OFF THE BEATEN TRACK II
Ages 16-29
Fall 2024, JHU-MICA Film Centre and on location
In this workshop, student fellows will venture into new Baltimore settings and try a range of new experiences, ultimately creating a collaborative video about what they discover. They'll extend their group to include community members of different generations, and together go on fishing expeditions and woodland hikes, explore museums and nature centers, check out public markets and small businesses. They’ll even venture to the Eastern Shore. On their expeditions, they'll collect images and ambient sounds, tell stories, and reflect on their lives: on family, friends, neighborhoods, childhood memories, current challenges, successes, and aspirations. Then, in group editing sessions, they'll decide on the shape of a final short film, a weave that honors each distinct, individual voice. They'll explore both the technical and aesthetic aspects of video and audio recording, and be introduced to the basics of editing. Each fellow will also keep a "daybook," a personal journal of impressions, of whatever they notice around them, from weather to people to scenery. The daybook can also be used for brief responses to writing prompts. Daybook content may be shared or kept private. The final film will be shared on the BYFA website, and at a public exhibition. Limited to 12 student fellows.
Earl Young Jr. is a Credible Messenger, speaker, mentor, and entrepreneur. He works for New Vision Youth Services mentoring students in Baltimore City Schools and as a Credible Messenger with the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement. He is also an entrepreneur and currently owns two businesses that are geared toward the development of impacted youth.
Charles Cohen's recent documentary films include Riding Wild, which follows a group of BMXers into Baltimore's urban wilderness, and The Crooked Tune, an Old Time Fiddler in a Modern World. He holds an MFA in Film and Digital Media from American University and has written for The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, and Baltimore City Paper.
