Migration · Youth
Short film (Cross-in Borders)
Between June and August 2023, as part of the Cross-in Borders project, the association produced a short fiction film in Gafsa to steer young people away from irregular migration. The film does not claim that life is better in Tunisia: it reminds viewers of what they lose by leaving, family, a mother's love, human ties, and the opportunities that still exist in the country. Three members of the association, trained by the Boobli team, carried the project from script to final edit.
Context
Irregular migration hits young people in Tunisia's interior regions hard, and Gafsa is no exception. Unemployment, the gap in living standards with other countries and a lack of prospects lead some young people to consider leaving by sea, at the risk of their lives. The Cross-in Borders project relied on the power of images to reach this audience. The association chose short fiction, which speaks to the emotions more than a conventional awareness message and can circulate on Radio Capsa FM's digital platforms, where young people are.
Objectives
- 01Help prevent irregular migration among young people in Gafsa and across Tunisia.
- 02Produce a professional-quality short film with an honest, persuasive message.
- 03Build the association team's skills in scriptwriting, filming and editing.
- 04Bring the film to young people through Radio Capsa FM's platforms.
What we did
- 9 May 2023Agreement signed between Radio Capsa FM and the Boobli content-creation team
- 1–7 June 2023Scriptwriting: concept, characters, plot, revisions and shooting schedule
- 20, 24, 27 and 30 June 2023Location scouting and selection
- 3, 5 and 8 July 2023Shot breakdown: staging, framing, camera movement, lighting and effects
- 22 July – 8 August 2023Filming: directing actors, shooting and sound recording
- 13–25 August 2023Editing: shot selection, music, sound effects and final cut
Results
Source: project closing report (output indicators).
What changed
- The association produced its first complete fiction film, from script to edit, with trained members and professionals from the region.
- Three members took the Boobli team's training in scriptwriting, filming and editing and applied it directly to the film.
- The script draws on many accounts from young Tunisians who left the country or came back, which gives the message its credibility.
- At a test screening, a small group of young people from the region with varied backgrounds responded very positively and embraced the idea that a life is still possible in Tunisia.
- The experience made members who had not taken part in the training want to get involved in similar projects.