he crew of The YMMP Short Film, Australian: KuKu, Sher Nay, Amie (YMMP Facilitator), Darcy.

After seven months of film training, hard work, writing, directing, shooting, editing and recording a group of young people involved in Young Media Makers Project has called it a rap and is now set to reveal a series of five short films made by young people about issues and themes important to them.

In this blog we have one of the avid film makers Sher Nay Moo tell us about what it was like to be involved

My name is Sher Nay Moo. I was born in Thai-Burma Border zone at Mae La Refugee Camp, Thailand. My family background is Karen from Burma. I have been in Australia almost two years. My favorite things are playing guitar, making music, shooting films, editing the films and creating animations. I’m study at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institution Technology) and have also been a participant of YMMP (Young Media Makers Project) in pursuit of my filmmaking interests.

I can remember that when I was 10 years old, I start to learn how to play guitar, read and write a music notes, cords, melody and rhythm. I used to played guitar for eight years. After that I learnt some computer skills at the camp, and I started to take interest in photography, shooting films, editing and I would show my classmates.

Life growing up in Thai-Burma Border refugee camp was very different if I compare it to my life in Australia today.

When I started to studying media at YMMP in Melbourne, it really developed my experience with filmmaking. For example, I learnt how to write a film script, how to plan and draw the storyboards, as well as camera framing. This program was fantastic for me because before I came to Australia, I was one of those people who with an interest in film and when I first came to Australia I didn’t know about the film industry and how I could develop my skills because I was a new migrant from a refugee background.

But when I went to workshops at YMMP, met the guest filmmakers and other young people, my interest in film became even stronger.

I worked on a film called Australian – a documentary about my classmates, Mareng from Sudan and Say Nay from Burma. They are both from refugee backgrounds. I was the camera person and had a chance to use professional HD camera equipment. I also helped with the editing. I am looking forward to our screening on September 7 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

Cast and Crew of YMMP Short Film, Australian: Say Nay, Darcy, Mareng, Sher Nay, Kuku and Amie (YMMP Facilitator)

As well YMMP has helped me to settle into my new life in Australia. At YMMP weekly workshops, I also to made friends with my classmates and had a chance to understand a bit of their stories – like what are their hobbies, why they came to study in the program? What do they want to become in the future? What are they study or doing now? A big thing I learnt through my YMMP and classmates are to be passionate in work and working with team or group. Because sometimes we have different opinions so it was a good lesson in working in a group with people from different backgrounds. This was also good because I wanted to practice my English and communication skills with people from diverse backgrounds. As well it was an opportunity for me to learn about the way other people live, behave, communicate, make friends and live in Australia.

Also in Melbourne, my friend and I, make films for the Karen community through AKO (Australia Karen Organization). We edit these movies and distribute them to our community. I feel like I can express myself through making films and what I learnt in the camp, my YMMP training and other experiences in Melbourne – I know I can help my Karen Community.

Young Media Makers Project has helped me to develop my film skills, study the fundamentals of media but also open my eyes to see my future – I want to study film and eventually work in the film industry.

The films are set to premiere on Wednesday 7 September, 7PM, Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Federation Square, Melbourne. Tickets will ONLY be available at ACMI box office on the screening day. For more information contact Young Media Makers Project A DVD is set to come out soon too.