Dokumentary working

As a joint venture with the Department of Media and Communication Sciences at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, students produced the two projects described below in the framework of “Documentary Approaches”, a major course module taught by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Lampe. Each project investigates a local version of an American phenomenon.

Paul Rieth turned his lens on the Country Road Halle/S. e.V. Club during its preparations for the fourth “Line-Dance Contest of Central Germany”. Each week in the ‘Gaststätte Fortschritt’ (‘Progress Pub’), more than ten women rehearse the newly choreographed “Route 66” for this year’s performance. Competing line-dance teams think the Country Road Halle/S. e.V. Club is not American enough. The jury is meant to decide which team dances best – or perhaps also, which looks the most American?

Christian Schunke is meanwhile working on a documentary with the working title, montags halb 7. The Kestrels – the only group of cheerleaders in Halle – trains every Monday at 6.30pm in the ‘Frohe Zukunft’ (‘Happy Future’ bar). Christian Schunke accompanied them for four months, focusing equally on the ups and the downs of the group. The last performance of the season is the home game of the Halle Falken (‘Hawks’).