At the turn of September and October 2022, in Berlin, I had my third Erasmus+ experience. Contrary to what happened in the other two (in Sweden and in Greece), the Do_cument it yourself project's topic wasn't about introspection. At the center of the process, in fact, was Videomaking.

Location, location, location

Another big difference, compared to my previous Erasmus+ experiences, was the background. After the Floda lake and the beach of Tinos, in fact, I found myself close to the center of Berlin. The rustling of the wind has given way to traffic noise and the flashes of light in the foliage have given way to traffic lights.
Erasmus paricipants working at a video

The project

Do_cument it yourself is an intensive eight-day course that starts from the basics of communication and videomaking up to the actual creation of promo videos for previously selected local associations. The organizing association of the edition held in Berlin is Kl!ck while the training part is curated by Break The Couch (Thanks, Marta Gusare, for the photos in this article). The Italian association, responsible for the selection procedures and various bureaucracy, which I had as a point of reference was the Hermes Academy of Taranto, in the person of the very kind and extremely helpful Luigi Pignatelli. At the center of the itinerary is a particular type of videomaking, defined as guerrilla, which starts from the assumption that not everyone can have access to professional and expensive equipment and aims to demonstrate how, even with spartan means (but with the right programming), you can get amazing results.
Erasmus paricipants during videomaking class

My experience

With more than fifteen years as a videomaker behind me (ten of which as a professional) and satisfactory university studies on the subject, I applied to participate in this project driven by a strong motivation. After so much time living as a freelancer and many of the last few years working almost exclusively in "teams" made up of only one person (me), I wanted to get out of the comfort zone which, as often happens, is actually a "discomfort" zone, if we consider the damage it can do, in the medium to long term, when, strengthened by our certainties and skills, we forget the importance of learning and comparing. I pretended, for a moment, to forget everything I knew to look, even in the initial ABC, for those little inputs that could give me new life. Well, many more inputs than I hoped have pierced my "worn" professional armor. Working in multi-ethnic teams, whose members also differed in gender, age and level of experience, was fantastic and put to the test all my flexibility (which I thought was rusty but it wasn't) and my sense of responsibility when, recognizing myself often as one of the most experienced figures, I found myself the honor and the burden of leading the group in projects which, fortunately or due to the availability of the team members, have always been characterized by the most total harmony.
Erasmus paricipants drinking beer
Clear enough? Interesting enough? Funny enough? If it isn't, make it so!
This phrase, said at the end of each task assigned, was the leitmotiv of the eight days in Germany. It may seem like a simple motivational phrase but that simplicity was just what I was looking for, away from the complexities that usually dot my job.

Guerrilla

Another interesting element of Do_cument it yourself was the Guerrilla Videomaking. Do you have a smartphone and headphones at your disposal? Good! With a little programming, taste, and some video basics, you might already be able to create something good!
By now, we all need videos to communicate our artistic, professional projects or, if necessary, even to dance on TikTok!

Secret ingredient: love

Although the project did not revolve around mindfulness, as in any self-respecting Erasmus, that very important component was not missing which is the creation of human connections and bonds. On the penultimate day, I take responsibility for making a video containing some useful advice for the next project participants (in Berlin it was the eighth edition). I begin to rack my brains, arm myself with a smartphone and embark on a solitary adventure. Out of nowhere, Landa appears, a Latvian girl who, on a couple of occasions, I've teamed up with. In her hands a notepad and a pen, on her face a smile and a question: shall we jot down some ideas? And here comes the cute Nino, the eccentric Anna, Samuele, Dalila, Tamim, Roberto, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I left alone and, suddenly, I found myself with an impressive number of travel companions, under a shower of ideas and laughter. These experiences are heart warming and addictive.
Do_cument it yourself is not finished, it is not an experience that I am telling you and that you will never be able to have. Follow the channels of the associations to which I have linked and you will be able to get info on the next stage and how to participate!
I hope to have inspired you and/or to have removed some doubts. If the article left you something, likes, shares and comments are greatly appreciated. If you want to read other similar content, subscribe to the newsletter!