CITL Films

The CITL Films project was started in spring 2012. The original idea was to produce short, comic films that served to (1 promote various programs, resources and initiatives, and (2 feature familiar faces from around campus doing and saying things that may surprise you.

In the time since, the project has expanded to produce faculty profiles that spotlight some of the interesting and innovative things our teachers are doing as well as short dramatic works that serve as a vehicle for students and interns to gain experience as actors in front of the camera and also as technicians and artists behind it. CITL Films has also partnered with McConnell Library and other community partners to produce numerous documentary pieces on music and area war veterans. Below are descriptions of our productions to date, all of which are featured on this site as well as on our Vimeo channel.

Bold

CITL Films documented the Spring 2019 boat building project at Springhouse Community School in Floyd, VA, resulting in the short educational documentary 'Bold.' Several Radford University students participated in the production of the film that debuted at the 2019 Teaching and Learning Conference at Elon University. View the film on our Vimeo channel.

Hebocon

Hebocon is a DIY robotics competition that started in Japan in 2014, and has since become a worldwide phenomenon in STEAM education and the Maker community. Radford University's CITL partnered with area K12 schools as well as faculty and students across campus to pioneer the first Hebocon in Radford in fall 2015. The event has grown exponentially since. CITL personnel, including interns and student volunteers, produce a short education film each year that features a different aspect of the event. Visit our Hebocon page for more information and the latest film, as well as our Vimeo channel to see 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Courageous Conversations - Stronger

CITL Associate Director John Hildreth collaborated with Springhouse Community School in Floyd, VA, during spring 2018 on a course entitled Courageous Conversations. Funded via a grant by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the course used music as a primary expressive and communicative means in discussions about race, color and privilege. Course activities included the students' participation in writing lyrics for an original song entitled 'Stronger.' John worked with renown chamber soul artist Shana Tucker in mediating discussion and music activities during class, and also collaborated to write the music for the song. Teaching Tolerance magazine published a feature article on the class in fall 2018. CITL Films collaborated with Production 1200 to produce this music video of the class performing the song with Shana and a professional rhythm section at the Floyd Country Store in May 2018.

RU Makers: Building a Life-Size Battleship Game

In fall 2017, CITL Director Charley Cosmato taught the Maker section of UNIV 100. For a collaborative project in the Peery Hall Makerspace, the students in the course designed a prototype for a life-size Battleship game. CITL interns Eilish Bailey and Trae Price produced this educational short about the class project. View on our Vimeo channel.

Geoff Stelling - World Renown Banjo Maker

Filmed in April 2017 and released later that summer, the latest 'Banjo Masters' series installment features Geoff Stelling, the world-renown banjo maker from Afton, VA. Stelling's instruments are considered some of the finest in the world, and many respected artists in the business perform with Stelling banjos. In the interview, he talks about his roots, miltary service, and how he created banjo designs inspired by airplane engines. In two parts, view Part one or Part two.

In the Machine

A short film inspired by the programs Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone, 'In The Machine' is an allegory of sorts about life in the constantly connected age of social media technology. Filmed by CITL interns in fall 2017 and completed spring 2018. View on our Vimeo channel.

Rex McGee: Banjo Playing Enigma

In this installment of the educational documentary 'Banjo Masters' series. Rex McGee lives on a farm in Sauratown Mountain, North Carolina, and is known the world over as a vanguard innovater of an instrument of humble origins. His performing acclaim is perhaps only surpassed by his creative composing and sought-after teaching skills. Visit McConnell Library's Vimeo site to check out the film.

John Bullard, Classical Banjo

Another installment in the music documentary series of master banjo players! John Bullard lives in Richmond, VA, and has it made his career interpreting classical music on the banjo. Visit McConnell Library's Vimeo site to check it out.

Radford Veterans Living History

An ongoing collaboration between the CITL, McConnell Library and The Glencoe Museum that documents the experiences of area veterans who served in the Second World War and Vietnam War. Completed interviews are preserved by McConnell Library's Archives and Special Collections visit this link to view.

Student Evaluations: Good, Bad, Evil

In a piece that is one part humor and one part educator dilemma, RU Faculty read negative student evaluation comments and reflect on their meaning. View on our Vimeo channel.

Put That Class Online!

A cautionary tale, produced and featured in our Faculty Development Institute, about a group of faculty that attempt to get involved in online teaching without realizing what they are getting involved in.

Starring:

• Dr. Bill Kennan, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
• Chandish Nester, Theater Major
• Dr. Susan Van Patten, Director of Faculty Development, CITL
• Ryan Waide, Theater Major
• Wesley Young, Associate Professor, Department of Theater and Cinema

Pachelbel in Four Dimensions

An educational piece filmed in 2014, 'Pachelbel In Four Dimensions' involves a single performer simultaneously playing all of parts to German composer Johann Pachelbel's famous 'Canon In D.' This particular arrange is three violins and a viola. Further, each part is manifested as a different persona of the performer. This film short is a vehicle for showing how to do cloning effects and how to organize a project at both the production and post-production stages. In addition to the main feature, there is an accompanying 'Making Of' documentary which describes how the film was produced. Both can be viewed on our Vimeo channel

High-Impact Learning: Black Coffee

The CITL acted as consultant to Whim, RU's online student magazine, in the production of a pilot episode for a music performance series named 'Black Coffee' and modeled on the NPR Tiny Desk Concert series. This is a student-centered, student-produced show, and represents a high-impact learning opportunity for students to work on an actual production. In this case, the classroom takes the form of a film set, populated with student media leaders and many volunteers eager for meaningful learning experiences and creative opportunities. View a short behind-the-scenes on our Vimeo channel.

Blue Grass Music: Its Origin & Development as a Unique & Creative Art Form

A collaboration between the CITL and McConnell Library, this miniseries was produced in 2013-14 and released in 2015. The multi-part series is an oral history of blue grass music given by banjo great Butch Robins, who played alongside Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. The narrative is delivered in a storytelling fashion, and is interspersed with many musical examples and stories. Visit McConnell Library to read more and watch online, and read the Roanoke Times article about the series.

Sammy Shelor Talks Life, Music & Banjos

Another collaboration piece with McConnell Library -- NRV native and international award-winning bluegrass musician Sammy Shelor talks about his musical life and family history in southwest Virginia. Visit McConnell Library to read more and view.

The Man Who Loved Textbooks

A farce about a teacher who proliferately authors his own textbooks -- much to his students chagrin -- as well as an awareness piece on the eText movement on campus. View the film on our Vimeo site.

Starring:

• Dr. Greg Sherman, School of Teacher Education and Leadership
• Myra Cosmato - special guest star
• Kate Patterson - Psychology Major
• John Tyreman - Business Major