(June 2006 – completed Jan 2007) - Ali Alonso, Noah Conrath, Danielle Hauser, Charlie Hayes, Ben Kolton, Allana Noyes and Nathan Lower are part of a group of High School students in the Reno area that have been selected to participate in Project Moonshine’s first documentary (see MOONSHINERS page for more info).  These students will be given digital video cameras and will be responsible for filming the artists and events of Artwon and gathering public opinion.  In addition to fine-tuning their filmmaking skills, students will have the unique opportunity to interact with the community and become directly involved with the many interesting artistic events happening in the area.   The project will also serve as a public forum where Reno residents can express their feelings about Artown and the surrounding community.

The first phase will begin in June and will consist of a series of educational workshops that will take place twice a week at various locations in the Reno area.  Students will gain a historical and theoretical background in documentary filmmaking and learn the basic knowledge of how to operate a digital camera.  In addition, there will be a series of documentary film screenings at the Nevada Museum of Art, consisting of Nanook of the North, Triumph of the Will, Don’t Look Back, Gimme Shelter, Christo’s Valley Curtain, Running Fence, The Five Obstructions, The Fog of War, Mad Hot Ballroom, Capturing the Friedmans, Born into Brothels, Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides, and Scratch. This series, which will primarily focus on the relationship between art and society will take place during June and July.  Although most of these screenings are private, a handful will be open to the public.  For more info, please visit the Nevada Museum of Art at www.nevadaart.org

During the next phase, students will be given cameras and will pair up with a production coordinator to document the events of Artown.  We will focus primarily on local artists and public opinion.  Each production coordinator has experience in the arts as well as a background in educating young adults.  In addition to myself, these qualified individuals (see STAFF page for more info) will supervise the students and assist in their production work.  

Once production is finished, the students’ footage will be compiled and edited into a feature-length documentary film that will reveal the essence of Artown and identify the strengths and weaknesses of this years’ event(s). It will be a unique way to educate Reno’s youth in the art of documentary filmmaking through a direct involvement in the artists and events of Artown.

Note: It is important to keep in mind that this project is independent from Artown and will take an objective and an unbiased approach to the event. 

(July 2006 – completed Jan 2007) - As a more alternative documentary project, Ali Alonso, Noah Conrath, Danielle Hauser, Charlie Hayes, Ben Kolton, Allana Noyes and Nathan Lower (see MOONSHINERS page for more info) are part of a group of High School students in the Reno area that have been selected to participate in making a concert film on Sonic Youth’s July 4th concert in Reno. These students will be given digital video cameras and will be responsible for filming Sonic Youth and interviewing the crew.  In addition to fine-tuning their filmmaking skills, students will have the unique opportunity to interact with one of the most important independent rock bands from the last twenty-five years.

On the day of the show, students will be given cameras and will pair up with a production coordinator to document Sonic Youth from sound check up until the band leaves Reno. Each production coordinator has experience in the arts as well as a background in educating young adults.  In addition to myself, these qualified individuals (see STAFF page for more info) will supervise the students and assist in their production work.  

This experience will be an incredibly unique way to educate Reno’s youth in the art of documentary filmmaking and give our students intimate insights into what goes on behind the scenes of Sonic Youth.

Note: This project is running concurrently with our Artown documentary, but is entirely separate.  A final product of the documentary, which will consist of interviews, concert footage and band members interacting with the students will have to be approved by Sonic Youth before additional information can be released.

(Sept 2006 – completed Dec 2006) - During the month of August 2006, Project Moonshine's summer students will continue to develop their filmmaking skills by documenting the construction of "Holland, " which is a new educational workspace for music and other art forms.  This short documentary will focus on the process of creating this space and will also gather public opinion from Reno residents.  For more information please visit

www.hollandreno.blogspot or contact brittany.curtis@gmail.com