Photograph DVD-ROM

A teacher and student resource recommended for years 7–12, tertiary teaching and community groups

Photograph is a unique DVD-ROM for teachers and community groups to use to promote discussion about what can be sensitive issues involving teenagers, sex and repercussions. It tackles the problems of sexting (the sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages electronically) and cyberbullying.

The DVD-ROM was produced by the CentaCare Sandhurst Loddon Mallee Cyber Safety Project, 'Developing Ethical Digital Citizens', funded by the Telstra Foundation. The video content was created by Bendigo filmmaker Jamie Roberts of Cornerstone Media Productions, with the help of forty local teenagers.

CONTENTS OF THE PHOTOGRAPH DVD-ROM:

1. Photograph (Running time: 14 minutes)

   Holly's boyfriend, Dylan, wants her to text him a sexy photograph and promises to keep it private. Despite having misgivings, Holly sends Dylan the photograph, but then discovers he has been seeing another girl and breaks up with him.

   Dylan sends the photograph to a friend who distributes the photo and publishes it online. Holly is shocked and distressed by his betrayal, and is teased and shunned at school, but after telling her mother she discovers that support is there for her from the school, the police and her friends.

2. DVD-ROM extras (Running time: 60 minutes)

   • The aftermath
   • Full character interviews
   • Restorative-based interviews
   • Interview with Sergeant Matt Gildea, Victoria Police
   • Music clip, 'Not Making Digital Sense'

3. Study guide (22-page PDF)

   Written by Robyn Treyvaud and Lee Burton, this study guide supports the resources on the DVD-ROM by providing information for teachers, students and parents, as well as teaching points and activities to help the school community understand the social, emotional and legal issues around sexting.

   Robyn and Lee are the authors of the Cyber Safe Kids CD-ROM and were key consultants and writers for Cybersmart – the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) website, 2009.

4. Loddon Mallee procedure for response to an incident of concern (9-page PDF)

PHOTOGRAPH CONTAINS:

• information for teachers and students about the dangers of sexting and the consequences for both perpetrators and victims, as well as the role of bystanders
• student activities including a research and production activity
• a detailed section on strategies to prevent sexting and cyberbullying and how to respond to incidents
• information sheets to print out for students and parents
• interviews with the main actors and with Sergeant Matt Gildea from the Victoria Police
• class discussion starters and activities including restorative practice questions
• an incident response procedural flowchart
• incident assessment tool
• current research and resources.

Aired at international conferences on cyber safety, Photograph is a unique film. Nowhere else in the world has this problem been tackled in such a way, i.e. by involving teenagers in the production of a film for them on this subject.

Photograph's seventeen-year-old star, Carly Loftus says, 'People our age don't see the consequences of who [sexting] can affect and how many people it can affect. It's really something that affects someone's self esteem and confidence.'