CQUniversity lecturer Brendan Murphy will join COIN Academy's Steve Lloyd as mentors at a free Digital Movie Making workshop.

The workshop, a Smith Family initiative, is being offered to teens between 14 and 18 years over 2 days , September 22 to 23, at the COIN Academy in Rockhampton.

Mr Lloyd will teach students skills to create modern film formats, while Mr Murphy will introduce participants to 3D animation software.

It is anticipated students will have the opportunity to film areas of Rockhampton before using the footage to create their own personal short film.

They will also have the opportunity to manipulate animated products using industry software.

Cevall Johnstone, Learning for Life worker for The Smith Family in Rockhampton, sees this as an opportunity to increase students' confidence and skills with computers and unfamiliar programs.

"It is a very exciting and unique opportunity in Rockhampton - the first free course of its kind."

Participants will be given the chance to showcase their end products by uploading them on to YouTube.

CQUniversity supports The Smith Family in its endeavours to provide learning opportunities for financially disadvantaged students at a grass roots level.

For more information about The Smith Family, or the Learning for Life program, visit http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/ .