By Nicole Findlay
Students in Michael Ostroff’s fourth-year seminar are bringing history to the silver screen. The group of sixteen students enrolled in Making Documentary History has made four short documentaries that explore diverse themes and time periods from Canada’s past.
“More and more, we are seeing documentaries being produced exploring historical events,” said Ostroff, a local film maker and history instructor. “We are appealing to an audience of non-specialists, people who appreciate history as educational entertainment but don’t have the patience to delve into detailed historical readings.”
Each student group submitted a number of topics they were interested in portraying. They narrowed their choice down to one based on which would make the best story, as well as the availability of archival photos and film. Final topics include an eclectic mix – a WWI hero, Canada’s Cold War, gay rights in Ottawa and even food.
“The students are learning to use history in another medium, to search for the truth and present stories in an entertaining and enlightening manner,” said Ostroff.
Carleton’s Instructional Media Services (IMS) provided the students with lessons in using a video camera and introduced them to the art of editing, after which the students began to shoot their own documentaries. Currently in post-production, each documentary will range from 5-15 minutes in length.
The course will culminate in a film screening on March 31.
Making Documentary History film night
Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m.
Room 100, St. Patrick’s Building
Reception to follow
Documentary line-up
A Vision of Fear: the Diefenbunker in Canada’s Cold War History
Queer in the City
Food and Faith: Ottawa’s Corso Italia
Major-General George Pearkes: His Cross to Bear