Doc+: A Summer of Documentary Immersion at Duke

The newest +Program isn’t about fetching coffee for directors. Students will take an active role in four unique documentary projects.

“This kind of program didn’t exist when I was a student,” says Lauren Henschel, instructor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies, documentary artist and the director of Doc+. “I wasn’t able to translate my academic training into hands-on experience. I spent my summer in unpaid internships picking up coffee, never touching a camera or contributing to major projects at the companies I worked for.”

Henschel is kicking off orientation for Doc+, the newest summer “plus” program at Duke, designed to give students hands-on experience working on real-world documentary projects. Over the past five months, she’s built this program with one goal in mind — creating the kind of opportunity she wished she had as a student.

Seated in a big square in the auditorium at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies (CDS), 14 students listen intently as Henschel outlines what lies ahead. They won’t just observe, they’ll be active contributors to four unique documentary projects, collaborating with industry professionals. And they’ll glean insight from Henschel herself, whose creative practice spans digital video editing, hand-processed 16mm film and installation work.

What Makes Doc+ Unique?

“Doc+ gives you six weeks to fully immerse yourself in a documentary project,” Henschel tells the students. “We want you to really embrace the trust your team leads are placing in you. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to work that could have real visibility and long-term impact. You’ll be collaborating with some of the most dynamic emerging documentary artists and mission-driven organizations working today.”

Housed at CDS, Doc+ brings together students, artists and scholars, harnessing nonfiction storytelling to explore urgent societal issues. This summer, students will work on feature films, oral histories and multimedia stories tackling themes like affordable housing, worker rights and historical narratives.

Part of Duke’s Expanding +Programs

Doc+ joins Duke’s growing portfolio of summer +Programs that offer immersive learning experiences across disciplines from art to data science and history to math. Running for six to ten weeks, these programs emphasize collaborative, project-based education, allowing students to gain practical skills while engaging in applied research.

Students of all backgrounds and experience levels work in small teams overseen by Duke and community experts and build meaningful relationships and skills, preparing them for future careers and academic pursuits.

Working alongside other programs and teams in a communal environment, students gather frequently for workshops, meals, problem-solving and social activities. Doc+ will intertwine with Arts+ and History+ at CDS and the other +Programs will meet up in Gross Hall. 

Meet Four Doc+ Students and Their Projects 

As students introduce themselves, it’s clear they’re coming from varied majors and disciplines, bringing unique perspectives and talents to the projects they’re assigned to.

Courtney Yribarren, a senior and Program II major focusing on sustainable human development, will contribute to “Artificial Horizon,” a feature-length documentary film exploring social and natural histories of former plantation lands. “I’m exploring documentary as a career,” she says. 

Shelby Parker, a junior studying computer science and visual media studies, will work on “Student Action with Farmworkers,” an oral history project tracing migrant worker and student activism in the Carolinas through a local nonprofit. 

Gerald Reiling, a sophomore interested in majoring in urban planning, will be on the team for “Just Space?,” a multimedia documentary about affordable housing in Durham. “I’m excited to combine my passion for city planning with documentary studies,” says Reiling. 

Bhavika Verma, a sophomore majoring in English and cinematic arts, will support “God Sent Us Allen,” a hybrid docufilm that weaves real interviews and archival footage with fictionalized scenes to tell the story of a father diagnosed with HIV in 1985. “I think what I’m most excited for is combining my love for journalism and nonfiction writing with more narrative aspects of ‘God Sent Us Allen,’” Verma says.

Community Engagement and Impact

One of the Doc+ projects this summer, “Just Space?,” exemplifies how many +Programs partner with, and make an impact in, the local community. Led by lawyer, community organizer and filmmaker Tinu Diver, students will collaborate with the local nonprofit DHIC at the Hardee Street Apartments to explore how thoughtful design and community-driven approaches address the urgent issue of housing affordability in Durham.

Participants will learn about spatial justice, community memory and gentrification, and will then produce multimedia pieces to help tell the stories of stakeholders and residents, emphasizing how affordable housing contributes to stability and inclusivity. They’ll gain skills in conducting interviews, researching the historical and socioeconomic contexts related to housing, capturing multimedia content and crafting narratives that connect documentary arts with social issues.

“DHIC is the largest nonprofit affordable housing developer in the Triangle area,” says Diver when it’s her turn to introduce herself. “Some of its newer properties are in Durham, so the team will be spending a lot of time in those communities. I’m excited about seeing you all build community with each other, excited to see how y’all grow in the next six weeks and excited to introduce the team to aspects and parts of Durham that maybe you haven’t seen before.” 

Diver says she’s also excited be back at CDS, where she earned a Certificate in Documentary Arts through the previous continuing studies program. “As an alumna of CDS, I’m excited to play a small part in guiding the next generation of documentarians,” she says. “This project will push students to grow as storytellers, critical thinkers and engaged citizens. While their work may indeed influence policy and perceptions around affordable housing, the most profound and lasting impact will be on the students themselves.”

Workshops, Community and Public Events

Andie Turner, senior program coordinator for CDS, collaborated with Henschel to develop a dynamic program filled with educational and team-building activities. Over the next six weeks, students will participate in skills-building outings and workshops with Arts+ teams, including a visit to Perkins special collections, a zine workshop, a screen-printing workshop and a darkroom workshop. They will also be learning camera techniques and participate in audio workshops led by MFA EDA students, Victoria Guillem and Emma Volz, who are supporting Doc+ this summer.

“I can't wait to see how you will grow this summer and what you'll create,” Henschel tells the students as orientation wraps up. “We deeply appreciate Duke’s support in creating rare and meaningful opportunities like this for students.”

The program will culminate in a final public showcase at CDS on June 27, from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m., where students will present their work to peers, faculty and community members. 

Explore Other Duke +Programs

Since launching with Data+ in 2015, the +Programs have expanded each year and engaged students from every major. Approximately 250 students participate annually. 

• Applied Ethics+, led by Duke Science & Society
• Arts+, led by Duke Arts
• Climate+, led by the Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke in partnership with the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
• Code+, led by the Office of Information Technology
• CS+, led by the Department of Computer Science
• Data+, led by the Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke
• History+, led by the Department of History
• Math+, supported by the Department of Mathematics, Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke and the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs