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SPLICING AND CUTTING - Senior broadcast journalism major Jeremy Harper edits a film in a production room. His film, "Nuts ´n Boats," will have its broadcast premiere on UATV Oct. 11.

The Producers

Journalism student-produced films such as "Move this City," "Headwaters: The School Away From Home" and "Nuts 'n Boats" premiered at the Union Monday

By: Anna Nguyen, Staff Writer

Posted: 10/7/05

Three new student-produced documentary films had premieres at the UA Union Theater Monday, Oct. 3. The event was sponsored by University Programs, the Cinematic Arts Committee, the Lemke Department of Journalism and the campus television station, UATV.

The films were written, photographed and directed by UA journalism students enrolled in two graduate level documentary production courses taught by Associate Professor Dale Carpenter and Professor Larry Foley, according to the press release.

"There was no outside funding for these documentaries," Foley said. "The students, when they enroll in two classes, gain access to all the cameras and editing facilities they need to produce their films."

In actuality, the documentaries are paid for by their tuition and fees, he said.

"They pay for their own digital video tapes, and if travel is involved, they pay for that," he said.

At the premiere, the audience was treated to three interesting topics, all involving Arkansas, in the less than 30-minute films. After each film was screened, the producers came on stage to talk about the process of making the films.

The first film shown was titled "Move this City," produced by Brian Eichenberger, Kristy Guttman and with assistance from Melissa Couey. The film is about The Wedding, a Christian rock band from Springdale, according to the press release. The documentary follows the group from its beginning to its rise to fame by signing a record deal by Rambler Records in Nashville, Tenn.

The film also has footage from the band's individual interviews, their families, live concert clips and a clip showing Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, introducing the band before they played at his church.

During the question-and-answer session, Eichenberger talked about Guttman's and his actual plan for a different project.

"The beginning was shot for a different film about the different things in the area of northwest Arkansas," Eichenberger said after the film's screening.

The topic changed after they went to see one of The Wedding's shows.

Eichenberger, who had not seen the band play before, was impressed by them, he said.

Shooting for "Move This City" began in December 2004, he said. Eichenberger told the audience that a few days after Christmas, Guttman called him and said she wanted to make the documentary about The Wedding, he said.

The next film shown was about the education system in a small area in Red Star, Ark. The film, titled "Headwaters: The School Away From Home," was produced by Cynthia VanBibber with assistance from Nick Lohanick.

"I learned of Headwaters through Nick Lohanick," said VanBibber, a student getting her master's degree in documentary film. "[He] had friends in the community."

In the film, music and art are seen as the main parts of the curriculum at Headwaters, according to the press release. The film shows the community members and students talking about the school's fondness for the environment and how different it is from public schools.

Children of various ages are taught together, and the school helps overcome the problems home-schooled children usually encounter, according to the press release.

When filming "Headwaters," VanBibber said the film does not solely revolve around on Headwaters but also on the topic of education.

"An investment of time and money in the education of our young people is the single-most important factor in bettering our world," VanBibber said. "My whole purpose revolves around that general topic [of education]."

The film shows many clips of the landscapes in Red Star and captures the beautifully-shot greens, giving the film an ethereal feel. The documentary also featured various music. The fiddle and banjo duo Curly Miller and Carole Anne Rose was featured throughout the film. Music from Miller's daughter and teacher Sara Miller also had some tunes featured in the film, and the closing song was "Beautiful World," written by Guy Ames and performed by the Strange Heroes, VanBibber said.

The last film screened was about three kayaking fans' adventures in the Ozarks and was produced by Chris Deffenbaugh. The film was photographed by Bill Petty and Drew Parsons and edited by Jeremy Harper, according to the press release. Titled "Nuts 'n Boats," the film follows kayakers Bill Herring, Trey Marley and Kayle Bogard, who enjoy the danger and adrenaline rush they get from performing dangerous stunts.

Much of the footage contains the three men doing thrilling and exciting stunts as the water rises, while they try to quickly rush over the waterfalls.

Although the three films were shot roughly 13 months ago, they all spent different amounts of times on production.

VanBibber said she began shooting with her partner in June.

"I started late because my partner dropped the class, and so I had to start over," VanBibber said. She continued the project until mid-September and worked "40 to 60 hours a week on nothing but the film," she said.

A screening of "Headwaters: The School Away From Home" will be broadcast Oct. 8 in Red Star.

The three documentary films will have their broadcast premieres on UATV Tuesday, Oct. 11, Foley said.