Harding University International Programs recently launched a new documentary spotlighting the University’s campus in Athens, Greece.This new feature film gives the viewer a closer look at the life of aUniversity student studying there.
The Harding University in Greece (HUG) documentaryis the second film in a series that began in 2010. During their time at Harding University,alumni Nick Michael and Tyler Jones spent a semester studying at theUniversity’s international campus in Florence, Italy (HUF). Michael and Jones, having experienced Renaissance through culture, discoveryand learning, returned with a desire to share their story of transformation.They met with Dr. Jack Shock, chair of the department of mass communication; Dr. Mike James, director of HUG; and Dr. Jeff Hopper, dean of International Programs, and the idea of creating documentaries to highlight international campuses was born. The HUF campus was the first featured program.
“After wefinished the HUF documentary, it was clear that we didn’t want this to be a oneprogram thing,” Jeremy Daggett, international programs administrator, said. “Sowe started thinking about what might be the natural next program to feature and picked HUG as it’s the only other program that we operate year-round.”
Michael andJones were joined by alumni Mark Slagle and Kelsey Michael along with MaribethBrowning to work on the HUG documentary. After graduating, the group formed1504 Pictures, which produced the documentary that was filmed throughout thespring 2011 semester.
The full feature is approximately 35 minutes and includes four main chapters and apostscript. Athens, Israel,Turkey, Greece and Egypt are shown through theperspective of several students as they experience HUG and are transformed through the process. To view the full-length feature, visit HUGreece.squarespace.com.
Within 24 hours of posting the documentary, more than 1,000 views accumulated. HUGalumni, prospective students, and those currently enlisted to study abroadexpressed great excitement about the videos. According to Daggett, HUG alumniword of mouth combined with the documentary has produced a “spark of interest”among viewers.
Daggettadded that the ultimate goal of this project is to eventually produce adocumentary for each of the seven semester-long international programs. 1504Pictures will produce the next documentary featuring Harding University LatinAmerica in spring 2012. Featured areas include Chile,Patagonia, Machu Picchu, Amazon, Easter Island and Atacama.
“Eachprogram is unique,” Daggett said, “and the story being told is different oneach program.”
