The blog below is written by Digital Storytelling Intern Rosenet Timius who served as lead manager for the program. Rosie is in her last semester at the College of the Marshall Islands studying Liberal Arts. Previously, she managed the Environmental Artists in Residency program in Spring of 2021. The Digital Storytelling Workshop was the second program she managed as an intern.
Jo-Jikum held the second ever Digital Storytelling Workshop on June 21- July 2, 2021. Special kamolol to Smithsonian Institution of Asian Pacific American for funding the two-week long workshop along with donating cameras and other equipment necessary for the workshop.
The objective of the Digital Storytelling Workshop was to recruit high school students who are interested in film-making and editing to capture images and create videos focusing on environmental issues in the RMI and how it is affecting our manit (culture) from their perspective. The Digital Storytelling Workshop consisted of ten students from various high schools on Majuro including two other students from the neighboring island of Ebeye, Kwajalein. For the whole two-week workshop, Jo-Jikum collaborated with two of the experts in the film-making field, Chewy Lin, and College of the Marshall Islands Media Center staff, Alindol Candle.
On the first day of the workshop, after Jo-Jikum staff alongside Lin and Candle introduced themselves to the students and vice-versa. Jo-Jikum staff observed that some of the students were still very shy and reserved, so they gathered them around for some activities to help loosen the tension and get them comfortable. After the first day, the remainder of the week consisted of Lin and Candle instructing the students on the basics of photography and video editing while also helping them in handling and properly using a camera and other equipment. The week also consisted of guest speakers coming in to talk to the students. The director of the renowned comedic-action films based in the RMI called Microwave films, Jack Niedenthal, visited the students and extended his knowledge on film-making to the students whilst praising them on their interest in film-making. That same week, the students had the privilege of joining the Operation Crossroads Commemoration event hosted by the Nation Nuclear Committee at Marshall Islands Resort. After the first week, it was noticed by the instructors, Lin and Candle, and Jo-Jikum staff that the students have gotten very comfortable around each other and were excited to start making videos and editing them.
For the other remaining week, the students were split into groups of two, and they were allowed to go around town to take pictures and videos, and some of the students took it as far as going to one of the islets on Majuro to record their videos. The pictures and videos that each group captured and edited were then compiled together and used for their final project presentation.
On the last day of the workshop, the instructors, Lin and Candle, all the Jo-Jikum staff, and all the students cozied up to each other at the Jo-Jikum Youth Center as we munched on our snacks and proudly watched each groups’ funny yet interesting videos. To say they did amazing would be the understatement of the year!
Last Word from Rosie
I am big on watching documentaries, and most of the documentaries found online on how climate change is drastically affecting the Marshall Islands are generally captured and based on the perspective of those who come out to our islands to see and record the scene. Therefore, having workshops like this are crucial as they allow the world to view the scenery happening beyond our seawalls through the lens of indigenous Marshallese youths. My initial response to the videos that the Digital Storytellers created was the surprised Pikachu face. I was not shocked because I didn’t doubt they would deliver well. I was shocked because they were only granted a limited amount of time, yet they did an amazing job on their respective group’s videos! Although these are younger students, I feel like I learned more from them throughout the two weeks that I spent managing the workshop. Their dedication and creativity is something that I had the pleasure of witnessing firsthand, and something that I truly admire and would instil into my everyday performance. They definitely made working a lot more fun and adventurous! AND CUT (as they would say, lol).
