Starring Stephens

A couple of our amazingly talented faculty members are teaming up this summer to produce a short film in Columbia.

Steph Borklund in our Digital Film department came up with the idea of “I Am One,” a short that explores the complex and cruel world of bullying. The film aims to empower young people to stand up for bullying victims, knowing that one person can, indeed, make a difference.

Borklund is working with Kate Berneking Kogut from English/Creative Writing, who has written, produced and directed a couple of her own short films.

What makes “I Am One” particularly exciting is that the creators are offering to show the film at regional schools in hopes of spreading the word that we can all be the “one” to challenge bullies.

Anyway, take a minute to check out her campaign here and find out how you can help be “one,” too.

I’m learning so much about the film industry at Stephens. Our film faculty members are so awesome and talented and passionate about the industry.

I’m also discovering that digital media is making the industry, once reserved for film school graduates, more accessible to the masses, including Jessica Gorman, a 2010 graduate who caught the filmmaking bug after earning a BFA in Theatre.

Gorman is co-founder of Hopeful Studio Productions and has made three films, two of which were made using her iPhone 4 (now I kinda want an iPhone 4–and I’ve never wanted an i-anything).

Her latest film, The Rule, is now being featured by the International Mobile Film Festival sponsored by S. Botello Productions™. And it’s really fun, featuring three single women who stick to a very strick dating rule.

But it’s only 3 minutes long, so I can’t tell you much more without spoiling it. So take a few minutes and check it out here.

So last week I got word that I will receive the Iris Molotsky Award for Excellence in Coverage of Higher Education reporting from the American Association of University Professors.

And it’s seriously a career highlight. Not to brag (OK maybe a little) but past recipients have come from USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education. Me? I come from Doolittle, Mo.

With the flurry of congratulatory phone calls and emails, I paused for the first time since I left the Columbia Daily Tribune to come to Stephens. Did I do the right thing?

The pause didn’t last long.

I loved being a reporter, and working for the Tribune was a dream job.  That the AAUP recognized my reporting is seriously amazing.

But Stephens is, too (both a dream job and amazing).

And I’m not the only reporter (or former/future reporter) to recognize it.

Lauren Hill from the Columbia Missourian discovered it when she covered Stephens this past semester.

From her recent entry on the Missourian’s J4450 blog:

“During my reporting this year, I have learned a lot about the Stephens College community. And I have to say, it’s pretty awesome. Their graduation ceremony showed that. The girls had on these crazy high and fabulously decorated shoes. I kind of wanted to do the story about the shoes! They also each decorated their graduation caps with rhinestones and tons of glitter …

I took a lot away from the ceremony. I was able to get a peek into the world of Stephens, and I wanted to show everyone how cool and unique I thought Stephens was. So I wrote a piece that was at least 20 inches. It was ridiculous. And it was cut in half. I had to part with my lovely words.”

She’s right, Stephens is cool and unique (and for so much more than shoes and glittery caps, too!).

The best part of this job? I can go on and on and on about Stephens. Because, believe me friends, it takes more than 20 inches to explain how cool and unique Stephens is.

So maybe I won’t win any more reporting awards in the future, but being part of this amazing, creative and unique environment is reward enough for me. (But don’t get me wrong—I’m still totally excited to go to Washington, D.C., next month and get my AAUP award.)

Today I discovered this gem.

It’s a short film called “Choosing for Happiness” shot, in part, on the Stephens College campus by Henry Bowman, who taught a marriage course here in the 1930s through early 1950s. The video, part of Bowman’s Marriage for Moderns series, is from 1950.

I won’t give away too many spoiler alerts because this is really entertaining and gives such an interesting glimpse into life in that era. In the video, our lead character, Mary, is confused as to why her friend, Eve, is single. I mean, Eve’s a lovely young woman who is committed to her diet. But then we find out that Eve might be just too darned picky.

Having been a little too darned picky back in my day, I say “good for you Eve!” Waiting for the just-right husband is so much better than marrying the wrong one (or at least I assume it is because, thankfully, I never did the latter).

Some of the advice is dated — we’ve come a long way, ladies — but the main message that “you can’t change other people” still applies today. What you see is, indeed, what you get, so make sure it’s what you want! Eve, we find out, doesn’t want a man who’s too popular, too book smart or too much of a handyman. But now I’m just giving away spoilers.

Although some of the buildings shown in the video might not exist on campus today, you might recognize some Stephens signatures (like our stables).

Enjoy!

Saturday, I attended my first Stephens College graduation.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I covered the event for the Tribune in the past, but mostly, I would stay through the keynote speaker, then get the heck outta there before the name reading began. As the higher education reporter in College Town USA, May was not a fun month. I’d typically swing by three or four MU commencement ceremonies, as well as Stephens and the three other main colleges in Columbia and Fulton. That’s a lot of Pomp & Circumstance, my friend.

But the ever-so-annoying-when-you-hear-it-eight-times-in-one-month march wasn’t the only commonality. Most of the keynote speakers…while very respected…well, let’s just say it’s very difficult for anyone to come up with an original and entertaining graduation speech.

Instead of keynote, Stephens put together a video compilation of faculty members and students reflecting on their time together in college. And when I say Stephens, I really mean our videography Corey Ransberg, who did a fabulous job making the video sad, witty and fun. Although I assisted in the scheduling, I really only claim credit for one part of it—the two fashion students dancing, one wearing the giant star costume.

I met Heather Johnston and Ellie Keebler in the elevator at Lela Raney Wood while I was holding the giant gold star mascot. Heather had an awesome 1980s era bow on her head and a bright yellow jacket. Both had perfect make-up and awesome shoes.

I recognized them from the senior photo book I was putting together—but, unfortunately, they had no idea who I was, making for an awkward conversation.

Me: “Hi. Will you wear this star costume and dance for our video?”

Them: *blank stares*

Me: “Oh! Hi. I’m Janese from marketing.”

Anyway, they were great sports, as you know if you saw the video. If you didn’t see the video, well, here’s a little glimpse of what you missed. That’s Ellie in the Star:

But an awesome video in lieu of a keynote speaker isn’t the only thing that makes Stephens commencement standout. It doubles as a footwear and cap fashion show.

Our students come wearing the craziest, highest, most bedazzled shoes. And they spend hours making sure their caps are equally glam. Some random samples:

The name reading, by the way, was great—especially seeing the several seniors I’ve gotten acquainted with over the past five months. Heather Johnston even introduced me to her family as the woman who asked them to wear the star costume in the video and not as the creepy lady in the elevator.

And President Dianne Lynch’s comments had so much more meaning to me now than when I was listening in as a reporter. I was able to truly appreciate and understand what she was saying. And, man, I felt so grateful to be a part of this extraordinary community.