Public invited to screening of NIU student documentaries

The NIU Department of Communication will host the screening of student documentary shorts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Diversions Lounge in the Holmes Student Center.

The free event is open to the public. The evening will feature documentaries produced by students of Professor Laura Vazquez, who teaches an advanced field production course (COMS 426) and oversees independent study projects. Each semester Vazquez encourages the students to show their work publicly.

"Students in media production courses work very hard to acquire footage and edit a narrative," she said. "They learn by receiving feedback on their documentaries, but more importantly, these are stories that the public is interested in viewing. We've had very good turnouts at this event in past years.

"Students select their own subject matter," Vazquez added, "so the films carry a great diversity of content."

One of this year's student films is being produced for Easter Seals. The untitled documentary by Lauren Pollock and Casper Rice follows the daily life of Sam Williams, a 19-year-old man with cerebral palsy. A high school senior, Williams is bound for the University of Illinois next fall. He also is a state bocce ball champion.

The Department of Communication contributed production assistance toward the documentary's making. "Easter Seals will own the documentary and hopes to broadcast it if possible," Vazquez said. "So it's a wonderful opportunity for our students to have their work seen by an even larger audience."

Other documentaries on tap for the May 4 screening include:

• An untitled documentary by David Gabriel and Krista Jordan focusing on the recent success of the NIU football team. The film looks at the achievements of the team through the eyes of coaches and players and highlights the impact of the team's success on players' personal lives.
• "Manual Manipulation" by Matt Holdren, Karen Frost and Joe Yates. The film examines the social history of masturbation.
• "Third Year" by Lindsay Drexler and Kristen Grzemski. The filmmakers aim to shed light on the intense lives of overworked third-year medical students.
• "Not In My Backyard" by Stephanie Gandsey and Katie Redline. The film documents the controversy surrounding the construction of a wind farm in DeKalb County.
• "Funny Girl?" by Amanda Kremkau and Tracey Kelly. The camera follows an aspiring comedienne as she prepares for an important performance.
• "For the Love of the Ride" by Ryan Letheby and Danielle Dushek. The filmmakers take a close look at motorcycle culture and follow the construction of a custom-built bike.
• "217" by Marcus Leshock and Cory Ohlendorf. The film documents a 1995 controversy in suburban Schaumburg, where the village threatened to develop an empty lot that residents claimed was the burial site of the town's first settlers.
• "Hmonglish" by Xia Lor. The filmmaker examines the dying language of the Hmong people, who came to the United States from Laos after the Vietnam War.

4-28-03