Bellisario College of Communications

Alumni, students combine for short documentary workshop

Free screening of work March 20 in Carnegie Cinema

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

What happens when you give a dozen and a half creative Penn State students and six alumni “coaches” three days to tell a story?

Organizers of the first Short Doc Workshop plan to find out March 17-20 when students from almost every major in the College of Communications collaborate with those coaches to shoot, edit and produce short documentaries that will then be screened for the public at 11 a.m. March 20 in Carnegie Cinema on the University Park campus.

Each of the 19 students in the workshop has identified a story idea that they will pursue during the intense, hands-on workshop -- a not-for-credit opportunity for students looking to gain additional skills and who want the chance to work with professionals in the field. 

Students participating in the workshop represent three of the five majors in the College of Communications: film-video, journalism and media studies. Students will work with faculty volunteers and the alumni coaches to produce their short documentaries.

Those coaches bring a cross section of experience and expertise to the workshop. They are: 

-- Andy Colwell, a photojournalist at the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com; -- Matt Ford, co-founder of Vignette Interactive;-- Andy Grant, a producer/director at WPSU;-- Catie Grant, a senior producer/director at WPSU;-- Jill Knight, a staff photographer/video journalist for The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina; and-- Katherine Rodriguez, a video producer in Brooklyn, New York.

Students will shoot, edit and produce a short documentary during the workshop. They will be guided and helped by College of Communications alumni currently working in the fields of filmmaking and journalism along with the support of members of the faculty.

Canon U.S.A. has supported the workshop by supplying a limited number of C100 Mark II video cameras for use by workshop participants.

Last Updated June 2, 2021