FILM A VLOG

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You’re the star of this movie. So for the first task, we need you to introduce yourself to us. 

Film a short video to let everyone know how coronavirus and the lockdown has affected you and your family.

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This is your opportunity to tell everyone how you're feeling. You can talk about anything but if you'd like some help try thinking about:

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• What’s your name? (just first name)

• Where do you live in the borough? (be vague, just say 'Mitcham' or 'Wimbledon' or 'Raynes Park' etc)

• Who do you live with?

• How long have you been in lockdown?

• What has changed about your daily routine? Are there things that you can no longer do or have to do differently?

• Have you picked up any new skills?

• What does lockdown mean for family life?

• What emotions have you been feeling?

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Don't forget to check out our 'How to Vlog' video for some tips and tricks, before you start filming. And when you're done, submit here.

CREATE A 'CORONA
VILLIAN'

We keep hearing about coronavirus as an 'enemy' that we have to ‘fight,’ but what if it was an actual villain in a movie? What would it look and sound like? What kind of personality would it have?

Create your own ‘Coronavillain.’ Then take a picture of it, scan it or film a short clip of yourself introducing us to it.

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This task doesn’t have to stop at a drawing! Once you’ve designed your villan, have a look around your home for resources that you can use to bring it to life - think lolly pop sticks, left over cardboard from a delivery, lego blocks or even some knitting or crochet. 

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Don't forget to check out our 'How to get your creative juices flowing' video for some tips and tricks, before you start creating. And when you're done, submit here.

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This task was suggested by Jackie Watkins, Manager of Tooting and Mitcham United. If you have an idea for a task, send us an email at

WRITE A RAP, POEM OR SONG

A lot has changed over the last few months and life now looks really different for all of us. Many people are calling it a 'new normal,' but what does this mean?

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Write a rap, poem or song about how your life has changed since the coronavirus pandemic began and what your 'new normal' is.

Then type it up, record it in your phone's voice memo app or even film a short video of you performing it (music videos are also welcome!)

You could focus on any element of your 'new normal,' but if you'd like some ideas, how about thinking about:

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•  how you've been feeling (eg. bored, scared, lucky, calm etc)

•  the thing(s) that you’re missing the most (school, friends, family, sports etc)

•  your new daily routine

•  what you're looking forward to once things return to the 'old normal'

•  what you've learned about yourself and the world 

•  how living in Merton has changed during this time

It can be as long or short as you'd like it to be. With or without musical instruments (remember that anything can be an instrument - try pots and pans for drums, rubber bands for guitar strings or bags of rice and pasta as maracas.)

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Don't forget to check out our 'How to write a rap, poem or song' video for some tips and tricks, before you start creating. And when you're done, submit here.

SNAP A SHOT

So we’ve got the words for our film from your vlogs and music from your songs, now we need some images to really show the audience what Merton looked like during this time. There's been so much change! From the quieter roads and parks, to the closed shops and even the rainbows that have popped up in windows.

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Take a series of photographs, capturing what Merton looks like now. 

There are lots of interesting things that you could capture, both inside and outside of your home. Here are some ideas:

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• Socially distanced celebrations, like Eid, VE Day or a birthday party

• The view from a window in your house

• Some of the animals or wildlife that have been coming out more often now

• The weekly clap for the NHS on your street

• Your local town centre, with all of the closed shops

• Your new working or schooling from home space 

• Signs that talk about coronavirus

• Your family or neighbours

• What your street looks like at different times of day - early morning, lunchtime, dinner time

Check out the ‘How to: Snap a Shot’ video for some more tips. And when you're done, submit here.

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Remember to keep socially distanced and only take pictures of others if you have their permission.

CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW

So far, without realising it, you’ve become a citizen journalist - a broadcast journalist, a photojournalist, a print journalist - using different methods to report what's going on. This week, we want you to use another popular technique used by journalists… interviewing! 

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Create a list of questions and use them to interview someone you know on camera (like a neighbour, sibling, parent or friend.)

Check out our ‘How to: Conduct an Interview’ video for some tips on how to create your questions. If you’re still stuck, why not ask them some of the questions that you asked yourself during the first week’s task:

• What’s your name? 

• Where do you live in Merton?

• Who do you live with?

• How long have you been in lockdown? 

• What has changed about your daily routine? Are there things you can no longer do or have to do differently?

• Have you picked up any new skills?

• What has it meant for family life?

When you're done, submit here.

Remember to keep socially distanced. If you cannot physically meet with anyone, try conducting an interview virtually using a program like skype or zoom that allows you to record. 

CREATE A TIMECAPSULE

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We’ve come to our last week, well done for making it this far! As most restrictions are slowly lifting and society slowly returns to ‘normal,’ what you have created will serve as a permanent record of what society looked and felt like during this time. 

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For the final task, we want you to reflect on everything that has happened and look to the future. 

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Write a letter addressed to yourself in 12 months' time and then film yourself reading it. 

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This task is all about remembering how you have felt during this time, to look back at when it might all be a distant memory. So try to be really reflective, think about things like:

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• What things do you want to remember?

• What things would you rather forget? 

• What new skills have you learned?

• What new things have you noticed about yourself?

• How has this experience changed your outlook? 

• Will you miss anything about this time?

• What are you most looking forward to once things return to 'normal'?

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Don’t forget to check out our ‘How to: Vlog’ video for some tips and tricks, before you start filming. And when you're done, submit here.

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