From the Classroom to the Silver Screen: Documentary Filmmaking at the Secondary Level

My own love of documentary filmmaking was first sparked during an inspirational course I took in university with Professor Michael Ostroff, titled “Making Documentary History.” In this class, I learned how to use film as a powerful tool for capturing and preserving important narratives, personal experiences, and societal issues. It was a transformative experience that would go on to shape my entire approach to education and storytelling.

One of the courses I’m most proud of developing is a weekly Film Appreciation elective at the secondary school level at a local DSS secondary school. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy as a framework, I designed this class to take students on a deep dive into the art of cinema.

We started off by simply watching and discussing classic and contemporary films, honing our critical analysis skills. From there, we explored the theoretical underpinnings of filmmaking – studying camera techniques, lighting, sound design, and more.

The real magic happened when I challenged my students to put this knowledge into practice. I guided them through the process of conducting research, developing concepts, and ultimately producing their own short documentary films. Watching them learn to operate professional equipment, edit their footage, and bring their visions to life was incredibly rewarding.

Of course, our film journey took an unexpected turn in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Hong Kong schools to shift to remote learning. Rather than letting this setback derail our progress, I pivoted the documentary filmmaking course to an online format.

Through a mix of virtual workshops, video tutorials, and one-on-one mentoring sessions, the 27 students in my Year 10 class completed 60 unique film projects. I was continually amazed by their resilience, creativity, and commitment, even in the face of such unprecedented challenges.

Looking back on this experience, I’m reminded of the transformative power of film. It has the ability to challenge our perspectives, spark meaningful discussions, and empower young people to find their voices. As an educator, there’s nothing more gratifying than witnessing that process unfold.

I’m honoured to have played a role in nurturing the next generation of cinematic storytellers. And I can’t wait to see what they create next.