EDU FF Educator Networking Series:
Youth crew on the set of the music video for Justin Courtney Pierre's “Nighthawk.”
Panel: The Music Video as an Educational and Workforce Development Tool
The EDU Film Festival Educator Networking Series puts film educators and filmmakers together to brainstorm, share curriculum, and create pathways for young people to enter the film production workforce.
This conversation with filmmakers and educators is to explore the ways that music and music videos can connect young people and serve as a gateway to a career in creative media and film production. It will provide both big-picture discussion and practical tips for educators wanting to tackle a music video with their students.
Panelists
Justin Staggs: Filmmaker, Visual Storyteller, and Educator
After creating several dozen music videos for clients such as the Foo Fighters, NOFX, and Against Me!, Justin went on to forge a career as a writer and director of films (Dual, Elixir, and Domina) and television (20/20: In An Instant - ABC). Justin has taught scriptwriting, editing, film production, and film post-production as an adjunct professor at several colleges in the Twin Cities. In June of 2023, Justin and a group of professional filmmakers mentored 10 youth filmmakers on a 5-day film shoot for Justin Courtney Pierre's (Motion City Soundtrack) new solo release, "Firehawk” which is playing as a part of DSFilmFest 2023 Music Video Showcase.
Jeremy 'JayGee' Gardner: Producer/Performer/Artist and Educator
Jeremy is the studio coordinator at FDLTCC Ojibwemowining Digital Arts & Storytelling Studio (ODAS). He also freelances as a videographer and music producer/performer/artist with DanSan Creatives. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana he is a well-featured artist in the Twin Ports and the greater midwest region. From the Playlist to Homegrown, JayGee has made his melodies a household ringtone. His documentary film Who Is Rainbow Trout? was just featured on PBS.
Deacon Warner: Documentary Filmmaker and Youth Media Instructor
Deacon started his career in education as a social studies teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools. He co-founded Polar Producers, an after-school filmmaking program at Minneapolis North High. Deacon was the Youth Programs Director at FilmNorth for twelve years, developing FilmNorth’s youth media program. In 2020 he joined the COPMAS roster of teaching artists. His feature film The Co-op Wars, premiered in May 2021. His most recent film, Literacy for Freedom: Empowering Black Boys in Minnesota is a 2023 DSFIlmFest Official Selection.
Keenan Jones: Innovation, Design, and Learning Specialist at Hopkins Public Schools
Keenan founded the nonprofit Literacy for Freedom, to help Black boys achieve proficient literacy levels, receive mentorship, and learn about Black history. He is the co-facilitator of Hopkins Public Schools' Educators of Color Mentorship program and works with Black Men Teach, a non-profit committed to equalizing education that aims to increase the presence of Black men in elementary classrooms. He is the Producer of Literacy for Freedom: Empowering Black Boys in Minnesota, a 2023 DSFIlmFest Official Selection.