The Vision of Participatory Video
Everyone understands the power of the media to shape our understanding of the world, especially the media of film and television; and yet the mainstream media often only manages to represent the views and experiences of those in privileged positions. The majority of the rest of the world have little or no access to these powerful tools of representation. Participatory Video aims to shift these dynamics by enabling groups or communities to represent themselves on film, and to use this experience as a way to amplify their voices, communicate their concerns, represent their ideas and interests, and build bridges to share their perspectives in their own words with neighbours, peers, and outsiders. In this sense, Participatory Video is a tool for transformation and action.
How does Participatory Video work?
- Facilitators help groups to identify and analyse important messages in their community.
- Community members and facilitators work together to plan and film video messages.
- Footage is shared with the wider community at frequent screenings.
- Completed films can be shown to multiple audiences.
There are many different ways to do Participatory Video, and techniques vary according to practitioner’s experience, the field situation and the available technology. Some practitioners carry out much of the filming themselves, whilst others hand the camera technology entirely over to the participants and never handle it at all. However, at the heart of Participatory Video, and where it differs from other forms of documentary representation, is that it is community inspired, community created, and community owned.
Benefits of the Process
Another major difference between Participatory Video and other forms of documentary film making is that the goal of Participatory Video is primarily a process whereas the goal of documentary film is primarily the final product. The impact of Participatory Video as a process will vary from situation to situation, but some of the observed impacts are as follows:
Empowerment
Participatory Video builds confidence in a group or community that their stories and experiences are important, and that they have the authority to communicate these to themselves and outsiders, and ultimately work together to create change.
Inspiration
By watching each other describe issues and problems in their community, and by combining Participatory Video with other tools for community self-analysis, the process can bring people together to think deeply about how they can work collaboratively to sow the seeds of change in their communities, ways that they might not have discussed before.
Therapy
Sharing experiences together by the use of video and discussion can provide a therapeutic outlet for people’s feelings of isolation or illness; when Participatory Video is used in this situation, it is almost entirely concerned with the process and the final film many never really be shown to outsiders.
Benefits of the Product
Participatory Video generates film material and some or all of this can be a wonderful record, both of the process itself as well as the stories and issues that the participants have articulated. This material can either be edited or used whole. The audiences of this film can be the participants themselves, their neighbours, the wider community, nearby villages, development experts, local or national politicians, scientists, or interested members of the public... The product can be used for communication within and between communities, as well as influencing NGOs, local and national governments, or the general national or global public. For example -
Participatory Video can be a great way to exchange knowledge, share innovations or build grassroots networks for support and solidarity. Completed films can be shown to neighbours, friends, nearby villagers, people engaged in similar activities and livelihoods, or facing similar problems, in different parts of the country, region or globe. PV can also be used between groups of people who are in conflict, and can enable communities to reach out to one another without the difficulty or danger of a physical meeting.
Participatory Video can enable people to have a ‘face to face’ encounter with decision makers or policymakers. Marginalised people and policymakers often live at great geographical, social and economic distances from one another, and participatory video is a way of enabling people at the grassroots to present their stories, issues and ideas to people who may not be willing or able to visit them for themselves. In this way, Participatory Video products can help build bridges of understanding, and bring local perspectives and participation into development and policy planning.
Ethic, Responsibility and Pitfalls
Participatory Video is adaptable and can be used in almost any group or community situation, however it also carries with it important ethical considerations as well as potential pitfalls. Practitioners should use their own best judgement at all times, but there are always important considerations to bear in mind.
Participatory Video is there for the community, they need to invite it in or offer it their permission and blessing.
PV belongs to the participants, it is they who finally decide what they include, and how, where and when they do it.
As a bridge between the community and the outside world, the practitioner can help guide the participants to make their film more effective, but should not overpower them or impose his/her ideas. This is a fine balance.
Finished films could have negative consequences, particularly on sensitive issues and in some political environments. Practitioners and participants need to discuss possible consequences in details and ensure that the final content is agreed upon before wider distribution is authorised.
Communities are not homogenous entities, they usually contain their own divisions along gender, age, economic and social lines. PV can choose to work with one particular group, but if it aspires to represent the diverse views of the community, then strategies need to be considered to make it as inclusive as possible, and conflicts between different interest groups carefully negotiated.
