On Location

It's a Wrap!

The On Location Teaching Artists are on their way back to Washington, driving the bus back across the country over the next week. 

We're so glad to have worked with everyone we've met over the past 6 months! Special thanks to the teachers, communities and young media artists who are now part of the Kennedy Center 'family'. Come back to see all the student videos-- posting this summer in our Showcase-- and stay in touch through this Web site!

Students Connecting to Students

We had a great opportunity for footage with a two-part location shoot this week. Students interviewed members of Teatro de la Rosa's Teen Troupe, and were quickly impressed by their confidence and poise in front of the camera. The Teen Troupe's original monologues and improvised scenes were so captivating, the students asked to stay longer to continue watching the rehearsal. 

The next day it was great to see the initially-shy students step up and express themselves during the Student Reflection taping. They took turns filming in pairs and being filmed; it was great to see them supporting each other as they spoke about what had been learned and accomplished during the residency.

Adventures in Ft. Worth

Texas has given us beautiful spring weather, and we’ve seen grazing horses and wildflowers on our daily drive to Meachum Middle School.

Building on strong leaders and longstanding friendships, the students found collaboration easy; they picked up the process so quickly that teacher Lisa Self was "impressed at how they took to their jobs." 

Playwright Rob Bosquez enjoyed meeting the students, and they in turn were excited to meet him and learn about the original plays he creates with the Teen Troupe of Teatro de la Rosa. With the warm welcome from the community at the Rose Marine Theater -- home of Teatro de la Rosa-- we are glad to be spending time in such a great city!

Rain, rain go away

Thunderstorms, lightning, damaging winds and tornadoes kept coming through southwestern Missouri during both weeks of our residency, but class continued even when trees were uprooted in front of the school. 

Thankfully, Mother Nature smiled on our location shoot, and the sound of birds singing and leaves rustling could be heard in the woods near artist Bob Tommey's beautiful gallery and studio. With deep focus and a collective vision, the class filmed a few different shots for the final ending. It will be exciting to see which one they pick!

Get your kicks...!

We should have been singing "Route 66" as we entered the rolling green hills of renowned Joplin, Missouri. 

The week got off to a great start. The students were eager to meet artist Bob Tommey, and they already had many story ideas interview questions they created on their own before we even arrived! Production roles were a hot topic for these fifth graders, and they embraced their roles for the Pre-Interview by following directions, actively listening, and paying attention to the details. 

It was extra-special that Bob came early to spend time in the classroom with the students, and also stayed after to give some heartfelt advice about pursuing your dreams.

Thanks, Foley!

Everyone was excited to be out 'on location' this week! Our shoot began in the early-morning sunshine at beautiful Mobile Bay, meandered into the Alabama countryside, and finished at the Foley Art Center. This large local gallery space embraced our project by providing lunch and giving us an awesome area for our interview and artist demonstration. 

We celebrated by viewing the raw footage and still photographs, and then the editors began the post-production phase, showing their solid teamwork. Although the residency has ended all too soon, we will carry forward the inspiration to "persevere" and "never give up".

Fully in Foley

Our welcome has come in such abundance here in Alabama, it's like our own Mobile Bay Jubilee! The students and families in Foley have shared their incredible friendliness and hospitality-- not to mention the wonderful food (like black-eyed pea caviar!) And, the students met the bust with a 4x6 foot map of the United States-- we can't wait to hang it! 

As the week progressed, it became clear that the personal relationship and connection that artist Ricky Trione has with these students is something special -- full of sharing and collaboration. We already see how its leading to a great team and a great story--it has been a great week!

Art on a Grand Scale

Although the afternoon bell and last-minute announcements put the shoot on hold for a minute or two, the students regrouped for a thoroughly enjoyable interview with stained glass artist Dee Mays Lewis. Filming the creation of the 4 x 6 foot stained glass panels was a big job, but the footage brought exclamations of "Cool!" when the students reviewed it on Thursday. 

While the editors spent the last day working on pulling the clips together, the rest of the class created title "graffiti" on large pieces of white paper as they brainstormed names for their film-- a new way to get our ideas out, and one that the team may use in our next location, Foley, Alabama!

Through the Hills of Chattanooga

The bus was met by waving banners and cheering students as the team arrived at Normal Park Museum Magnet School. What a great way to start our week together! 

The smaller class size has let us work on the bus each day, collaborating on story ideas and structure. The students are seasoned interviewers, and they had lots of ideas and tips to share—we’ll be sure to pass them along to our next schools, too!

Creative Endings

We wrapped up our visit to Detroit with a week of great, collaborative work. The students did the hard, creative work of shaping their story and interview questions, debating and crafting their story. 

The location shoot happened right in the school, focusing on the rehearsal of a unique, multi-genre creative movement and painting piece, which featured fellow middle school students dancing an abstract mural into existence. Quite a story to tell!