Muskogee Students Get Expert Guidance In Making Documentary

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

MUSKOGEE, OK -- Some eighth graders in Muskogee are learning to make a little video magic. Sadler Arts Academy in Muskogee is one of only 10 schools in the country that is getting help from national experts, and the students are excited to learn every phase of documentary.

Brandon Kramer is visiting Sadler Arts Academy in Muskogee from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. He's part of a team of teaching artists from ArtsEdge who will guide these 8th graders through the making of a documentary.

"The program is intended, not only for the students, but also the teachers," said Kramer.

Half the class is planning; other half is outside in the traveling studio bus.

"This is our time line," said Lorraine Blackwell. "We are going to take our video from this bin here and cut out the parts we like and put it in the timeline."

The Kennedy Center team brings a fully equipped editing studio. It's where the documentary will be put together.

Lorraine Blackwell is highlighting the basics of video editing. The team will be at Sadler 13 days working with these students. Each of them has a specific job in the process.

"I'm the director," said Troy Stoutermire, an eighth grade student at Sadler.

Troy Stoutermire is like the production traffic cop. He says his job is to make sure everything runs smoothly.

"It's a different experience for me," he said. "I'm just taking advantage of every moment I have with them."

When the students are finished they will have created a short documentary on the life and work of Muskogee artist Maurice Bebb. He died before these kids were born, but some of the vast collection of his etchings and paintings are on exhibit at Sadler.

Sadler was selected after the principal wrote a grant request to the Kennedy Center.