Sunflower County Film Academy
(2021)
Students (l to r) Samaria Washington, Shiann McDanail and Aakiyah Young at the "Welcome" sign at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner where the workshop was held. The center/museum hosts visitors from around the country.
Shiann McDanail, Zykirah Hooper and Aakiyah Young taking notes on lighting procedures.
Instructors (l to r) RJ Fitzpatrick, Christina Huff, Dr. Brian Graves, Kyle Jones (seated) and SCFA Intern Keyshaun Meeks set up and test equipment for the workshop.
A classroom discussion, led by Dr. Pablo Correa, on the aesthetics of filmmaking.
Dr. Correa and Zykirah Hooper work on editing procedures.
Summer Johnson, Savannah Lewis, Diamond Brewer, Katelyn Johnson and Shiann McDanail share a moment after lunch.
Kyle Martz of Salem, OR, a former student of Dr. Correa's and a recent Willamette University grad, was on hand to teach the students how to use drones when making movies.
Dr. Pablo Correa explaining to students the importance of B-roll footage in film as they watch clips from the new and upcoming documentary, Fannie Lou Hamer's America. Correa and RJ Fitzpatrick were videographers on the film.
Students and guest instructor, Christina Huff (center) in the Cassidy Bayou in Sumner gathering nature sound bytes.
Student intern, Keyshaun Meeks, sets up equipment for the workshop. Meeks was a standout student in the 2018 workshop.
Students working with Kyle Martz to use a drone in a shot. Dr. Pablo Correa pictured on the left.
Students capture nature sound bytes at Cassidy Bayou with student intern Keyshaun Meeks behind the camera.
A group of workshop students in front of the historic Tallahatchie County Courthouse and a marker in Sumner recognizing where the historic murder trial was held for the men who killed 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955.
Several students setting up lighting equipment for a film shoot.
Aakiyah Young being interviewed.
Aakiyah on screen during her interview.
Guest instructors Dr. Brian Graves, Kyle Jones, Christina Huff and student intern, Keyshaun Meeks, prepare the equipment for the incoming students.
Author, professor and historian Dr. Davis Houck talked to students about the importance of teamwork when filming. Houck is the academic coordinator of the workshop.
Dr. Graves works with Shiann McDanail on a shoot.
Students setting up a shot.
Students learning to set up the production equipment.
Aakiyah Young interviews Zykirah Hooper.
Classroom discussion headed by Kyle Jones on how to use white balance.
Instructor Dr. Graves from Florida State University.
This sign at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center was used in the upcoming film series, Women of The Movement for ABC.
Mississippi native, Wright Thompson, from ESPN and The Atlantic, was a guest speaker for the workshop and answered questions from students.
Katelyn Johnson and Samaria Washington work with equipment.
Students during a classroom discussion with student intern Keyshaun Meeks and instructor RJ Fitzpatrick behind the camera.
Instructor Kyle Jones, Takarah Russell and Kiara Clark enjoy Pizza Day courtesy of Curtis Davis and Domino's Pizza in Clarksdale, MS.
Students receive their Sunflower County Film Academy Workshop Certificates on the last day of class.