GC St. Johnsbury Presents Documentary Film, "Our Global Campus" at Green Mountain Film Festival

Global Campus St. Johnsbury screened their documentary film, Our Global Campus in the Green Mountain Film Festival, April 2, 2011.

This spring, Global Campus St. Johnsbury was honored to have their film, Our Global Campus, accepted into the Green Mountain Film Festival at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, VT. Campus participants arrived early at the screening to greet community members at the door and pass around information about their Global Campus.

Global Campus St. Johnsbury had spent the fall and winter terms working with volunteer filmmaker, Scott Miller, to learn camera work and some techniques in filmmaking. Campus participants brought the cameras home to film their lives and discuss their values and goals. They spent time documenting the different classes and special events held at Global Campus St. Johnsbury.

The screening was exciting for everyone, as it was the first time many of the GC St. Johnsbury participants had viewed the film in its final version. About thirty people gathered for the screening and the room was buzzing with excitement. As the group watched the film, there was lots of laughter and praise as different people’s film footage aired on the big screen. The film highlights the process of Global Campus and then goes more in-depth into the stories of seven participants who had been very active in the filming process throughout the year at Global Campus St. Johnsbury. It was neat to see the unique styles of filming and storytelling demonstrated through the different filmmakers’ work.

After the film finished screening, about five participants and volunteer film editor, Scott Miller, sat for a panel discussion where community members asked them about the process of making the film and their opinions about the outcome. It was really neat to see this panel discussion unfold and all the questions that came from the audience. At the end of the evening, Josh and Levi were signing autographs and answering more in-depth questions for audience members.

Back in the classroom, Global Campus St. Johnsbury is still filming, taking home cameras, and thinking about what else they want to do with filmmaking and where else they want to air their film. They have screened the film at four other venues – two in St. Johnsbury, one in Newport and one in Middlebury. At each event, campus participants attended as panelists and answered questions for the community. The campus has additional screenings planned for the summer.