Land Grant Films
Magic of ‘The Library That Dolly Built’
Working at the Library of Congress in February 2018, the students on the Land Grant Films team began to understand that their project—a documentary about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, tied to the milestone of Parton’s giving away her 100 millionth book—was a much bigger deal than they had realized.
“We were there getting our press passes,” remembers Kayli Martin (’21), the film’s assistant producer. “I thought, ‘This is what it’s like to be a professional journalist.’”
“I had never been to the Library of Congress,” says Abby Bower (’19), a producer and the writer for the project. “The building, number … Read more “Magic of ‘The Library That Dolly Built’”
Geidner: ‘Goodnight with Dolly’ Off to Great Start
With Dolly Parton’s new 10-week bedtime-story series Goodnight with Dolly under way, the honorary UT alumna is doing her part to comfort kids all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to Associate Professor of Journalism and Electronic Media Nick Geidner, who produced and directed the documentary film The Library That Dolly Built.
“My one-and-a-half-year-old, Sam, who makes some cameos in the film, loved the first episode, especially at the end when Dolly sang ‘I Believe in You,’” Geidner said. “He loved the woo-woo-woos in the song, but I also think he loved it because it is … Read more “Geidner: ‘Goodnight with Dolly’ Off to Great Start”
Dolly Parton to Read Bedtime Stories, UT Film Premiere Rescheduled
As the COVID-19 lockdown has millions staying at home, country music legend Dolly Parton will help kids get ready to sleep by reading them a children’s book online at bedtime. The series, Goodnight with Dolly, will air once a week beginning April 2.
The project is a response to the delayed premiere of The Library That Dolly Built, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, student-driven documentary about Parton’s Imagination Library. The film was to be screened in New York City and in theaters across the nation on April 2. The premiere has been moved to the week of September … Read more “Dolly Parton to Read Bedtime Stories, UT Film Premiere Rescheduled”
Dolly Parton Film by Land Grant Films to Debut Nationally April 2
The Library That Dolly Built, a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, student-driven film and documentary about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, will premiere April 2 in New York City and be screened in theaters across the nation.
Associate Professor of Journalism and Electronic Media Nick Geidner is the director and producer of the film, which was crewed by 15 student members of Land Grant Films, an Emmy-nominated documentary production program housed in UT’s School of Journalism and Electronic Media. JEM video production specialist Clinton Elmore served as the film’s editor.
Parton will be in attendance at the premiere event in New … Read more “Dolly Parton Film by Land Grant Films to Debut Nationally April 2”
Alumni Garners Regional Emmy Nomination for UT Swimming Documentary
Isaac Fowler (JEM ‘18), Tim Morris (JEM ‘18), and Patricia Forrester (Sport Management ‘17) have been nominated for a Midsouth Regional Emmy in the historical documentary category for Triple A, Bar None, a VFL Films production about legendary University of Tennessee swimming and diving coach Ray Bussard.
Bussard coached the Vols from 1968-88 and led the men’s program to its only NCAA team championship in 1978. Triple A, Bar None was created in part to celebrate the 40th anniversary reunion of the national championship team.
During the 1970s, the Vols developed a tradition … Read more “Alumni Garners Regional Emmy Nomination for UT Swimming Documentary”
Former NOVA Executive Producer Spends Week Mentoring Students at UT
Sixteen students in a documentary production class at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have spent much of the fall semester at Oak Ridge National Laboratory doing interviews and filming to make a 30-minute documentary about the Spallation Neutron Source.
Now the students—14 undergraduates and two graduate students—received an extraordinary opportunity: working alongside longtime NOVA executive producer and award-winning science journalist Paula Apsell, who arrived at UT October 28 for a weeklong distinguished lecturer residency.
As part of her visit, Apsell delivered a free public lecture, “The Art of Science Communication,” on October 29 in the Patrick Auditorium, 321 Communications Building. … Read more “Former NOVA Executive Producer Spends Week Mentoring Students at UT”
Author, Actress Danica McKellar to Narrate Imagination Library Documentary
Author and actress Danica McKellar will narrate The Library That Dolly Built, the first feature-length documentary about Dolly Parton’s book gifting program, The Imagination Library, produced by Land Grant Films in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s School of Journalism and Electronic Media.
Land Grant Films provides UT students experience in documentary storytelling while providing local nonprofit organizations with videos that can be used to raise awareness and funds. Fifteen UT students worked on the film.
“We are honored to have Ms. McKellar work with us on this important project,” said Nick Geidner, who is a JEM associate professor, the … Read more “Author, Actress Danica McKellar to Narrate Imagination Library Documentary”
Land Grant Films, Students Receive Emmy Nomination
Welcome Home Brother, a film created by two recent UT graduates as part of Land Grant Films’ Defender of Dreams documentary series, received a nomination in the topical documentary category of the Midsouth Regional Emmys.
“The news of our recent Emmy nomination is very exciting. I am so thankful for those who appeared in our film and everyone at Land Grant who helped us along the way,” said Tim Morris, who along with Isaac Fowler directed Welcome Home Brother. “When we made this documentary, we never expected it to go as far as it has gone. We … Read more “Land Grant Films, Students Receive Emmy Nomination”
Land Grant Films Receives New Grants/Has Documentary Selected for Film Festival
New Grants
Land Grant Films received a $10,000 award from the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation and a $7,920 grant from Humanities Tennessee to support its production of 100 Million Stories, a documentary about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
7 Days in America from Medal of Honor Project on Vimeo.
Immigration Film Festival
7 Days in America, a documentary produced by UT’s Land Grant Films, has been selected for screening at the Immigration Film Festival in Washington, DC.
The half-hour documentary follows Katie Willocks, a case worker from Bridge Refugee Services, as she helps a family of Burundian … Read more “Land Grant Films Receives New Grants/Has Documentary Selected for Film Festival”
Students’ Documentary to Be Featured in Nashville Film Festival
The Nashville Film Festival has announced Welcome Home Brother, directed by School of Journalism and Electronic Media seniors Isaac Fowler and Tim Morris, as an official selection in its short documentary category.
The festival is an Academy Award–qualifying competition and received more than 6,000 entries for 2018.
Fowler and Morris’s eight-minute film documents the experiences of three Vietnam veterans as they find their voice in East Tennessee through the help of the Bill Robinson Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Association.
Welcome Home Brother is part of the Land Grant Films’ Defender of the Dream documentary. The project was produced in … Read more “Students’ Documentary to Be Featured in Nashville Film Festival”