Empathize
Empathize
You will conduct interviews with community partners and peers to gather insights on how shared experiences shape personal growth, while practicing active listening, empathy, and reflective documentation.
Days 1 - 3
Define
Define
You will synthesize your collected footage and personal insights into a clear problem statement that captures your evolving social development, utilizing feedback from your community partners to refine your focus for the documentary.
Days 4 - 6
Ideate
Ideate
You will brainstorm diverse documentary styles and creative techniques in collaborative sessions, while seeking feedback from peers and community partners, to develop ideas for capturing your personal high school experiences and the impacts of relationships in a visually compelling manner.
Days 7 - 10
Prototype
Prototype
You will create and refine a prototype of your documentary, incorporating feedback from peer reviews, mentors, and community partners, emphasizing your editing skills, narrative coherence, and emotional impact.
Days 11 - 15
Test/Present
Test/Present
You will present your documentary to peers, mentors, and community partners at an end-of-year screening event, showcasing your work and engaging in reflective discussions about personal growth and shared experiences documented through your film.
Days 16 - 20
Empathize
Days 1–3
Day 1
Meet Real Users
Launch
60m
Day 2
Collaborative Segment Concepts with Industry Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 3
Interview Techniques and Consent Practices
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Define
Days 4–6
Day 4
Define Documentary Problem
Deliverable
90m
Day 5
Documentary Style Exploration and Concept Board
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 6
Shot Planning and Partner Critique Circle
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Ideate
Days 7–10
Day 7
Concept Ideation Pack
Deliverable
90m
Day 8
Kickoff Prototype Editing with Mentor Feedback
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 9
Storyboard Audience-Focused Reflections and Themes
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 10
Collaborative Feedback Lab with Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Prototype
Days 11–15
Day 11
Prototype Iteration Kickoff
Deliverable
90m
Day 12
Theme-to-Frame Mapping Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 13
Interview Protocols & Consent Basics
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 14
Words That Travel: Text & Voiceover Script
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 15
Mood Music & Sound Design Sketch
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Test/Present
Days 16–20
Day 16
Rough Cut Feedback Sprint with Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 17
Narrative Framework Sprint
Deliverable
90m
Day 18
Audience Footage Test
Deliverable
75m
Day 19
Polish Rough Cut with Partner Feedback
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 20
Final Documentary Screening
Assessment
90m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 1
Empathize
Meet Real Users
29
Day 2
Collaborative Segment Concepts with Industry Partners
30
Day 3
Interview Techniques and Consent Practices
1
Day 4
Define
Define Documentary Problem
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 5
Documentary Style Exploration and Concept Board
6
Day 6
Shot Planning and Partner Critique Circle
7
Day 7
Ideate
Concept Ideation Pack
8
Day 8
Kickoff Prototype Editing with Mentor Feedback
12
Day 9
Storyboard Audience-Focused Reflections and Themes
13
Day 10
Collaborative Feedback Lab with Partners
14
Day 11
Prototype
Prototype Iteration Kickoff
15
Day 12
Theme-to-Frame Mapping Workshop
19
Day 13
Interview Protocols & Consent Basics
20
Day 14
Words That Travel: Text & Voiceover Script
21
Day 15
Mood Music & Sound Design Sketch
22
Day 16
Test/Present
Rough Cut Feedback Sprint with Partners
26
Day 17
Narrative Framework Sprint
27
Day 18
Audience Footage Test
28
Day 19
Polish Rough Cut with Partner Feedback
29
Day 20
Final Documentary Screening