{"id":7927,"date":"2024-12-19T11:59:37","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T16:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krieger.jhu.edu\/publichealth\/?p=7927"},"modified":"2025-03-03T08:24:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T13:24:15","slug":"student-spotlight-the-filmmakers-behind-jhus-50-year-public-health-anniversary-tribute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krieger.jhu.edu\/publichealth\/2024\/12\/19\/student-spotlight-the-filmmakers-behind-jhus-50-year-public-health-anniversary-tribute\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Feature: The Filmmakers Behind the PHS 50th Anniversary Tribute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The PHS Program would like to recognize both Vinnie Parikh (\u201923) and Will Taggart (\u201926)<\/strong>, for their creation of a documentary film that celebrates 50 years of public health at JHU<\/strong>.  Vinnie, who is now an alum of the PHS program, and Will, who is currently a PHS junior, with a minor in Film and Media Studies, collaborated to create the short film, which highlights the history and significance of the PHS Program.  After multiple interviews with faculty, staff and students, and many hours of editing work, Vinnie and Will showed a preview of the well-received short film at our faculty and staff anniversary event on Nov 12 (photos in section above).  A screening of the full film will be held on Thursday, January 31 at 5 pm in the Glass Pavilion<\/a><\/strong>, along with a pizza party for students. Stay tuned for more information on that from PHS! They share their experiences and discuss how the program has shaped their careers. We took the time to interview the two film-makers. The full interview with them is captured below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us about how this film came to be and what drove you to create it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Vinnie:<\/em> The idea for this film started when Cara McNamara and I were on a Zoom call talking about my future career plans. I was sharing how I want to pursue a career in film. That\u2019s when Cara mentioned that the PHS program was celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and she asked if I\u2019d be interested in creating a film to help commemorate it. It was a perfect fit, and I\u2019m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work on this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Will and Vinnie: <\/em>What drove us to create this film was our shared belief that the PHS program is one of the most unique and impactful programs at Hopkins. It\u2019s so interdisciplinary, and the faculty and staff are genuinely invested in the success of every student. What makes PHS special is how it opens students’ eyes to a wide range of career paths that they can pursue, even if it\u2019s not directly medically-related. For many students, it\u2019s a place where they discover their passions and how they can have a lasting impact on their communities, both locally and globally. Since PHS is the largest major at the university, it has a profound influence on campus and on what students go on to do after graduation. So, creating this film was a way for us to honor the program, reflect on its history, and celebrate its ongoing influence on students, faculty, and alumni.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From your interviews, what were your \u201ctake-aways\u201d about the PHS program?  Did you learn anything new or surprising?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most rewarding aspects of working on this film was getting to hear the many unique career paths that PHS graduates have taken. We interviewed six alumni, and each of them was doing something connected to public health but in very different and personal ways. For example, one was involved in wellness-oriented building design, while another was working in the Vice President\u2019s office. It really showcased the diversity of opportunities a PHS degree can open up. We also interviewed a total of 31 people\u2014current and former faculty, staff, students, and alumni\u2014and it was clear that everyone had a deep passion for public health and a real investment in the work and success of the PHS program. That kind of commitment is something you don\u2019t always see in every academic program, and it really stood out to us. It was amazing to witness the strong sense of community among everyone involved. When we saw many of these individuals reunite at the anniversary event in November, it was clear how connected they still are, not just to the program but to each other. Another surprising takeaway was learning about the history of the PHS program. For example, we didn\u2019t realize that the formation of an undergraduate public health program wasn\u2019t initially supported by everyone, and that many of the elements of the program began as student-driven initiatives to reflect their passions and the evolving needs of public health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your thoughts about your experience directing, filming and editing?  What did you find rewarding or challenging?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directing, filming, and editing this documentary was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was one of the larger projects we\u2019ve worked on so far, and that was really exciting. We learned so much about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing a documentary\u2014from coordinating 31 interviews to deciding what kind of footage we wanted to capture. One of the most enjoyable parts of the process was getting to speak with so many people who\u2019ve played such instrumental roles in the PHS program, such as Dr. Goodyear, who played a pivotal role in founding the program. It was also fascinating to see how much the final version of the film evolved from our initial concept in August when we were outlining ideas. Documentaries often have a reputation for being somewhat dry, and we worked really hard to ensure that this one felt engaging, artistic, and fun throughout. A fun fact is that one of our major inspirations for the cinematography was a video by Vogue Magazine that we both loved. It gave us a fresh perspective on how we wanted the film to look and feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the more challenging\u2014but ultimately rewarding\u2014parts of the process was editing. We had so much great footage from each of the 30-minute interviews, and piecing it all together into a cohesive narrative was difficult. But, we both had a strong vision for the visuals and pacing, and it was incredibly fulfilling to see that vision come to life as we worked through the edits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, the most rewarding part of the entire process was the premiere. Seeing how the film brought the entire PHS community, from past and present, together was truly special. It provided a space for people who had been involved in the program to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the impact the program has had on their lives. That sense of community and shared history was amazing to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think you\u2019d like to do something like this again?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, definitely! Vinnie is currently in pre-production for his first narrative film, a short comedy-drama, and Will is regularly involved in production for student films as a Film & Media Studies minor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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