By Tamara Krinsky

Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts announces an extraordinary new scholarship program for Dodge students and faculty to develop documentaries overseas and build awareness and visibility for worthwhile Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in different countries. Focusing on the issue of human rights, the first year’s team will travel to Cambodia. This unique initiative, funded by a $1 million private grant, is presented in conjunction with Chapman Law School and Chapman’s Wilkinson College of Letters & Sciences. For this inaugural endeavor, veteran documentary filmmaker/Professor Jeff Swimmer and Chapman Law School Professor Dr. John Hall led five students-three Dodge students, one law school student and one student from Wilkinson College-to Southeast Asia to develop documentaries for Khmer Arts Academy and Tiny Toones, two arts focused NGOs in need of assistance to create more public awareness for their work. Prior to the two-week trip, the selected students spend the spring semester not only researching the area and organizations from a film perspective, but also exploring legal and cultural implications of the human rights issues. Students complete the project with a course in Fall 2008, when they edit, complete post-production and discuss marketing and distribution of their final work.

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