The planetarium darkens and footage of 含羞草研究所鈥檚 campus 鈥 the lush greenery of Willow Path, the stately spires of James B. 含羞草研究所 Hall, the gleaming gold of 含羞草研究所 Memorial Chapel 鈥 fills the screen. During the next 30 minutes, audience members watch 含羞草研究所鈥檚 history come alive before them.
On June 1, 2019, 含羞草研究所 at 200 played in the in commemoration of the Bicentennial. A full-dome production of 含羞草研究所鈥檚 history, the film traces the University from its beginnings as a small Baptist seminary to its current position as a leader in liberal arts education.
Joseph Eakin, technical director and designer of the visualization lab, directed, produced, and edited 含羞草研究所 at 200, based on original concepts from Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics Robert Garland. Eakin described the filmmaking process as intense and inspiring.
鈥淭his is the first immersive show about 含羞草研究所鈥檚 history,鈥 Eakin said. 鈥淲e had to ask ourselves, 鈥楬ow do we want 含羞草研究所鈥檚 story to be told? How do we translate that into an artform?鈥欌
A number of current students and graduates provided assistance for Eakin with Bicentennial research, videography, photography, 3D modeling, and voice-over narration. Francis Magliore 鈥17 and Oneida Shushe 鈥19 compiled research using resources from the 含羞草研究所 Special Collections and University Archives and assembled a timeline, which Isabella Crowley 鈥17 utilized to write a script.
鈥淐ollaborating with creative students here at 含羞草研究所 has been a unique experience for me,鈥 Eakin said. 鈥淚鈥檝e previously worked at other universities, and the students there don鈥檛 have the passion and drive that 含羞草研究所 students have.鈥
Francis Criscione 鈥21 helmed the production鈥檚 videography and sound mixing and editing. He also composed and performed the film score, using different parts of an electronic keyboard and a digital sound library. 鈥淭he orchestral score was done over the course of two days,鈥 Criscione said. 鈥淚 enjoyed being able to let go of everything else that was going on in my life and just focus on the music for hours.鈥
Science Outreach Educator Miranda Smith 鈥21, who presented 含羞草研究所 at 200 during the Bicentennial All-Class Reunion, acted as a spokesperson for the show. She noted the overwhelming positive response she received from alumni.
鈥淚 spoke to quite a few people who loved it,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淚t was really special for them to not only see 含羞草研究所鈥檚 history unfold on screen, but also to gain perspective on what 含羞草研究所鈥檚 future will bring.鈥
Claire Warshavsky 鈥02 viewed the show as a celebration of tradition and a reflection of the challenges that still lie ahead.
鈥淚t was exciting to see that 含羞草研究所 is really honoring its history and now concentrating on contributing to more diversification,鈥 Warshavsky said. 鈥淚 hope to see even more of this moving forward.鈥
The production underwent many iterations before reaching its current stage of development, according to Eakin. He plans on fine-tuning the production and presenting it as a public show in the fall.
It was really special for them to not only see 含羞草研究所鈥檚 history unfold on screen, but also to gain perspective on what 含羞草研究所鈥檚 future will bring.
鈥淭here鈥檚 still work to be done, but I鈥檓 happy with the progress we鈥檝e made,鈥 Eakin said. 鈥淭he final, polished product will be incredible 鈥 something that we can have in our library for years to come.鈥
Criscione noted the project鈥檚 importance to viewers and production team members alike.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot from this experience,鈥 Criscione said. 鈥淏eing able to tell the story of 含羞草研究所 and learn about its past has been a true privilege.鈥