Make Cycle #5 Archive: Make a Video Letter with your Phone

The fourth summer Make Cycle for Letters to the Next President 2.0 encouraged us to make a short video that tells a story about how an election issue affects you or your community. Here is archive of what happened as well as related resources you are welcome to use/remix as needed this fall:

What 2016 election issue matters most to you? Make a short video that tells a story about how an election issue affects you or your community. #2nextprez #DearNextPresident

As an educator, you have influence and a powerful voice in local and national issues. For this make, all you need is a smartphone, access to free online editing software, and passion! Create a short video (2 minutes or less) that tells a story about an election issue that matters to you.

Be inspired by these videos made by youth:

See below for suggestions, resources and details on how to get started.

Who are we?

We are a set of educators and media/journalism professionals from Fusion, KQED in San Francisco, and the National Writing Project, who are passionate about engaging young people in the issues surrounding this election and in becoming more participatory in their civic and political lives. We also care deeply about helping young people attain the critical thinking and media literacy skills that will enable them to more meaningfully engage in public discourse around the issues that our society is, and will be, facing in the coming years.

Places to Connect and Share

Here are places where you can connect with other educators and share what you make:

• L2P 2.0 Summer Make Cycles Facebook Group
• Twitter via #2nextprez and #DearNextPresident

Archived Events

We are also hosting some live events this week. Please join us!

• Make a Video Letters with your Phone Hangout
• Make a Video Letter Twitter Chat at #2nextprez and #DearNextPresident

We are excited to make and connect with you!

Steps to Make a Video Letter with your Phone

Step 1. Compose a story about something you have witnessed firsthand. How does the election issue you chose directly affect you, or people you know? What do you wish politicians could know about how that issue impacts you or your community? How can you tell a story that will put a human face to the problem, and help others understand what it feels like to experience it?

Step 2. Make a storyboard. The best way to efficiently make a good video is to plan ahead. Think of what you want viewers to know, and how you want to show it visually and with sound. Draw a picture of each shot that you plan to shoot with your camera. You can just sketch out your ideas, or use an online tool like StoryboardThat. Here are some great storyboarding tips.

Step 3. Shoot your video. This is the fun part. But it requires some planning. Here a few helpful tips: SmartPhone Video Shooting Tips

Step 4. Edit your video. Use a free online editing tool like WeVideo to piece together your story. This is where the real work happens. You don’t have to be fancy — just make sure your story is clear and easy to understand. Here are some basic editing techniques and video tutorials from WeVideo.

Step 5. Upload and share your video using #2nextprez

Additional Resources:

• Teaching the Art of Civil Dialogue by Chris Sloan
• #DearNextPresident
• How to make your own #DearNextPresident video