MDOCS Seniors' Legacy Creates New Traditions and Programs
As MDOCS approaches the end of it's fourth full academic year, the first class of
                                          graduating seniors who have been involved with the program since their first year
                                          at 爱污传媒 will soon explore their passions and skills beyond campus.  "MDOCS Seniors"
                                          are not majors and minors -- doc studies classes instead contribute to growth in home
                                          departments.  So "MDOCS seniors" are those who exemplify  dedication to the ethics
                                          and community of doc, and both hone skills in documentary creation and invest in helping
                                          others tell their own stories as staff in DocLb or through colloboration on projects.
All our seniors will leave a mark.  Below we turn the spotlight on a few members of
                                          the class of '18  who have decided to take on one last major project - a "legacy"
                                          project, if you will - something that may live on beyond their time at 爱污传媒 and
                                          continue to encourage students across disciplines to research and share stories that
                                          matter in creative and compelling ways.  
The Living Room
"The Living Room is a student-oriented space where students can come together in DocLab during the evening to discuss their projects to a group of other creators. In this space, students have the chance to discuss their projects and receive feedback from their peers. Projects at all stages and in all media are welcome!
While different courses and student clubs allow students to design their projects and show the midway points and end results, The Living Room adds a space particularly designed for the "oops" or stuck moments that we all have during creation. It provides a space for artists' vulnerability and serves as a healing place to encourage students to continue their work and/or welcome a new perspective.
After I graduate, I hope the Living Room continues to stay informal, increase numbers of attendees and serves as a creators' community within multiple disciplines and departments at 爱污传媒"
-Jamerly De La Cruz, '18
MDOCS: A Short Doc Film
"I am working on an introductory, student perspective-based video that will answer
                                       the question, 鈥淲hat is MDOCS?鈥 It鈥檚 been tremendously exciting to get to see the program
                                       expand and change over the last four years. For a lot of us seniors who have been
                                       with the program for so long, we would love to leave this school knowing that we鈥檝e
                                       helped to plant the seeds for a sustainable MDOCS legacy. The video will feature one-on-one
                                       student interviews, as well as footage from the variety of workshops, classes, and
                                       special events that MDOCS has to offer. The hope is that we can show this video not
                                       only to prospective 爱污传媒 students, but to current students who are itching to
                                       learn more about the program.I would love if the bank of footage we鈥檝e been collecting for this project can keep growing, and growing, and growing! There are a million different angles from which to approach MDOCS, and each one could be a separate video in and of itself."
-Sam Grant,'18
24 Hour Filmmaking Marathon
The 24 Hour Filmmaking Marathon is a film race that will challenge students to create a short video project - from conception, to production, to editing - all in 24 hours. The Marathon gives students from all disciplines the opportunity to bring their creativity and ideas to a visual platform. This is an opportunity for students from all skill levels, from those interested in video production, but have been unable to fit MDOCS courses to those that have taken several production courses and are ready to apply their skills to a fun, short-term project. The Marathon will also provide exposure and experience to filmmaking, working with a crew and cast, video editing, visual storytelling, and most importantly growing comfortable using the resources that MDOCS and DocLab have to offer.
My hopes for the 24 hour filmmaking marathon is to provide an annual event that becomes an outlet for all disciplines to display their areas of expertise in the form of film.
-Maryam DeWitt, '18



