Lights, cameras and taking action

Seniors in the University of Dayton’s year-long Documentary I and II course spend two semesters learning by doing. For them, that looks like setting up the studio and heading across campus with a couple of cameras and a vision – to develop, plan and create their very own documentary.

Documentary I and II is a full-year course led by Gregory Kennedy, communications professor and media specialist-in-residence at UD. As part of the coursework, students spend the year working together to write and produce an original documentary. They start before the school year begins, brainstorming topics and conducting research so they're ready to hit the ground running in the fall.

“The class acts as a production team,” said Taylor Powell, a communication and media production senior in this year's team of 11. “We do all the editing, all the filming, all the interviews, all the research, all the graphics. Anything that you would think goes into a documentary, we do.”

The team is sorted into different disciplines — writing, editing, marketing, credits, cinematography, visual effects and production management — based on their skills. 

The topic is chosen through a voting process. This year, it hits close to home: digital identity and the effects of social media on mental health.

“[We] can really relate to the emotional turmoil that we experience being online at an age where you're trying to figure out who you are,” said Powell, “You're constantly in this landscape of comparison. I think we all have personal stories of being online and on social media affecting us and affecting our mental health.”

The team’s goal is to capture the experiences and struggles of a generation raised on social media — to show their peers that they are not alone and that they have the power to take control of their online lives.

Achieving that is no small feat. In addition to writing scripts, planning marketing campaigns and conducting extensive research, they’ve so far shot around 50 hours of footage — footage that now must be sifted through, edited and condensed into just 15 minutes of screen time.

For Powell, this is the most challenging part of the process. 

“How do you choose somebody's voice over another?” she said.

“You feel this type of responsibility that everyone's story and everyone's voice gets heard, but you have to tell it in a palatable, artistic and stylistic way and hopefully make an impact with what you have.”

Marketing senior Allison Feeney said, “Another challenge has been the nature of the topic and how close it is to us and our experiences. It can be hard to explore something that so deeply affects you and your friends and your family on the daily, and then being hyper aware of its effects.”

Their research for the project has inspired them to evaluate their own digital habits and to be intentional about setting limits on screen time or unplugging to spend time with family and friends, they said. 

“We hope that our audiences, especially Gen Z, realize they can take their power back from algorithms,” said Powell. “Rather than allowing the internet to influence you, you have the power to influence it back.”

“You are so much more than what you post,” said Feeney.

The film will premiere at the Roger Glass Center for the Art Concert Hall May 3 at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. Q&A with the team to follow.