Over 800 communication students took home tips and inspiration on how to make relevant and meaningful documentaries in the first two legs of the ABS-CBN Documentary Caravan held on Sept. 20 and 27 at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Holy Angel University.
A project of the country’s leading media and entertainment company, Knowledge Channel, and the Philippine Association of Communication Educators Foundation, Inc. (PACE), the ABS-CBN Docu Caravan featured a screening of the network’s documentaries and a talk and open forum with award-winning ABS-CBN News reporter and Red Alert anchor Jeff Canoy, along with producers from ABS-CBN Docucentral.
The event aims to empower students to use their talents and skills in telling informative and relevant stories through documentaries.
Canoy, whose most recent documentary Di Ka Pasisiil on the Marawi siege with fellow reporter Chiara Zambrano praised by peers and viewers, told the students to focus on the people’s stories.
“They should prevent just showing ‘talking heads.’ People don’t want to listen to people talking about stuff. They want to watch something. So, the tip is in all your videos, it’s either you have motion or emotion,” he said.
The Docu Caravan served as a good preparation for the students, who were invited to join ABS-CBN’s “Class Project: Intercollegiate Mini-Documentary Competition,” also in partnership with Knowledge Channel and PACE.
Eligible students from PACE members of PACE can join for a chance to win cash prizes and to have their work shown on television on Knowledge Channel, which is available on SKYcable and ABS-CBN TVplus.
Deadline for submission of entries is on Nov. 20, while winners will be awarded in next year’s “Pinoy Media Congress Year 12.”
“We want to listen how you tell your stories and we want to share how you see things with fresh eyes,” said Danie Sedilla-Cruz, Knowledge Channel head to participants of the ABS-CBN Docu Caravan.
Canoy reminded students to always aim for the heart of people when telling stories. “The heart never forgets,” said the “Most Trusted TV Field Reporter” in the recent Eastern Visayas State University 3rd Students’ Choice Mass Media Awards.
Robi Domingo, who is part of Knowledge Channel’s Mathdali, hosted the program in UST and HAU where the participants that included students from other schools such as Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies in Bataan, Bulacan State University, Our Lady of Fatima University in Pampanga, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Saint Mary’s Angels College of Pampanga, and Tarlac State University surprised him with a birthday gesture,.
Next on the schedule of the ABS-CBN Documentary Caravan is San Sebastian College.