Teaching Film in a Pandemic An interview with LBSU film professor Kevin O’Brien.
How would you describe your online teaching style? Not too much different than teaching in class. I try to be friendly, open and encourage students to share their thoughts and reactions to the screenings and discussions. However, it is much more difficult to do so via Zoom.
by Avery Keller
C
OVID-19 has made it more difficult for students to access hands-on learning experiences and the film and electronic arts department at LBSU was particularly struck by the pandemic. With no chances to shoot projects together with peers or collaborate in the same room, students are limited in what they can produce. They are restricted to filming with members of their
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How did you handle activities differently? (film shoots, equipment training, etc.) Group film shoots on set [are] prohibited by the university. Equipment training [comes] through curating videos, but it is no substitute for actually touching the equipment. However, the videos are valuable for creating awareness and I am confident it will help students when they transition to actually being in the studio or on set. As for group work, I was able to continue that by redesigning projects. Students each tackled a portion of the assignment remotely then collaborated on the household and many large-scale amalgamated project. For examjunior and senior projects were ple, in my media aesthetics class canceled. we will be watching projects that Along with these difficulties explore filmic visual components for students, online instruction through still photography. Each has also posed a new challenge student in groups of six shot a for instructors. Here, film profes- portion of the project then they sor Kevin O’Brien shares insight collaborated on the final Poweron how he has adapted in the Point presentation. past year. O’Brien teaches mostly lower division courses and intro- What other challenges did you face with teaching duces new film students to the different elements of production. through Zoom? PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEVIN O’BRIEN
