Blue Chalk was commissioned by the higher education division of Pearson to create a series of 20 documentary videos that would help sociology students connect current events to concepts within their curriculum.
In addition to working with colleagues to develop, research and report these stories, I was Assistant Supervising Producer on the project. I helped ensure a consistent voice and look across all 20 videos and oversaw a smooth delivery. I was also the Producer/Director and Editor for individual stories in the series (please see below).
Taking a Stand Against Environmental Injustice
Wilmington, California is bordered by several large freeways, three oil refineries, and two of the largest ports in the United States alongside a smattering of active oil wells, each dipping into the third-largest oil field in the contiguous U.S. All of this industrialization translates to significantly higher rates of asthma and cancers for its 50,000 residents, most of whom are Hispanic. One Wilmington resident is 19-year-old Brandon Molina, an activist and aspiring politician. Brandon explains to viewers why protections in Wilmington are not as strictly enforced as those in more affluent areas, how many people in his neighborhood feel compelled to cooperate with the fossil fuel companies (despite their devastating effects), and what young people like him are doing about it.
Role: Producer, Director
School Districting and the Achievement Gap: A Tale of Two Communities
Malibu and Santa Monica, two well-off communities in California, share the same seemingly-successful school district. But they have two problems: a marked achievement gap between high-income and low-income students, and Malibu’s desire to secede and form its own district. The debate over Malibu’s secession and the resultant hit to the resources of the district has been simmering for decades but now has come to a head, prompting many to question Malibu’s motives in pulling away.
Role: Producer, Director
When Jobs Disappear: A Coal Miner’s Story
Like many people in his family, Brandon worked in a coal mine right out of high school. He was making a good living until mines started closing down and his town started changing around him. Will a new job training program help him and others like him make a living after coal?
Role: Editor
n. h. taylor 