Since 1998, 911 Media Arts Center has been teaming up with producers from
KCTS-The Public Network to mentor emerging local documentary filmmakers. In
a program called "New Voices", these students are given the rare opportunity
to work directly with staff from an internationally-acclaimed PBS station
and receive valuable critique from leading documentary filmmakers. The New
Voices program is designed to help emerging producers step up to the next
level by creating high-caliber, professional work that meets the standards
required for PBS broadcast. The master workshop series covers the entire
documentary process from pre-production to post-production, and culminates
with the broadcast of students' completed work on PBS.
The 2002 New Voices program kicked off in May last year and wrapped up 4
months later in August. Ten producers were selected to participate in the
program through a competitive application process that included a project
proposal and portfolio review. The participants met regularly on weekends
and evenings, maintaining a rigorous production schedule. In addition to the
class meetings, the student-producers were responsible for shooting and
editing their own footage. In the end, each producer created his or her own
short documentary, between 3-5 minutes long. Their completed pieces tell
powerful, impassioned, and beautiful stories about people in our
communities.
Heather Ayres: SHARING THE SHEETS - A look at two couples' relationship
with their beds and themselves.
Mridula Bhatia: DANCE - A Japanese Kabuki dancer turns cabaret performer.
Cara Biega: MOLE MANIA - An exploration of the tumultuous relationship
that exists between man and the mischievous mole.
Warner Blake: THE ART AND LIFE OF YANG FENG The master of the Fujian Hand
Puppet from Lynnwood, Washington.
John Gow: IN THE RING - A story of a local up-and-coming professional boxer.
Nancy Leonhardt: IF IT AIN'T BROKE - A local high school prepares to undergo
a revolutionary change to combat high drop out rates.
William Meyer: LIFE IN STORAGE - A glimpse into the chaotic underworld of
storage, the people who live and work in them, and the auctioneers that sell
off the contents.
Brendan Reed: LEARNING TO LOOK: FRYE ART MUSUEUM - A local art museum's
novel studio program for youth that advances art education in the community.
Alissa Teel: INSIDE THE CIRCLE OF FIRE - A Seattle urban dance group uses
dance as a form of art to express themselves... and inspire others to do the
same.
Jessica Tuffley: FROCKSTAR - Girl finds sewing machine, girl makes clothes,
girl takes over world.
