For Organizations

Overview 

Our goal is to create documentary films organizations, residents, educators and other stakeholders can use as tools to foster discussion around a particular health and social issue. These are not promotional films, rather they seek to explore an issue, raise solutions and best practices, and above all invite action for health and social justice.

Fall 2010 - Spring 2011: Special Focus on Mindfullness Practice & Health

Mindfullness practice is being used in a variety settings to support individuals and communities facing violence, poverty, addiction, encarceration, discrimination, and other conditions that affect health and wellness.  Next year, Documentary for Health & Social Justice will create a series of four films that explore the link between mindfulness and health in four different communities. 

Working in Partnership 

The class is organized into four student teams made up of Cinema and Non-cinema students.  Each team works with a different site over the course of two semesters to create a 15-minute documentary. Organizations contribute funds to cover film production and DVD distribution costs and receive copies of the final film on DVD for distribution and as a web file for posting online

If your organization is interested in exploring partnership ideas, please contact rpoulain(a)sfsu.edu.

The Filmmaking Process

Students:

• Research the issue & Write a film proposal to outline the goals, objectives, and story idea for the film the first semester
• Film key interviewees and events to digitally edit the footage into a 15 minute documentary film and create a discussion guide the second semester

Organizations:

• Assign a lead contact to work directly with student teams
• Provide relevant data, research and information about the issue and their organization
• Introduce students to key program/agency participants
• Provide feedback during the editing process

Past Partnerships 

NATIONAL AIDS FUND partnered with HEI over the course of two semesters. Together we created five documentaries exploring the impact of HIV on women.  View films under the Spring 2008 collection and learn more by visiting: http://www.aidsfund.org/2009/05/17/documentary-for-health-social-justice/

BAY AREA LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) partnered with HEI over the course of one semester. Together we created four documentaries that explore the impact of neighborhood conditions on health. View films under the Fall 2009 collection.