'Video activism' is on the rise, often associated with small, spontaneous actions in environmental and social justice campaigns. But picking up a video camera for the first time can be daunting. This series of workshops by the Undercurrents Foundation seeks to teach people regardless of age, gender and background how to use video as an effective tool.

Undercurrents began in 1993 in a North London bedroom with basic edit suite, borrowed camcorders, two frustrated TV producers and a handful of environmental activists. It developed into the UK's first regular alternative news service, distributed via video cassette. Consequently, with initiatives like the Camcorder Action Network, co-ordinating the increasing number of video activists, a grassroots protest video archive where video activists have stored over 1000 hours of footage for present and future generations, and the BeyondTV video festival which started
in Wales in December 2000, Undercurrents has continued working towards a robust, alternative, independent media production culture.

The foundation believes that anyone with access to equipment and training can effectively use video to bring about positive change in their community. 'Since the “camcorder explosion” of the early nineties video cameras have become more portable, easier to use and best of all, cheaper,' explains Video Activist Training Project leader Helen Iles. 'Now campaigners can gather evidence of factories polluting our water supply, produce an empowerment video aimed at getting people motivated into action or even get their news onto the growing outlets of Television current affairs programs.'

The most basic workshop offered in the Video Activist Training Project is 'Introduction to video activism'- aimed at activists with little or no experience of using video. This workshop teaches basic camera operation and editing, and how to edit a simple video feature. Practical elements include improving sound quality, getting to grips with the cables and accessories and using the camera in conjunction with other media equipment. Also covered are how to conduct interviews and disseminate films.

The Advanced workshop, meanwhile, is for activists who have mastered the basics and want to expand on strategy. It focusses on improving storytelling techniques, approaching television news and current affairs program, targeting output to the right audiences, beginning work as a video journalist, and how to offer effective video support to a campaign. All the workshops offered by Undercurrents offer content demonstrations and practical exercises including role plays on the critical issue of dealing with news desks. Skills are taught on the students' own video cameras, cables and adapters, and teachers can give support on features and footage already shot by students.

The workshops are run in Oxford and Swansea, by Helen Iles, with undercurrents since 1997. “We tend to be very fluid,” explains Undercurrents worker Paul O'Connor, 'relying on self-motivated volunteers. Our goal is to use video as a strategic tool for activism. We are much more interested in what concrete results we achieve than how many docos we can churn out. We don't consider ourselves as film makers, we prefer to call our work video activism.”