Documentary Filmmaking in Kenya: The Art of Science Storytelling A course for film students to be held in Kenya, Summer 2013

Dates: June 27-August 2, 2013 -- Orientation to be held in Nairobi, June 26-30; course to be held at the Mpala Research Center in Central Kenya; Short films produced by students to be shown in September at various locations. Instructors: Su Friedrich and Katie Carpenter, filmmakers, with Dan Rubenstein, Science Advisor. Background: It has become obvious to many working in international film and television production that we have much to learn in terms of finding novel ways to communicate science-based stories from Africa to new audiences. Our science and environmental documentaries rarely reach the audiences who most need to hear their messages in the West. The environmental issues facing populations around the world are grave, and we must find ways to spread knowledge and share solutions more effectively through the media. Course Overview: Our course is designed to guide young American and Kenyan filmmakers as they search for answers to the two main questions being posed: How does one use the art of film to illuminate topics related to science (water, wildlife, land use, etc)? How do communities use media to project their environmental concerns? After spending five weeks in the company of dedicated scientists, filmmakers and environmental researchers, the students will begin to understand some of the issues which now affect the entire globe, and learn how to communicate memorably about them utilizing the worlds lingua franca video. The group of twenty students will be trained in digital video production, screenwriting and editing, and will work in small groups to produce a series of short documentaries. They will be divided into five production teams combining American and Kenyan students. There will be assigned reading and regular film screenings (usually held in the evenings); a group discussion of the readings and films will be held after each screening. They will also host visiting African scientists or media makers for weekly talks, and other field trips will also be planned. The first four days will be spent at the Columbia Global Center in Nairobi and the remaining time at the Mpala Research Center, located about four hours northwest of Nairobi. Each group will spend their time at Mpala with just one of the scientists (and his or her research team) in order to delve as deeply as possible into their methods, ideas and goals. Filming will entail numerous trips into the field with the scientists as well as doing interviews and recording their lab work at the MRC. They will work with the professors on the editing, narrating and sound mixing of their films in the latter part of the course. All equipment will be provided by the course; students will not be required to bring cameras or computers.