Sunflower County Film Academy
(2018)
Students unpack the new production equipment and learn to set it up.
Founder and instructor Joy Davenport thought the students would enjoy unpacking the production equipment. And they did!
Students Selena Davila (far left), Keziah Allen, Travion Dozier, Keyshawn Brison, Instructor Pablo Correa, Keyshaun Meeks (seated) and Marquisse Kirkham set up a scene during the workshop.
Instructor Pablo Correa shows Makayla Lenoir how to use the new equipment.
Dr. Maegan Parker Brooks (seated) is the leading Fannie Lou Hamer Historian, having authored three books about the civil rights legend. Brooks is interviewed by students during the workshop.
Joy Davenport shows Keyshaun Meeks (l) and Marquisse Kirkham (center) how to set up the new equipment.
Selena Davila (far left), Omar Washington, Keyshaun Meeks (kneeling), Keziah Allen (far right) and Marquisse Kirkham work with the new equipment.
Omar Washington learns to use the production equipment in class.
Joy Davenport and students adjust the tripod on the new camera.
Students Keziah Allen (l), Omar Washington (c) and Quanzarius Willard set up and learn to use the new production equipment during the workshop.
Pablo Correa (l) shows a student how to set up the new equipment.
Students Keziah Allen and Omar Washington
Drs. Davis W. Houck and Maegan Parker Brooks held an Educator's Workshop with teachers down the hall from the 2018 young filmmakers' workshop. They visited the class and spoke to students about civil rights.
Keyshaun Meeks frames a scene in class.
Instructor Pablo Correa is interviewed by students.
Keziah Allen (c), Omar Washington (l) and Quanzarius Willard work with the new equipment.
Student Carledia Jones demonstrates her filmmaking skills while unpacking the new equipment.
Charles McLaurin (r) who worked with Fannie Lou Hamer during much of her activist career visited with students during the workshop.
The workshop also includes classroom discussions about local civil rights activist such as Fannie Lou Hamer and other situations involving racial injustice and equity.
Students interviewing a fellow student in class.
After an intense five weeks of the college-curriculum based program, students received their workshop certificates on the last day.
Students from the 2018 class answer questions from the audience at the public screening of their film, Find Your Voice, held at the B.B. King Museum and Interpretive Center in Indianola, MS.
Principal Willie Bolden from Gentry High School in Indianola, MS tells the students how proud he was of what they accomplished during the workshop. Mr. Bolden and the Sunflower County Consolidated School District so graciously allowed the 5-week workshop to be held at the school.
The screening for the students, their family and the community was beautifully catered by Sookie's in Indianola, MS.
The public and family members were invited to watch the student's film, Find Your Voice. The event was free and catered.
A promotional poster from the 2019 Crossroads Film Festival featuring the students' film, Find Your Voice.
Keziah Allen, Keyshawn Brison and Keyshaun Meeks (l to r) attend the 2019 Crossroads Film Festival in Madison, MS with instructors Pablo Correa (second from right) and R.J. Fitzpatrick. The class film, Find Your Voice, premiered at the festival.
Keyshawn Brison, Keyshaun Meeks and Keziah Allen enjoy seeing their film, Find Your Voice, on the big screen at the Malco Theater in Madison, MS where it premiered at the 2019 Crossroads Film Festival. Instructor Pablo Correa (l) is also pictured.
Instructor RJ Fitzpatrick (r) stands on the stage with students Keziah Allen, Keyshawn Brison and Keyshaun Meeks as they answer questions from the audience about their class film, Find Your Voice, after the screening at the 2019 Crossroads Film Festival.
Student Keyshaun Meeks holds a sparkler while his fellow student/filmmakers shoot a 4th of July scene for the film, I Snuck Off The Slave Ship.
Eight students from the class worked as videographers for the film, I Snuck Off The Slave Ship, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019. Pictured are the End Credits of the film acknowledging the work of the Sunflower County Film Academy and each student involved.
Student Omar Washington and others shoot scenes for the film, I Snuck Off The Slave Ship.
Instructor RJ Fitzpatrick watches students during filming for I Snuck Off The Slave Ship.