Dr. W.D. Blackmon, English department head, co-authored Inside Syria — A Phyisician’s Memoir with the book’s subject, Dr. Tarif Bakdash. This collaboration became the foundation for a multimedia, interdisciplinary project that now includes faculty, students and alumni from the department of media, journalism and film.
Filming our #Syrian #Doctor #docfilm with #SAMS as part the April #medical mission in Jordan. Follow our progress: https://t.co/2JsgFK8fNb pic.twitter.com/AsJa02Bg1i
— Carbon Trace Prod. (@CarbonTraceProd) April 9, 2017
Blackmon is currently in Jordan with Dr. Andrew Cline, associate professor in media, journalism and film, and a group of alumni — members of the documentary production team Carbon Trace Productions. The team is working in conjunction with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), filming the work of Dr. Bakdash and others in Jordan’s refugee camps.
The team is gathering footage for a documentary with the working title Syrian Doctor. They’re also recording interviews with SAMS doctors, and Andrew Twibell, assistant professor in media, journalism and film, will direct a group of students in editing the interviews.
Dr. Blackmon's photo of members of @CarbonTraceProd team in Jordan, where they are filming a doc for #SAMS. The team is doing great work. pic.twitter.com/Z1VQGwOnbf
— MSU English Dept (@MSUEnglishDept) April 10, 2017
Crew reassures friends back home
Given current events, many people have expressed concern about the Syrian Doctor team’s security. Cline assured us that he and the rest of the team feel safe. “We have no extra security concerns because Jordan is a stable U.S. ally,” he said, “and we are more than 200 miles from where the strike occurred.”
Follow their experience
Keep up with the Syrian Doctor team while they’re in Jordan by following them on social media: