAKKO! hopes and plans to hold an International Youth Film Festival after some experience with the workshops.
The spirit of these festivals will be similar to those festivals for youth which are currently held in South Korea andTaiwan, go beyond by allowing entrants from all countries.

EIGAKKO! is recruiting partners and sponsors for the opening of The International Youth Film Festival.
Those who are interested are welcome not only to participate in the workshops, but to cooperate with and assist us inmany other capacities.

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