Community Filmmaking

This book examines the role of community filmmaking in society and its connection with issues of cultural diversity, innovation, policy and practice in various places. Deploying a range of examples from Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong, the chapters show that film emerging from outside the mainstream film industries and within community contexts can lead to innovation in terms of both content and processes and a better representation of the cultural diversity of a range of communities and places. The book aims to situate the community filmmaker as the central node in the complex network of relationships between diverse communities, funding bodies, policy and the film industries.

"Community Filmmaking takes up central issues in contemporary media studies, from representational politics and public policy to screen culture and civic engagement, in a unique and productive fashion. Theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich, this volume is a welcome addition to a growing body of scholarship on community, participatory and collaborative media practices." --Kevin Howley, DePauw University, USA

Sarita Malik is Professor of Media, Culture and Communications at Brunel University London. Her research explores questions of social change, inequality, communities, and cultural representation. Her publications include Representing Black Britain (Sage 2002) and several article on race, representation and the media, and on diversity and cultural policy. Caroline Chapain is a Lecturer in Economic Development at the Business School, University of Birmingham, UK. Her research focuses on topics related to the creative industries, creative clusters, innovation, creative citizenship, creative cities and local and regional economic development and policies. In the last ten years she has undertaken research on these topics within the UK and in collaboration with colleagues across Europe.Roberta Comunian is Lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries at the Department for Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King's College London, UK. Her research interests include: relationship between public and private investments in the arts, art and cultural regeneration projects, cultural and creative industries, creativity and competitiveness. Her most recent works have been published in Geoforum, Journal of Education and Work, International Journal of Cultural and Creative Industries, and Cultural Trends.