UAB Media Studies students work in partnership with community members in the Greater Birmingham area to share stories about their lives and experiences.
Disclaimer: The films presented here are the work of a student or students enrolled in an ethnographic filmmaking course at UAB. The subject of the film and any views expressed in the film are solely the work of student(s) and are neither endorsed by nor represent the views of UAB.
Also available in the UAB Libraries Digital Collections.
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Abandoned Canvas: Painting on Birmingham's Margins
Naithon Henning and Majaliwa Mzombwe
Duration: 9:09
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Awake: Hip Hop Artistry in Birmingham
Ebony Hinton and Sierra Nicely
Duration: 8:30
The South gets more than its share of the blame for the end of hip hop, but socially conscious artists in Birmingham, Alabama, work to elevate the conversation.
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From Mountains to Metropolis: Old Time Music in Birmingham
Rachell Berry and Stephanie Cook
Duration: 9:00
Whether or not they learned at their father's knee, these musicians keep a Southern musical tradition alive in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Never Too Late To Learn
Nathan Ennis
Duration: 8:41
An innovative research program at UAB helps bridge the digital divide for senior citizens.
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Physical Truths: Making Art at UAB
Katelyn Armstrong and Ali Massoud
Duration: 7:27
UAB is internationally renowned as a medical research university, but it also is home to robust art and music programs, sometimes luring away those science majors our of the lab and into the studio.
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Riders on the Storm
Kevin Franks and Tyler Malugani
Duration: 9:01
While the rest of us run for cover when we hear a tornado warning, storm spotters and storm chasers head into the fray.
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We Came To Learn: A Second Chance at Graduation
Jessica Craig and Adrian Jones
Duration: 9:25
Students in Birmingham City Schools who dropped out of high school talk about the factors that led to them leaving, and, most importantly, what they want to achieve after coming back to get their education. Our film highlights the Drop-Out Recovery Program in the Birmingham City School System. We included interviews with students, teachers, and the superintendent. We want the audience to realize that some reasons for dropping out are beyond the student’s control. We came in contact with students who dropped out because they feared for their lives, had to take care of family, and had to get a job in order to help pay bills. The Drop-Out Recovery Program really gives kids like these another opportunity to graduate and receive a high school diploma that they truly deserve.
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Birmingham: You Are Beautiful
Brooke Benson and Danielle Rand
Duration: 8:40
The Birmingham community responds to an urban art movement.
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Breaking Chains: The Story of the Woodlawn Mural
Patrick Edwards and Craig Wooten
Duration: 9:30
Community members discuss the importance of public art while sharing the story of a historic WPA mural that is currently being saved.
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Limitless
Nicholas Price and Alisa Trinh
Duration: 8:23
A portrait of a small community of teens who taught themselves how to do parkour, a practice that encourages a gymnastic relationship to the built environment.
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Los Obreros: A Labor Portrait in 3 Parts
Inocencio Chavez and Lacey Kennedy
Duration: 7:26
This film examines the challenges facing Latino immigrant workers in Birmingham.
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Nihon Jin (The Japanese People)
Alexandra Jo Hancock and Christian Sutton
Duration: 9:34
The Japanese families of the men working at the Honda Plant in Lincoln, AL, strive to maintain their culture and connection to their homeland.
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Sweet Home Al-abama
Grace Benton and Katy Tetzlaff
Duration: 7:16
A portrait of the immigrant community working in the kitchen at Al’s Restaurant.
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Turning Pointe
Duy Tran and Hannah Hughes
Duration: 8:32
The dancers of the Alabama Ballet train and sacrifice to perform professionally in Birmingham.
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Underneath, We're All Grey
Rebecca Kennerly and Stephanie Harrison
Duration: 8:12
Whether you are for or against greyhound racing, it all comes down to finding loving families for the retired racers, and the McGregor Greyhound Welfare Center is doing just that and more.
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Extraordinary Actors Who Happen to Be
Sarah Johnson and Alyssa Mitchell
Duration: 9:38
A documentary portrait of an afterschool theater class at the Alys Stephens Center for Birmingham-area high school students .
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Honest Work
Brittney S. Jones and Mallory Messersmith
Duration: 7:06
A documentary portrait of jobs that often go unnoticed.
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Invisible Goals
Erin Hennessy and Alex Lanier
Duration: 9:29
A documentary portrait of goalball, a team sport for visually impaired and blind athletes.
