How was the idea born?
How was the idea born?
When a problem becomes an opportunity.
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"Once Upon a Time" was born as a volunteer program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2017. Every month, a group of volunteer children met at a community school to share a space through reading as a tool to unite cultures.
"Once Upon a Time" was born as a volunteer program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2017. Every month, a group of volunteer children met at a community school to share a space through reading as a tool to unite cultures.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed by Malaysia, the program came to a pause. What seemed like a problem turned into an opportunity when our children volunteers realised that the storytelling videos they were planning to record could reach an even greater audience. This gave birth to the Once Upon a Time International Storytelling Festival.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed by Malaysia, the program came to a pause. What seemed like a problem turned into an opportunity when our children volunteers realised that the storytelling videos they were planning to record could reach an even greater audience. This gave birth to the Once Upon a Time International Storytelling Festival.
The opportunity
The opportunity
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed in most countries of the world, an important number of children and their families are facing lack of institutional aid and educational assistance. This situation is especially true for the most vulnerable groups who lack access to technology at home. Furthermore, hospitalised children who were already isolated before COVID-19 due to pre-existing conditions have experienced reduced family and support group visits.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed in most countries of the world, an important number of children and their families are facing lack of institutional aid and educational assistance. This situation is especially true for the most vulnerable groups who lack access to technology at home. Furthermore, hospitalised children who were already isolated before COVID-19 due to pre-existing conditions have experienced reduced family and support group visits.
This worldwide emergency is demanding that people become more active and conscious members of society. “Once Upon a Time International Storytelling Festival (ISF)” is created to empower children and youth to play an active role in this task by becoming International Storytellers; both connecting the world's children through stories and supporting the institutions that are striving to provide a cheerful and caring environment for the children in their care.
This worldwide emergency is demanding that people become more active and conscious members of society. “Once Upon a Time International Storytelling Festival (ISF)” is created to empower children and youth to play an active role in this task by becoming International Storytellers; both connecting the world's children through stories and supporting the institutions that are striving to provide a cheerful and caring environment for the children in their care.
How can I participate?
How can I participate?
✔ Individuals between 7 and 16 years old may participate.
✔ Individuals between 7 and 16 years old may participate.
✔ Select a short story to read in any language.
✔ Select a short story to read in any language.
✔ Follow the technical specifications below to film your storytelling video (it cannot exceed 8 minutes).
✔ Follow the technical specifications below to film your storytelling video (it cannot exceed 8 minutes).
✔ When your video is ready, complete the registration form at the bottom of this page to submit.
✔ When your video is ready, complete the registration form at the bottom of this page to submit.
Who will be listening to your stories?
Who will be listening to your stories?
Many children around the world who have limited access to books will benefit from your video. Published videos on the Once Upon a Time ISF YouTube channel will be categorised into a bank of stories by language.
Many children around the world who have limited access to books will benefit from your video. Published videos on the Once Upon a Time ISF YouTube channel will be categorised into a bank of stories by language.
How do I record my video?
How do I record my video?
In this tutorial we show you how to record your video to meet all the specifications.
In this tutorial we show you how to record your video to meet all the specifications.
Can I read the story without appearing in front of the camera?
Can I read the story without appearing in front of the camera?
Yes!
You can choose one of these reading modes:
Yes!
You can choose one of these reading modes:
Reading with the camera facing you
Reading with the camera facing you
Reader visible on the screen
Reading with the camera facing the pages
Reading with the camera facing the pages
Only book visible.
Reader's voice in voice-over.
Reading using a combination of both
Reading using a combination of both
Technical specifications
Technical specifications
Only videos that meet the given specifications will enter our YouTube channel.
Only videos that meet the given specifications will enter our YouTube channel.
✔ Shoot the video in landscape mode (horizontal orientation).
✔ Shoot the video in landscape mode (horizontal orientation).
✔ The time may not exceed 8 minutes in length.
✔ The time may not exceed 8 minutes in length.
✔ Record in high resolution (HD) and in any video format compatible with the YouTube platform.
✔ Record in high resolution (HD) and in any video format compatible with the YouTube platform.
✔ Reading mode: Readers can choose among the three different reading modes (see above).
✔ Reading mode: Readers can choose among the three different reading modes (see above).
✔ Use a microphone to minimise background noise and achieve a higher quality voice audio.
✔ Use a microphone to minimise background noise and achieve a higher quality voice audio.
✔ Start the video with a shot of the book cover.
✔ Start the video with a shot of the book cover.
✔ Introduce yourself, name only (no last name) and country.
✔ Introduce yourself, name only (no last name) and country.
✔ Introduce the book title, author, illustrator and publisher and, if you want explain why you chose the book.
✔ Introduce the book title, author, illustrator and publisher and, if you want explain why you chose the book.
✔ Finish with a comment (For example: say "thank you for listening" and invite people to watch more videos or to participate in the festival, etc.)
✔ Finish with a comment (For example: say "thank you for listening" and invite people to watch more videos or to participate in the festival, etc.)
How do I submit my video?
How do I submit my video?
When your video is ready, click on the link below to share your details and submit.
When your video is ready, click on the link below to share your details and submit.
About Festival continuity
About Festival continuity
The first edition of the festival took place from July 24 to August 16, 2020 at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, with the participation of one hundred volunteer readers from twenty-five (25) countries.
All videos were uploaded to our YouTube channel "Once Upon A Time ISF" and are available for public use as part of the story bank of the permanent program.
The first edition of the festival took place from July 24 to August 16, 2020 at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, with the participation of one hundred volunteer readers from twenty-five (25) countries.
All videos were uploaded to our YouTube channel "Once Upon A Time ISF" and are available for public use as part of the story bank of the permanent program.
This festival continues to be replicated in several countries, under coordinated initiatives between the international team and organized groups and educational institutions, with the aim to enrich the bank of stories and promote the active and supportive participation of young people and children at times when we all can help!
This festival continues to be replicated in several countries, under coordinated initiatives between the international team and organized groups and educational institutions, with the aim to enrich the bank of stories and promote the active and supportive participation of young people and children at times when we all can help!
How to join and support this festival?
How to join and support this festival?
This is a non-profit initiative, created exclusively for educational purposes. The Once Upon A Time ISF team is made up of groups of parents, teachers, youth and child volunteers.
This is a non-profit initiative, created exclusively for educational purposes. The Once Upon A Time ISF team is made up of groups of parents, teachers, youth and child volunteers.
If you would like to participate with an organized group of readers, read in your language to the children of the world or your country or if you have ideas to enrich this festival and multiply its scope, do not hesitate to contact us at onceuponatimeisf@gmail.com. We will be happy to join forces with you!
If you would like to participate with an organized group of readers, read in your language to the children of the world or your country or if you have ideas to enrich this festival and multiply its scope, do not hesitate to contact us at onceuponatimeisf@gmail.com. We will be happy to join forces with you!
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