Three student-made projects produced during a 10-week documentary filmmaking course were recognized at the 2013 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-Northwest Chapter Awards.
“Gymnasium of the Mind” and “Walking Tributaries” were nominated in the Long Form Non-Fiction category, and “We Refuse to be Enemies” won in the Emmy in the Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs category.
“We Refuse to be Enemies” follows the life of Ibrahim Hamide as he educates Eugene residents on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Co-director/editor Summer Luu believes that the documentary’s success can be attributed to Hamide himself.
“Honestly, I think it’s because of him. His story, his attitude, his perspective on life and his hope for the future of the human race is really inspiring, and I think honestly that he made it. It wasn’t us really. It was his story. I think people are really interested in hearing about that,” Luu said.
Co-director David Zupan came upon the story after meeting Hamide while playing basketball on the weekends.
“Walking Tributaries” is about the McKenzie River and the residents who have fought to preserve it.
“Our documentary is about the people who love the Mckenzie River, who’ve lived on the Mckenzie River, who have worked to protect the Mckenzie River, to preserve the Mckenzie River, and to educate others about it,” said Leilani Rapaport, who worked on the project. “So it’s a documentary really about the people around the river and their connection to it. It’s about sort of the magic of the river that people have found in it as well. That’s kind of a side thing that we found.”
Rapaport says that the pitch came from the professor of the course, Dan Miller, after he grouped her with two other students in the class because he thought they would make a good team. She also attributes the nomination of her documentary to the people in it.
“The people who are featured in it are so passionate and so connected to the topic that they’re talking about and they’re a part of. So it’s, I think, very honest and curious. And also there’s the music that comes from a local artist,” said Rapaport.
“Gymnasium of the Mind” is about the game of chess and its popularity in Oregon. The film feature perspectives from players, coaches and teachers.
Miller is an award-winning documentary filmmaker himself, and his class has produced more than 60 award-winning films during its time. Both Rapaport and Luu worked for The Emerald last year.