poetic filmmaker writer & producer film training & education
the dreaming bog
LEARNING PROGRAMME 2023
THE DREAMING BOG is an ecopoetic film on Climate Change told through the history and mythology of the Peatbogs of Northern Scotland and the Swamp and Mires of Finland. The film was made with heartfelt comment from those who actually live and work in the Bogs - informed testimony from passionate poets, researchers, heritage curators, ethnologists and social scientists, all who are now delighted to be included in the ‘The Dreaming Bog Learning Programme 2023'. This fantastic array of sessions is designed for anyone and everyone to attend in a friendly, social atmosphere. Learning Programme 2023 includes:
1. POETIC FILMMAKING
create filmed stories using your mobile phone ... read more >>
2. ECOPOETICAL WRITING
an education in noticing: writing for nurturing the world around us ... read more >>
3. READINGS, TALKS & PRESENTATIONS
selection from various specialists in field ... read more >>
4. WALKS, TOURS & FIELD TRIPS
guided tours to sites of interest around the far North ... read more >>
5. CONFERENCE PAPERS
academic abstract-call presentations ... read more>>
Our Learning Team, Format & Contact >>
1. POETIC FILMMAKING
create filmed stories using your mobile phone
About
These 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. (see tutiorials)
Includes
- 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
Sessions available
- 1/2 day
- Full day
- Series of workshops
2. ECOPOETICAL WRITING
an education in noticing: writing for nurturing the world around us
About
Enter a gentle exploration of word deveelopment and the concept of ecopoetics, and the practice of composing poems, leading to experiencing how ecopoetical thinking and writing about our environments encourages us to cherish our most intimate ecologies (people and places) and increases our creative empathy for all life; for learning to hear, love and ‘speak the world’ in poetry.
Includes
Sessions include: Word explorations in developing ideas, using selections from local archives, heritage and personal collections as resources for embracing and renewing place-based knowledges and traditions through writing poetry, and ecopoetics ‘in the field’. The extended versions can include directed ecopoetic walks with digital audio guiding, enhancing experiences of in place listening, seeing and writing. (see 4.)
Sessions available:
- 1/2 day
- Full day
- Series of workshops
3. READINGS, TALKS & PRESENTATIONS
selection from various specialists in field
About
We have an amazing selection of talks, readings and presentations from various outstanding contributors including: National Poet & Playwright from Caithness, George Gunn, who has amassed a lifetime of musings around the far north and its connections to the wider world. Ethnologist, Poet and Researcher, Cáit O'Neill McCullagh, has delved deep into the layers and sensitive-psyche of our human-nature relationships. Researcher and Heritage & Digital Curator, Jacquie Aitken, has devoted decades to the study of how we have lived and our connections to the past as new ways of seeing our present and future selves. Alison Stewart is a true Wordsmith who carves and captures great meaning and message with her Haikuesque style of language. Environmental Researcher, Magnus Davidson, brings a fresh vitality to Social Science of our people-place happenings. And filmmaker, Robert Aitken, explores what roles Imagination, Mytholgy and Stortelling can play in affecting our curent behaviours and future as a species.
Includes
- Poetry & Extract readings
- Screen projected heritage presentations
- Film background & production talks
Sessions available
- 20mins reading/drop-in session
- 1hr presentations
4. WALKS & TOURS & FIELD TRIPS
guided tours to sites of interest around the far North
About
We can offer a range of site visits to places of interest around the far North counties of Caithness & Sutherland. From Iron/Bronze Age archaeology to the remains of Clearance towships and sites of natural importance to climate resilient landscapes under threat, we can take you into places you might never have visited or know little about. Specialists in field will guide you in how poetic arts, filmmaking, writing practises & heritage all respond to and illuminate on local to global connections, expanding upon the mythology and story-based themes touched upon in The Dreaming Bog.
Includes:
- Filmmmaking location trips
- Ecopoetic writing practises walks
- Heritage & archaeological based tours
- Research field work with groups/communities
Sessions available
- 1/2 day to full day tours and research trips
5. CONFERENVCE PAPERS
academic abstract-call presentations
About
The Dreaming Bog has inspired numerous academic papers. These have been delivered in Scotland and throughout Europe. All explore themes in the film, including 'interdependence of human-nature relationships', 'how engaging creative imagination can play a key role communicating issues around climate change and the biodiversity crises' and 'how communities curating their own heritages can support sustainable development, sustaining people and place living'.
Includes:
Papers that explore arts and heritage responses to climate change, biodiversity crises and vulnerable landscapes etc. In addition, how poetic arts and writing practises responds to and illuminates local to global connections, expanding upon the mythology and story-based themes highlighted in The Dreaming Bog.
Sessions available
- 20mins to 1hr presentations
Our Learning Team includes:
- Writer, Producer and Film-maker:
Robert Aitken
- Screenstory writer:
Alison Stewart
- Caithness Writer, Poet & Playright:
George Gunn
- UHI Environmental Researcher:
Magnus Davidson
- Archaeologist, Ethnologist, Researcher & Writer:
Cáit O'Neill McCullagh
- Timespan Heritage & Digital Curator:
Jacquie Aitken
&
- Mire Trend Project Researchers, Finland:
Pauliina Latvala-Harvilahti & Kirsi Laurén
Format
All our sessions are offered live, attended in-person, but many can also be available online and a hybrid combination of both. We can also 'drop-in' a session into your own current programme of events as part of a wider listing.
Mix & Match Event Planning
All our Learning sessions make fantastic stand along events or as part of your own programme of events, but you can also work with us and we'll help you devise a full listing, learning programme, or even themed festival of events from scratch. Some suggested planning ideas include:
• Creative Day: focus on nature & climate change
1. POETIC FILMMAKING + 2. ECOPOETICAL WRITING
• Exploration Day: focus on human / nature relationships
4. WALKS, TOURS & FIELD TRIPS + 1. POETIC FILMMAKING + 2. ECOPOETICAL WRITING
• Discovery Weekend: focus on creative learning and social based activitiies
1. POETIC FILMMAKING + 2. ECOPOETICAL WRITING + 4. WALKS, TOURS & FIELD TRIPS + 3. READINGS, TALKS & PRESENTATIONS
*why not conclude with a Ceilidh style sharing concert
• Research Conference: focus on research events on ecopoetics & geopoetics
4. WALKS, TOURS & FIELD TRIPS + 3. READINGS, TALKS & PRESENTATIONS + 5. CONFERENCE PAPERS
* why not conclude with a Ceilidh style social gathering
• Climate Action Festival: focus on local based climate impacts & actions
1. POETIC FILMMAKING + 2. ECOPOETICAL WRITING + 3. READINGS, TALKS & PRESENTATIONS + 4. WALKS, TOURS & FIELD TRIPS + 5. CONFERENCE PAPERS
* why not conclude with a Ceilidh style social gathering
Discourse & Discussion
The Dreaming Bog seeks to seed a new wave of discussion on Climate Change where humans are placed back into the heart and narrative of nature, and honour the local places we live. Through this we offer communities and groups the opportunity to host a film screening event where, as well as a showing the film, we encourage a panel discourse and community and public discussions.
Contact
To enquire about booking any Learning session please send a message here >>
These are just suggestsions, feel free to mix & match and create your own listing of events...
NEED SOME HELP?
Get in touch and we'll work with you around your own particular requirements.
© Robert Aitken & Robert Aitken Filmproduction