News Archive

On October 21, the Career Development Center organized a trip for students to visit some big names in the arts and media world of NYC. The itinerary included stops at ABC News, The New York Times, Sesame Street, and a theatrical studio where professionals generously shared their career path experiences and tips for students entering the job circuit.

MDOCS students and faculty hone storytelling and production skills off campus from Oregon to London, showcase their work in area and San Francisco festivals, connect with documentarians in class visits and networking nights, and explore festival culture in Saratoga Springs and beyond. Coming soon: seven new courses for Spring 2017 and a showcase of student work in mid-December.

Saratoga Springs native and documentary photographer Daesha Devón Harris presented an eloquent artist's talk as part of the Portrait & Biography series on October 17, documenting the area's African-American community with sensitivity and an eye to the impact of development.

Recent Skidmore graduate Lisa Fierstein '16, was pleasantly surprised when her film, "The Presence Project" was accepted to its first film festival in San Francisco. She originally enrolled in MDOCS' Video Storytelling course to gain some techniques in producing and editing video, but in the end she left with a "new passion for filmmaking."

Take a look inside the events of the inaugural Saratoga Springs International Film Festival, and hear from Director Caitlin Stedman about her feelings going into the first year.

MDOCS kicks off planning a student-run documentary festival to premiere June 2017. Festival Programming Part I, offered this Fall, inspires students to learn from examples, including touring regional festivals to see how the work is done.

MDOCS student writer Sam Grant decided to take her storytelling talents abroad this past summer to the University of Arts London for a summer filmmaking program. For the month-long program, students from around the world came together to create narrative, documentary and other film projects for a period of intensive work and learning.

Documentary storytelling doesn't stop just because school is out. MDOCS students were motivated to pursue their passion in documentary and media skills this past summer in a variety of ways through internships, film programs, and more.

This past summer, MDOCS student Sindiso Mafico participated in a summer program at The Media Institute of Social Change in Portland, OR. Her production and storytelling skills were quickly put to work on the production of a short documentary film called "Black in Blue."

Step into Julia Cavicchi's shoes as she takes us through her experience interning at the Sanctuary for Independent Media. Through her writing and audio pieces, get a first-hand account of what goes on in this small neighborhood community in North Troy, NY.

The fall monthly "Doc Dates" series brings regional documentarians to share work on portraiture and biography in sound, film and photography, asking creators how they decide whose story to tell, how and why.

As the crisp, cool autumn air returns to upstate New York, MDOCS starts the 2016-2017 school year and its third year by bringing back some traditions and starting a few new ones...

MDOCS offers support for Skidmoreans interested in sharing evidence-based stories in sound, film, exhibit and photography. The Collaborative brings classroom support, offers student-led workshops and shares production equipment and post-production software, exhibition tools, and more. Find out what MDOCS has on hand and in store this semester.

MDOCS' 2016 Storytellers' Institute examined fact and fiction in documentary work in a Festosium, exhibit, crit groups and projects. Conversations over the summer uncovered challenges faced in telling others' stories well and effectively.

MDOCS to hire Storytellers' Institute Director

Spring flew by with stimulating on and off campus events and work by MDOCS students. Learn more about what we've been up to and exciting events planned for June 2016's Storytellers' Institute.

Meet the 8 Skidmore Student and 2 Skidmore Faculty Storytellers' Institute Scholars advancing stories in film, podcast, photography and multimedia exploring loss, running, science, family, social justice and more.

Meet Storytellers' Institute 2016 fellows, documentary practitioners Aggie Bazaz, Amanda Dawn Christie, Jake Nussbaum, and Courtney Reid-Eaton.

June 2-16 - Walking the Line | Fact & Fiction in Documentary Storytelling -- screenings, listening sessions, virtual reality experience, discussions, and an exhibit and more.

For the past year, Skidmore students in collaboration with the Skidmore Saratoga Memory Project and Professor Eric Morser took part in a nationwide project, "States of Incarceration." Find out how their audio interviews and photos were incorporated into a larger touring exhibit highlighting the work of 20 other participating schools.