Hundreds of students from Bloomington High were given a rare opportunity to learn about the art and science of filmmaking and how films can connect and engage an audience in a powerful way.
After a warm opening from principal Roman, students were treated by film producer Aaron Martin to an intensive on important constructs in filmmaking. They were taught what makes an engaging film and how an audience can be impacted in various ways through documentary and news videos. Martin shared his various works and the process behind them, from local news clips that shed light on the lead water crisis in Bedingfield, Michigan to his video publication in Scientific American following researchers as they studied the effects of climate change on fish in the Great Lakes. Martin, while traveling from Michigan to the Los Angeles to be a part of the 2024 Consortium of Universities for Global health conference, was able to connect with the students of Bloomington during several school periods. One of the techniques of filmmaking that students learned was the use of emotion in filmmaking as a tool draw in an audience. Martin showed clips employing various degrees of emotion and asked students to rate how engaging the pieces were. Educada representative Caden Choi worked closely with Learning Specialist Agustin Mendoza to plan the event. Educator Cynthia Horta created and distributed flyers inviting students to hear Martin speak. Hundreds of Biology, Geology, and Journalism students learned from Martin during his interactive sessions.
