The course begins on campus where you will learn filmmaking techniques for the first seven weeks, then travels to Mexico over Spring Break where you will co-create short documentary films about local changemakers, stay with host families, engage with local history and ecology through the Na’atik Language and Culture Institute, and visit a women’s embroidery collective, indigenous eco-cooperative, stingless bee sanctuary, underground swimming hole and then finish your trip with two nights in Tulum. You’ll spend the second seven weeks of the semester back on campus editing, incorporating changemaker feedback, and sending your films out to festivals. Counts as (IG) (NW) for the Baccalaureate Experience. Program fee: $2800 (plus airfare). Students can get one Honors credit for this course (HON 255) or a COM 212 credit. Apply here by Dec 1st.
Video summary of 2023 trip: https://vimeo.com/991332512
Reel from the NYC award ceremony: https://vimeo.com/839209311
Films students made on previous COM 212 trips: https://www.docboulton.com/abroad.html
Language and Location Information:
While Tulum is an internationally known tourist destination famous for its beaches, Maya ruins, and nightlife, Felipe Carrillo Puerto (usually referred to as “Carrillo”) is more off the beaten path—a small, friendly, quiet town with a slower pace. As a small city with a tight-knit community, Carrillo is also extremely safe to walk and bike around the town. Getting around on your own is easy and many families stroll around the central park in the evenings to play with toys and eat fresh “marquesitas” (rolled crepes filled with cheese or Nutella). The population is of Maya descent and it’s still common to see older women in their traditional huipil dress speaking Maya. Your homestays and excursions will be organized by the Na’atik (which is Maya for “we understand each other”), a nonprofit intercultural language school which offers scholarships to local Maya children.
Review of Felipe Carrillo Puerto from The Wandering Monkey
Review of Felipe Carrillo Puerto from a Na’atik student