The Southern Documentary Project
TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STORYTELLERS
We had the chance to interview Tom Brokaw tonight for our upcoming documentary about the Presidential Debate. Mr. Brokaw was visiting Oxford to take part in a panel discussion at the Overby Center and was able to stop by and give us a great interview that will be a helpful addition to this ongoing project.
Here’s a short overview of today’s Earth Day activities in the Grove. We’ll cut together a slightly longer package with interviews in a few days but I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of the cool things that went on today in celebration of this global event.
Andy Harper and Matthew Graves were in the Grove this morning getting footage of the festivities planned for local school kids to celebrate Earth Day. This is another in a series of events for Green Week at the University. Check back later for more updates including a post from this afternoon’s World Day Celebration.
Andy Harper and Matthew Graves were in the Johnson’s Commons Ballroom today filming Toyota General Manager Kevin Butt. The keynote address was sponsored by the Center for Manufacturing Excellence in conjunction with Green Week.
Check out the first in a series of events we’re taping for Green Week. In this video, Landscape Architect Bob Mercier demonstrates the new BioSwale he designed on campus next to Crosby Hall.
Here are some pics from last night’s Chucky Mullins Courage Award Ceremony where Defensive End Marcus Tillman came home with prestigious award. This was the 20th anniversary of the event which began as a way to honor Ole Miss defensive back Chucky Mullins. Our own Micah Ginn produced the event creating video tributes to Mullins and highlight reels for the night’s finalists. It was a large effort but the night was a great success. Noah Bunn, Hunter Palmer, Andy Harper, and Matthew Graves were on hand to help the night run smoothly. For more information on Chucky check out the website for Micah’s documentary film “Undefeated – The Chucky Mullins Story”.
Producer Matthew Graves had cameras rolling today for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies. Senator Roger Wicker was on hand for the event and offered his support to the program.
Here’s a still from the video we shot last night in the Ford Center of Handel’s Messiah, performed by the University of Mississippi Concert Singers with Orchestra. Pictured is guest conductor Dr. Dennis Shrock.
Matthew Graves is in the studio today with students from the University of Mississippi Intensive English Program. He is producing a series of web videos for prospective students in their native languages. Stay tuned for the finished series.
Today, producers Joe York and Matthew Graves traveled to Columbus to interview District Attorney Forrest Allgood for Joe’s upcoming documentary on the Mississippi Innocence Project. Pictured is Allgood going over some court documents with York. Check back for more information and updates on this ongoing project.
Here are a few pics from today’s shoot with recent Ole Miss grad and Rhodes Scholar recipient Shad White. Shad is participating in a video we’re producing for the Ole Miss Momentum Campaign as well as a new “Are You Ready?” spot featuring the Honors College. Be sure to check out our other “Are You Ready?” spots here and let us know if you think of other people or programs on campus that should be highlighted.
In this blurry picture you can see U.S. Senator Thad Cochran sitting down for an interview in our studio. Senator Cochran was here to give a short P.S.A. about the Center for Natural Products Research on campus. In addition, we were able to ask him a few questions about the Presidential Debate that happened last September. We’re working on a documentary about the event and Senator Cochran’s interview will be a nice addition to the project. Check back for more news and info about the upcoming Debate Documentary.
Here’s the final cut of the short film that Matthew Graves produced last weekend for the student film workshop. As a side note, if you were able to catch “Slumdog Millionare” you might recognize the low-rent version of their credit sequence used at the end. Jai Ho!
This morning, Micah Ginn and Matthew Graves went on location to the Oxford High School gymnasium to shoot footage for an upcoming basketball training video. This afternoon will be spent in the newly renovated studio to finish the shoot.
The Media and Documentary Projects Center is proud to present “Coffee Mate”, a short film by former Ole Miss student Hunter Palmer. “Coffee Mate” tells the story of Redman. Born from a freak coffee accident, Redman must find his way in a strange new world where danger lurks behind every corner. The film was produced here at our Kinard Hall offices and represents hours and hours of work on the part of Hunter as he prepares to apply to film schools in the fall. Best of luck to him and we hope you enjoy his film.
This evening Media & Documentary Projects Center graduate assistant Mary Warner is down in the delta filming interviews for her documentary film about Thacker Mountain Radio. Over the past three months, Mary has worked with producer Joe York to shoot over a dozen interviews for the film, which will serve as partial fulfillment of her thesis requirement for a MA in Southern Studies.
Just last week, Mary, Joe, and MDPC’s own Matthew Graves filmed Thacker Mountain Radio in beautiful high definition video, covering the show from top to bottom with four cameras filming simultaneously.
Check back later this semester to see the final cut.
This weekend, producer Micah Ginn directed the video content for the Ole Miss Black Alumni & Family Reunion held at the Inn at Ole Miss. The evening was a great success honoring several distinguished alumni. Pictured is Ginn at the computer and grad student Noah Bunn operating the video switcher. Check back this week for more info about this memorable weekend.
This Saturday, producer Matthew Graves instructed a film class for a few Ole Miss Law School professors’ kids. In the 3 hour class they went over a few principles of filmmaking like composition and storyboarding, focusing on the art of a chase scene in a movie. The class then produced a short film using the techniques they learned. Here’s a pic from the short. Check back next week to view the finished film.
Here’s a still from an upcoming short claymation film that we’re working on with former Ole Miss student Hunter Palmer. Hunter has been working tirelessly on the tedious art of claymation; recording one frame at a time and adjusting the movements of the characters on each frame to create fluid motion. Needless to say, we’re impressed with his work and we think you will be to. Check back next week to view Hunter’s final film.
Here’s the newest commercial in the “Are You Ready?” Campaign. It features Dr. Larry Walker from the National Center for Natural Products Research.
Momentum continues to grow with the Media and Documentary Projects Center Ole Miss “Are You Ready?” campaign. And while the Rebels couldn’t hold off the Crimson Tide’s hot shooting, the crowd enthusiastically welcomed David Huertas on the big screen.
Here are some pics from our recent shoot at the Thad Cochran Research Center for the upcoming “Are You Ready?” Research Center spot we’re producing. On the left, Producers Micah Ginn and Matthew Graves set up for a dolly shot in one of the labs. In the shot on the right, Graves sets up for a trick shot we’re hoping to use where the scientist pours liquid into a beaker right on top of the camera. Stay tuned for the final spot and look for the finished beaker shot.
Here’s the final version of the promotional video we made for the School of Business Administration. Their video along with the promo we made for the Graduate School will be played this weekend at the Ole Miss Women’s Basketball game.
Here is the final version of the University of Mississippi’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) spot we produced. Directed, shot, edited, and scored by Matthew Graves. Produced by Andy Harper and Matthew Graves. Check out the QEP website here.
This ad is comprised of two very different elements. I took our camera out back during August practices and captured some sights and sounds of season preparation, then a month later I was in the tunnel under Vaught Hemingway Stadium as the team made their way onto the field amidst the screams and cheers of loyal fans. The reality that championships are won during the off-season was the inspiration for this ad. We generally never get to glimpse the hard work and sacrifice that goes into top-level performance on game day, but you can’t have the moment in the winner’s circle without spending the grueling hours earning it. The 2008 Rebel football squad earned it.
Produced by Micah Ginn
Recently Matthew Graves and I spent some time in the Tad Smith Coliseum,working with Robbie Coker of the basketball coaching staff and players David Huertas and Terrico White, to produce a couple of spots in the “Are You Ready?” campaign. Check back in a few days for the high-flying Terrico White spot. We had a lot of fun working with these talented student-athletes, and we thank them and Robbie Coker for helping us keep the “Are You Ready?” campaign going.
-Micah Ginn
Producers: Matthew Graves, Micah Ginn, and Dr. Andy Harper.
The University of Mississippi Study Abroad program offers Ole Miss students an incredible educational opportunity to earn credit while exploring the world. To learn more, visit: http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/study_abroad/
In the heart of downtown Birmingham, Alabama lives a small three acre block where big things are happening. Feeding the Soul takes a brief look at the Jones Valley Urban Farm and highlights some of the incredible ways that this small farm is not only giving back to the city of Birmingham but is setting an example for the entire world to follow. Filmed over the course of the 2008 summer harvest, we witness the hardships and triumphs of a farm that’s anything but ordinary.
The Rise of Southern Cheese from The UM Media and Documentary Project Center.
Artisanal cheeses have been enjoyed and celebrated all over the world. The rich tradition and lore of the cheesemaker has found its way to places where artisanal cheese is not the first thing that comes to mind: the american south. The Rise of Southern Cheese celebrates the people whose passion for artisanal cheese is changing the way people think about traditional southern foods. With stops in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, this film provides a snapshot of the cheese that’s making its way to tables across America.