poetic filmmaker writer & producer community & cultural educator
through the lens

POETIC FILMMAKING
create filmed stories using your mobile phone
led by filmmaker ROBERT AITKEN
no previous experience needed
filmmaking for those who dream
no previous experience needed
Poetic Film School is not for the timid of soul. It for those who venture on foot, those who have experienced life, no matter what age, and become seekers of new experience. It is just as much about reading the landscape and illuminating on the world anew. In essence, it is about the big music of life, the great poetry in all of us ... It's for those who are pilgrims to illumination and those who can express a story to a young child and have them captivated. Poetic Film School is about a life burning desire to express within, for those who dream ...
About 

These film tutorial sessions offer an opportunity to broaden your creative lens to: Develop filmed stories with poetic narratives, explore myth and lore as powerful visual methods of imagining and delve into the roots & craft of poetics in film. They are inspired by the creation of a new ecopoetic film, The Dreaming Bog, by filmmaker, Robert Aitken, which explores our turbulent human-nature relationships.
 

We are each born with a unique way of seeing the world, a lyrical lens through which our visions and dreams exist from our fears, struggles and responses; expressions of our imagination from prehistoric cave paintings to illuminated manuscripts and street-art graffiti to our posts on social media platforms. Poetic voice is a fundamental way to express and share stories and has produced a rich vein of people-place writing, art and craft for centuries. The Poetics Film School is about a way of life. It is about the landscape around us, climate and all the the excitement that makes filmmaking possible. It will be about poetry, films, music, images and literature. Participants are encouraged to explore their voice with their projects. The principle is simple, follow your vision ... .
"The principle is simple,
follow your vision ... "
A still from the ecopetic film
The Dreaming Bog
click here to watch the film trailer
Easy to understand breakdown tutorials

As well as the poetic and story based aspects all tutorial sessions will include a full set of instructionals on how to get the best out of your mobile phone camera as a filmmaking tool. With the right skills and accessories Scottish filmmaker, Robert Aitken, will guide you through masterclass tips and secret tricks to improve your mobile phone filmmaking skills and help you create stunning results.

Poetic Film School particulars:
• ‘From the ground up’ mobile phone filmmaking training
• Easy to understand tutorials
• Cinematic photography and filmmaking covered
• In-depth look at poetics in filmmaking
• Story vs Narrative debate
• Micro script and story-board development
• Camera movement techniques without expensive equipment
• Online tutorial video reminders
• Free training notes
• Open to people aged 16 years and over
Sessions available:
• 2hr tutorial on filmmaking with your mobile phone camera
• 1 x day condensed: Poetic Film School
• 4 x week course: Poetic Film School
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Complimentary screening ticket

All ‘day’ and ‘course’ participants will also receive a free ticket to a screening event of ‘THE DREAMING BOG’ in 2023 (dates to be confirmed). All ‘course’ participants are also invited to share their finished work at one of the screening events of the new film, The Dreaming Bog film.
What do I need to attend
You don’t need any specific equipment or technical skills to attend any tutorial session. All you need is a mobile phone camera to start creating your own micro-films. If you are unsure whether your mobile phone is suitable, contact us in advance. All tutorial sessions are aimed and open at all levels of mobile phone camera user.
Please note. If you are unfamiliar using your mobile phone camera app. please do not purchase additional items specifically to attend these sessions.

Tutorials enquiry 

To enquire about booking any session format please send an email here.
"Inspiration can come from anywhere, but we have to know how to recognise it. When we do, we must be the seeker of and then experiencer of them. I will share where I get the ideas for my films."
Poetic Film School
© Robert Aitken & Robert Aitken Filmproduction