Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

MJF In Touch

Media, Journalism & Film Department Blog

Andrew Cline
Dr. Andrew Cline

MJF professor’s film on urban evolution wins festival award

November 4, 2016 by Trysta Herzog

Dr. Andy Cline set out to write a book about the changing landscape of urban communities — particularly the mass migration of suburban residents to more central neighborhoods within walking distance of commerce. That idea evolved into a full-length documentary film, “Downtown,” that recently won best film in the Urban Sociology category at the 2016 New Urbanism Film Festival.

Students become the teachers

Cline, an associate professor in media, journalism and film, recruited several former and current students to help him complete the film project. The film showed locally at a local independent cinema, The Moxie.

A photojournalist in a former life, Cline said he admittedly knew little about filmmaking before beginning “Downtown.” He has relied on the expertise of his crew to teach him the ropes.

What he does know is a good story when he sees it.

Urban renewal at crux of trend

The New Urbanism movement is not terribly new. For the last three decades, people have been fighting the sprawl of suburbia and advocating for sustainable living. Many larger cities have reverted back to its roots of mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods.

Springfield is finally catching up.

CAndy Clineline said baby boomers — his generation — and millennials are flocking to downtown areas to escape the confinement that comes with maintaining landscaping and driving miles into town for work and entertainment.

“It doesn’t take many from America’s two largest generations doing a thing to make a trend,” he said. “And in a place like Springfield, the movement of 250 to 500 people can cause a Heers, a Sterling, a McDaniel to get built. They can’t build stuff fast enough.”

Springfield exemplifies national struggle

“Downtown” details the difficulties and opportunities metropolitan areas face as more residents seek out sustainable, human-scale communities. The scope of the documentary’s reporting is national, Cline said, but the stories are based in Springfield, a microcosm of the trend at large.

“Springfield, while it’s not Portland, Oregon, it’s also not the armpit of America. It’s somewhere in the middle. We are struggling with the same things that many urban areas are struggling with, and similar things are happening here in terms of this trend.”

One interesting topic explored in “Downtown” is ways trust is established in urban areas where people of all socio-economic backgrounds converge. How do you create an environment where all feel comfortable to work and play?

Turning this experience into an MSU course

Cline was inspired during his work on “Downtown” to incorporate documentary filmmaking into his role as an educator. He’s developing two new film projects to work on with students as part of classes offered at Missouri State.

Last summer, he and geography professor Dr. Paul Rollinson took a group of students on a study away trip to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Cline’s students are creating a short film about their travels.

He has also begun work on a full-length documentary about the impending student debt crisis and the potential it has to undermine the economic well being of an entire generation.

Following along with the progress of Cline’s projects on his website, Carbon Trace Productions.

Filed Under: Award Recognition, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Film Production, Faculty & Staff Accomplishments, Journalism, Media Production, News Tagged With: andy cline, award, carbon trace productions, COAL, documentary film, downtown, faculty, film screening, new urbanism, paul rollinson, student debt crisis, trans siberian railway, urban renewal

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • Alumni Accomplishments
  • Announcement
  • Award Recognition
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Digital Film Production
  • Education Issues
  • Electronic Arts
  • Event
  • Faculty & Staff Accomplishments
  • Featured Alumni
  • Film Festival
  • Film Series
  • Internships
  • Journalism
  • Master Class
  • Media Production
  • News
  • Professional Development
  • Public
  • Public Affairs
  • screenwriting
  • Spotlights
  • Student Showcase
  • Study Away Blog

Tags

A Little Help alumni Andrea's blog andrew cline andy cline award Awards Broadcast Education Association care to learn COAL counting to 1000 dead on time deb larson digital film documentary downtown electronic arts Epilogue film film festival film screening Film Series follow your passion fundraiser jack dimond Journalism leonard horton mara Master Filmmaker Series Media media journalism & film Media Production Missouri State University MJF Oxford Brookes University Public Affairs rich amberg Scotland screenwriting short film show me chefs student newspaper Study Away The Standard web series

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: November 14, 2016
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information