When students enroll in 91ֿ’s documentary filmmaking course, they expect guidance, instruction and the tools needed to create their own documentaries. What they don’t expect is to have their work featured on local television, a rare opportunity that elevates classroom learning to a professional exhibition.
Last spring, School of Media and Journalism Professor Jacqueline A. Marino and Associate Lecturer Christopher Knoblock guided 58 students from disciplines including digital media production, journalism and public relations through a collaborative documentary filmmaking project.
“We found spots for everybody and asked about their interests, their skills and the subjects they were passionate about,” Marino told 91ֿ Today.
Students channeled those interests into compelling stories, some so ambitious that work on the films continued well beyond the classroom.
At the end-of-class screening, where industry professionals viewed the students’ projects, Ryan Donchis, chief content officer at PBS Western Reserve, recognized their potential. He arranged for the student documentaries , giving the students a platform far beyond the four walls of the classroom.
“PBS Western Reserve showing up to our class screening was insane,” said Adriana Gasiewski, director-producer of “What Happened to Judy Martins?” and a senior journalism student. “Within minutes, they were asking about updates in the case.”
The “What Happened to Judy Martins?” documentary tells the story of 22-year-old 91ֿ student Judy Martins, who disappeared on May 24, 1978. Her fate remains unknown.
“I have a twin sister,” Gasiewski said. “I can’t imagine not knowing where my sister is and having to live more than 40 years not knowing where she last went.”
Gasiewski worked on the documentary alongside Alex Tosko, director of photography and editor and a junior digital media production student, and Kayla Gleason, writer and production coordinator and a senior journalism student.
The team behind “Vital Pages,” a documentary focused on the Akron-Summit County Public Library, highlights the importance of public libraries in keeping communities informed and the efforts of those fighting to protect the right to read.
The filmmakers include James Plested, director-producer and a senior digital media production student; Katie Waggle, director of photography and a junior digital media production student; and Savana Capp, writer and production coordinator and a senior journalism student.
For them, sharing the threats facing Ohio’s libraries was the most important goal.
“I was using libraries a lot as a third space for studying,” Plested said. “I realized how vital it is to have a space where you can come in for free and learn.”
Having their documentaries aired on PBS gives all six students a confidence boost and a competitive advantage when applying for internships and jobs.
“There’s great value in producing something that is going to live beyond the classroom,” Marino said. “I don’t believe a lot of students across the country have had that experience.”
PBS even gave the journalism students from both groups the opportunity to write feature articles to complement their documentaries.
- s by Savanna Capp
- by Adriana Gasiewski
“The coolest part was PBS publishing my article along with the documentary. That meant a lot to me personally,” Capp said.
As teams collaborated and adapted to each group member’s strengths and weaknesses, they often found themselves learning from one another.
“This project was something new, something I could learn from,” Waggle said. “I’m grateful I did this documentary because not only did I get to learn about myself, but I also got to learn from James Plested.”
Students also showed initiative, taking on extra roles such as cinematography or sound to support their peers.
“It was just amazing how much the students volunteered to help each other out, and they weren’t getting graded for it,” Marino said.
Just recently, “What Happened to Judy Martins?” won first place for best student documentary short film at the FoxFire Film Festival.
“Vital Pages” had a public screening with a question-and-answer session from the student team at the Akron-Summit County Public Library on Sept. 25.
“I’m just so thrilled whenever students get that kind of external validation,” Marino said.
Marino hopes this opportunity will foster a lasting relationship between PBS Western Reserve and the documentary filmmaking course, providing similar opportunities for future students.