Leanne Kenworthy: Healing From Horses - ID# 55

Glenbrook South
Documentary

Entry Description

The Ray Graham Association provides community living for people with disabilities. This documentary focuses on Leanne Kenworthy, a resident of the Ray Graham housing community. Leanne shares how her connection to the horses in the Ray Graham horsemanship program helps her cope with past trauma. Cheryl Colon, Leanne’s group mentor, also shines a light on Leanne’s hardships and strength that have helped her persevere through her life.

Copyright Info

Recent Teacher Comments

  • 4/5 10:28 pm - KEEPERS: Thank you for sharing this story. As a father of two disabled children, it gives me hope knowing that there are places like this that care for people once they enter adulthood and give them meaningful productive lives...which is all anyone wants or hopes for. The footage is beautifully shot. Wonderful interview technique in terms of camera placement, location and composition. Well done. Broll footage corresponds nicely with what is being discussed and I also like the occasional beauty shot (the rose, etc.) for additional emotive power and beauty. Audio is very well done for the interviews. Music is emotive. IMPROVEMENTS: Question for the producers: what kind of story is this? Is it uplifting and hopeful? Or is it sad and depressing? I'm not trying to patronize you as producers here. I ask because even though I think you were going for the former, it feels too much like the latter. It all comes down to music. I think the songs are too depressing and moody for this piece. They're too much of the same flavor for 5 minutes. As I look at this story, I see 3 emotional beats. One at the beginning that describes this wonderful place that gives Leanne fulfillment and emotional support, one in the middle when Leanne talks about loss and one at the end when talking about perseverance. So let me hear those things in the music. Hope, sadness, perseverance. If you agree with my thoughts on the story beats, then you will probably agree that the music doesn't hit those beats. It's too sad all the time. Whether you agree or not, think hard on this and really reflecton the music. The documentary is so beautiful and it deserves music that matches the nuance of what you've created visually. One more question for you overall. Does Leanne and Cheryl want the audience to feel bad for Leanne? Or do they want the audience to feel hopeful and glad of their situation? Again, I think it's probably the latter. One last thing about your broll. I noticed you didn't carry any nat sound. You had some droning insects present for the interviews but no nat sound otherwise. This was most likely a deliberate choice, but I think it would have been cool to sprinkle that in here and there...especially when Leanne is with the horses. I wanted to hear that relationship as much as I got to see it. Overall, this is a really good documentary. You should be proud. Work on finding music that strikes the right emotional goal and you'll get even better. Well done.
Judge 1

Positives: Good story - I liked learning about the Ray Graham community. Good use of music - I liked the track(s) selected. They captured the right tone for this piece.

Improvements: Our job as Producer/Directors is to try to make the viewer of our work, feel something. We need to always ask ourselves - why should any viewer care about this story and the people telling it? The most impactful part of this story isn't told until 2:17 into this piece. A viewer will be more vested from the very beginning if the story was told about Leanne's parents being sick and the refuge she found in this housing community. Let the story unfold from there, the relationships with the people who live and work at Ray Graham and the peace and happiness Leanne finds with working with the horses. I would have liked to have seen pictures of Leanne's brother and parents to help give additional faces to this story.

Judge 2

Positives: Thank you, for focusing the story on someone who is benefiting from this amazing residential service. This is a compassionate story. Well done.

Improvements: At times, it seems the music overwhelms the speakers. The shots are a bit dark at times.

Judge 3

Positives:

Improvements:

Judge 4

Positives:

Improvements: