When we began listing all the skills necessary to run a successful film festival, I was genuinely surprised by the sheer number and variety required. Initially, when we split into teams to brainstorm key skills and roles, I felt we had a good grasp of what was needed. However, it wasn’t until we combined our ideas that the list expanded significantly. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but it was exciting to see roles emerge that I hadn’t even considered, like jury duty or stakeholder management.
When considering the roles I could take on for the festival, I immediately thought about my passions and strengths. Being a lover of films and anything creative, I knew that roles involving creativity were where I could shine. Roles like curation, catering, decorating/design, and promotion immediately caught my eye. I especially loved the idea of decorating the festival venue, as I enjoy making handmade decorations and transforming ordinary spaces into something extraordinary. Creating the right atmosphere is crucial to making the event feel special (Kuhn, 2015).
Stepping out of my comfort zone is something I believe is important for personal growth. Despite feeling unsure, I decided to sign up for UX design, even though I wasn’t entirely sure how it would function in an event environment compared to UX related to app and website design. But the idea of trying something completely new wasn’t as daunting when I thought about all the skills my peers possess that we can lean on for support. On the other hand, I recognized my limitations when it came to the technical side of the festival. I’ve never been great with technical tasks, so I decided to leave that to those who enjoy it and know what they’re doing, especially considering how crucial technology is to the success of a film festival (Johanovský 2015). But with our interdisciplinary approach to organizing the festival, I’m looking forward to learning more about the technical aspects from those who have chosen to focus on them, so that maybe in the future, I can approach technical tasks with newfound confidence and enjoyment.
Throughout the week, I found myself reconsidering my roles for the festival, remembering skills I had forgotten or underestimated. Realizing my outgoing nature and enjoyment of socializing, I decided to join the promotion and advertising team. I’d love to film students on campus and members of the public for vox pop videos, asking them about their favourite films or events they’ve attended in Melbourne to help generate interest and excitement for our festival.
In conclusion, I’m excited to see how my skills and learning styles will evolve as the festival progresses (Jones 2020), embracing the opportunities for growth and discovery that lie ahead.
References
Johanovský T (2015) ‘The Nuts and Bolts: Technical Production’ Setting Up a Human Rights Film Festival, Vol. 2, Human Rights Film Network, Prague, pp. 85-96, accessed 13 April 2024. https://moviesthatmatter.nl/content/uploads/2021/10/Setting-up-a-human-rights-film-festival-chapter-7.pdf
Jones M (2020) Mastering Facilitation: A Guide for Assisting Teams and Achieving Great Outcomes, Productivity Press, ProQuest Ebook Central, accessed April 16 2024. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/rmit/detail.action?docID=6318024
Kuhn A (2015) ‘Who Is Organising It? Importance of Production and Team Members’, Setting Up a Human Rights Film Festival, Vol. 2, Human Rights Film Network, Prague, pp. 71-83, accessed 13 April 2024. https://moviesthatmatter.nl/content/uploads/2021/10/Setting-up-a-human-rights-film-festival-chapter-6.pdf