Looking at Tacita Dean’s work can help inspire students to create highly inventive work out of unusual materials, even if they can’t access expensive media like real film.

Try making connections to other artists that work in different media, but have used similar principles. See if the students can make similar connections. Here David Batchelor has created a wall of light, but it could also be considered collage.

Another artist that creates similar effects, but in a very different way is Garry Hill.

Working with simple collage can really surprise students. There are significant constraints, but they need to be given time to explore what can be done creatively within those.

The same collages that students make using traditional processes can also be turned into a movie using free software like Movie Maker or iMovie.

Another low-tech way of making movies is to use overhead projectors.

Students can give their video real solidity like Tacita Dean’s Film by creating their own wall. This one is made of glass, but stands freely in the room.

This wall is made of MDF and is about 2ft thick. The depth of the wall gives the movie a real sculptural quality.