The Summer Documentary Institute is an intensive 7-week course, meeting Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Participants will experience hands-on training with Appalshop filmmakers, view and discuss a variety of documentary films, and eventually produce their very own short documentary film.

We are very happy to announce that in addition to a paid stipend and free housing, eligible interns will also be able to earn additional college credit through Southeast Community and Technical Colleges (SCTC) for their participation in this program.

Click here to access the application. It is available as both a web-form and downloadable PDF.

The deadline for applications is May 4th.

For additional information feel free to call (606.633.0108) or e-mail Ben.

Participating interns are: Mikie Burke, Eli Gover, AJ Hamilton, Dillon Fisher, and Katelyn Sexton.

Interns will be working with a variety of specialized mentors including Appalshop filmmakers Herby Smith and Robert Salyer, AMI and UPike staffer Bruce Parsons, and the very talented Frankie Taylor – all of which will no doubt lend an immense amount of knowledge and experience to our young crew.

This program will run for the next 10 weeks, ending in early May.

“Middle School Consolidation” is a current event piece concerning the proposal of consolidation for Letcher County’s K-8 schools. In this piece we hear the voices and opinions of both school officials as well as parents.

Listen to: Middle School Consolidation

Produced by: Brady Caudill, Cheyenne Collie, Brook Hampton, and Katelyn Sexton.

“Strange Jobs” is an exploration of four off-beat career paths. In this piece we hear from a biodiesel engineer, a freelance writer of horror and science fiction, a genealogist, and a civil war historian and re-enactor.

Listen to: Strange Jobs

Produced by: Dustin Hall, Oakley Fugate, Austin Little, Katie Ross, and Jared Sexton.

On November 17th, 2011, the following pieces were aired on WMMT‘s “Mountain News and World Report” during a special report on area schools.  This show will be re-aired on Thursday, November 24th at 6:00pm.  Tune in locally at 88.7FM, or listen online via the WMMT website.

Brady Caudill, Cheyenne Collie, Brook Hampton, and Katelyn Sexton focused on the issue of teen pregnancy, its relation to high school drop out rates and what options teen mothers are given to complete their high school education. This piece contains the voices of mothers who have both dropped out and remained in school.

Listen to: Teen Pregnancy

Alexis Fields, Matthew Mullins, and Katie Ross explored the reasons why students drop out, and what resulting issues arose from their decision. In this piece we hear the story of Matthew, a gay teen who is pressured into quitting because of bullying, and Norma, a teen mother who dropped out of school in the 8th grade.

Listen to: Reasons

Oakley Fugate, Dustin Hall, and Jared Sexton confronted the increased disparity of punishments over the years in public schools, as well as the issue of neglect to certain casts of students. We hear the voices of Oakley’s father, who recalls his experiences as a high school student in the 1970s, Justin, a Junior at Letcher County Central, and Tony Sergent, former high school teacher and current principal at a local Elementary school.

Listen to: Progress and Punishment

Gochmyrat also took questions from the class.

Did you know that Turkmenistan is one of five countries recognized as neutral by the UN (others being- Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Costa Rica)?

The event was also recorded.  Natalie Baxter controls the camera while Sylvia Ryerson masters the sound.

Food and transportation were both talked about.

Everyone got involved in the discussion.

Herb E. Smith took the opportunity to introduce himself.

Interns and staff learned so much from the Gochmyrat.

Photos by Eagle Brosi

In one corner we have Ben Spangler, our new educator.  His spontaneous, excitable personality has been giving everyone at Appalshop big smiles since his arrival.  Ben was born and raised in Letcher County and is so excited to be back home among friends and family.

In the other corner we have Eagle Valiant Brosi who’s quiet and demure professionalism really gets things done.  Eagle is our VISTA for this year.  Previously employeed at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County, he often came to Whitesburg on his free time.  ”I’ve always wanted to live in Whitesburg,” Eagle says.  ”Not to change things or anything.  I just love how beautiful it is and I like the way the buildings look.”  And when asked about his position at AMI- Eagle says, “I really think I need to get it going for the teens!”

You can read more about Ben and more about Eagle by clicking here.

The Fall Audio Lab will be a 9-week course teaching students the art of radio documentary. Lab hours will take place every Tuesday and Thursday that school is in session, from 4:00 – 6:30 PM. Students are expected to do work and conduct interviews outside of lab hours, and will be paid a bi-weekly stipend for their participation. AMI strives to enhance the possessed talents of area youth, and forward their abilities in:

• Organization
• Peer Leadership
• Media Production
• Public Speaking
• Team Building
• Communication and Writing

Click here to apply, or select the “Applications” section above. Applications are due by September 23^rd – final candidates will be informed by September 30^th.

For more information, call or e-mail Ben.