Public Invited to Free Student Documentary Screening

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Northwest Arkansas residents will have the opportunity to attend a free screening of three compelling documentary films, produced by students from the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas. Each of the three films will give audience members a look into unique stories happening right here in Northwest Arkansas. 

The Voice of the Razorbacks, a film by Jared Endsley and Cassie Schirm, will take viewers behind the scenes into the world of Chuck Barrett, radio broadcaster for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks men's football and basketball programs. The film features interviews with Barrett, Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema, commentators Keith Jackson and Rick Schaeffer, and Hoyt Purvis, professor emertius of journalism and international relations.

"This documentary gave me the opportunity to do a long form of journalism and dig deep to find those unique and unforgettable moments," Schirm said. "I will always remember the memories we made along the way."

With All My Heart, produced by Christi Welter and Mai Le, tells the story of high school figure skater Holly Grisso, who had to re-teach herself how to skate after her third heart surgery in her short lifetime. Welter and Le used interviews with Grisso, her family, her coach, and a cardiologist to illustrate Grisso's journey from surgery back to the ice.

"This story is really about overcoming adversity," Welter said. "Holly's positivity, resilience, and determination — despite her significant challenges — is inspiring, and that's why it was a story we needed to tell."

From Script to Strike, a film by Jordan Martin and Colin Bennett, explores the inner workings of a theater company and the day-to-day tasks that add up to the finished product. The audience will see everything it takes to put together a play.

"Designers and actors, under the instructions of a director, work long nights over a period of months to create a single work of ephemeral art," Martin said. 

The filmmakers created these documentaries on a nine-month deadline as part of a two-semester course, led by Dale Carpenter, winner of seven Emmy awards and professor of journalism at the University of Arkansas.

"Making a documentary film consumes you," Carpenter said. "The students in last year's documentary production class lived with these stories for two semesters, resulting in three unique films about interesting subjects in Northwest Arkansas. I am very proud of them."

The documentary film screening will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, in Gearhart Hall Auditorium on the University of Arkansas main campus in Fayetteville. Gearhart Hall, formerly known as Ozark Hall, is located next to Old Main. The event will be free and open to the public. 

Parking is available at metered spaces on Arkansas Avenue and in the Harmon Avenue Parking Garage. More information about campus parking and hourly rates is available at parking.uark.edu.

More information about the films can be found at the following websites:

• The Voice of the Razorbacks
• With All My Heart
• From Script to Strike