A few weeks back I saw this Facebook advert in the newsfeed and immediately my curiosity was piqued. It made me think of how working out loud inspires new passions.

Our local council was looking to sponsor budding film makers aged 14 to 90 to create short films related to intergenerational stories and themes taken from residents in the local area. The idea was that they would be trained in film making over six weeks and then apply their learning in a multi-age film crew so that they plan, shoot, edit and create a short film which would be screened to the public at the local cinema later in the year.

Naturally, I applied and within a week was contacted for an interview.

I was nervous during the interview to say the least. It was the first interview that wasn’t related to learning and development but a topic I knew little about – film making.

All I knew was that I desperately wanted this opportunity because it would challenge me and at times, frighten me.  The idea of working with people much younger and older than myself appealed to me too. Imagine what we could learn from each other!  While one group edited with celluloid in the past, another edited digitally.  I think the interactions between the ages would be quite eye opening.  Everything about this project screamed ‘SOCIAL LEARNING IN ACTION’ – I had to be part of it.

In particularly, it appealed to me because it had four important things that I hold dear with my own social learning and that was:

• Learning With Others
• Creating Your Story
• Being Involved With the Local Community
• Creating a Legacy

One of the questions I was asked was if I had any ideas for potential stories for short films and I rattled off two that I had instantly made up on the spot (but not really, they were things I had always been thinking about)….

The changing demographics of our local area from light industry and manufacturing to the new creative economy and how this is changing the way the way businesses and community: stories of people with “old” or “dying” jobs to “new” or “emerging” jobs

(For some time now, I have been following the work of photographer Warren Kirk on Flickr  His photos of old people, workplaces and inner suburban homes around Melbourne are fascinating because he captures another time. Through his work, I glimpse snapshots of my own childhood and the people in it because I lived in similar homes and knew people like what he photographs.  Check out his photo album called Workplaces  if I can capture the stories on film as he does his photographs, I’d be very happy).  My second idea for a film was…

The loss of the cultural and religious identity and norms of first generation as their own families grow and their migrant parents pass away.

So did I get through the application process?

Yes! I did!  When I received the email letting me know of my successful application, I jumped for joy.  It’s been a personal learning journey for me on the use of video for “working out loud” and showing my work and learning.  It’s a medium that certainly makes you feel vulnerable but it’s important for me to practice what I preach and share the journey with you.

Who would have thought that ever since seeing Casey Niestat’s Ever Functional Work Studio vlog, over a year ago now, that it’s taken me on a different tangent of personal growth and learning by putting me into contact with creative people from diverse backgrounds into a completely new field of filmmaking.  All this through working out loud.

I could have told you about working out loud.  I could have created checklists and resources, blog posts and written articles about working out loud.  I could have stood up on a stage and lectured to you about working out loud.  Instead, the best way is to role model it for you while still learning myself.  Where’s it going to take me? I have no idea.  You’re more than welcome to see me succeed or see me fall.

Strangely, that’s the excitement of it.

Working out loud means sharing what you’re learning and working on. It means you have to take a chance to show your passions, share your problem or show what you’re learning to the world – no matter how insignificant, irrelevant or unfinished you THINK it is.  It means having to be vulnerable, open and authentic so that you can engage with others who value this too because they’re on the same journey.  What are you waiting for? Is there something you want to do? Start sharing today.