Ohio Wesleyan Students to Screen Original Films at Strand Theatre
The 11th Annual OWU Documentary Film Festival will be held May 1 at Delaware’s Strand Theatre. Seven films will be shown, including Spenser Hickey’s ‘A Post-Ferguson Society: Voices of a Student Movement,’ which includes an interview with history professor Michael Flamm.
University’s 11th Annual Documentary Film Festival, Discussion to be Held May 1
DELAWARE, Ohio – Seven films created by Ohio Wesleyan University students enrolled in a documentary filmmaking course will be shown and discussed May 1 at the 11th Annual OWU Documentary Film Festival. The free community event will begin at 7 p.m. at downtown Delaware’s historic Strand Theatre, 28 E. Winter St.
All of the student-filmmakers are enrolled in Ethnographic and Documentary Film and Filmmaking, taught by Ohio Wesleyan sociology/anthropology professor Mary Howard, Ph.D., and Chuck Della Lana, director of media services.
“We have a wide variety of topics this year, from creative arts to current issues,” Della Lana said. “I know for most of the students in the class, this is their first experience making a film, and Mary and I have been impressed with both their short films at the beginning of the year and how they’ve progressed since then.”
As part of the course, students explore film theory from the field of visual anthropology and from filmmakers’ written reflections on the processes involved in completing particular projects. Students also learn camera-use and film-editing techniques.
Documentaries scheduled to be screened at this year’s festival are as follows. Note that some of the projects contain adult content, language, and themes.
“ha-pē-nəs.” This film is an exploration of happiness through the lens of Buddhist teachings. Students discover their changing sense of the meaning of happiness as a result of their travels through India and the community they created among themselves. The film is directed by Camille Mullins-Lemieux, a junior from Chicago.
“Colo of Columbus.” Colo, the first-born and now the oldest gorilla in captivity, lives at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. This film explores her life and the impact of her birth on the zoo, her caretakers, and the people of Central Ohio. It is directed by Blake Fajack, a junior from Cincinnati, and Breezy Snyder, a senior from Downington, Pennsylvania.
“Latinidad.” Latin Americans are currently the largest and fastest-growing minority group, making up 17 percent of the U.S. population. This documentary examines personal challenges including prejudice, discrimination, and a search for identity facing many Latin Americans in Delaware, Ohio. It is directed by Hannah Sampson, a senior from Kent, Ohio.
“With the Band.” This film is a rockumentary exploring the inner workings of punk-slackers WV White. After receiving significantly positive responses to their first album, the Columbus bandmates are working to follow up with an even more successful second. The film is directed by Adelle Brodbeck, a junior from Louisville, Kentucky.
“A Post-Ferguson Society: Voices of a Student Movement.” After grand juries decided not to indict officers in the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, OWU students held a demonstration over national issues of police use of force and race relations. In this film, these students and other members of the OWU community reflect on the issues and whether change is needed. It is directed by Spenser Hickey, a senior from Middletown, Ohio.
“50 Shades of Beauty.” This short film explores the thoughts and feelings of people involved in burlesque dancing. It shows how defying the stigma surrounding burlesque can empower the women and men involved to shape a supportive community that builds confidence and allows them to be themselves. It is directed by Daysha Swann, a senior from Shaker Heights, Ohio, and Joe Cormier, a freshman from Concord, Massachusetts.
“The Seen.” This film provides a look into the unseen and less-explored side of the music and arts scene of Columbus, Ohio, including how online forums and dedicated ravers can drive a city’s artistic flair. It is directed by Kelsey Caspersen, a senior from Wilmette, Illinois.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers 86 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world experience. OWU’s 1,750 students represent 46 U.S. states and territories and 43 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.