During the Fall 2024 semester, I enrolled in two documentary film classes–one focused on critical studies, and one on production. The two courses paired well together, giving me a holistic understanding of documentary history, modes, and best practices from the perspective of a viewer, an academic, and a creator. For the final project in both courses, I independently directed, produced, shot, and edited two documentary short films using a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (with some shots on a Blackmagic Design Pocket 6K Pro Cinema Camera) and edited in Premiere Pro.
90.3: A KWUR Documentary
The project explores the impact and legacy of KWUR, WashU’s very own radio station. Giving students the chance to share their tastes and thoughts with the world via live broadcasting for nearly 50 years, the organization remains strong despite the fading relevance of radio to today’s popular culture. So much more than just a broadcast station, this doc dives into how KWUR sustains a community of music lovers at WashU and beyond.
A Night at Joe’s
Buried in the heart of St. Louis’s Skinker-Debaliviere neighborhood, Joe’s Cafe is the ultimate not-so hidden gem. The building is a house like any other (oh, except for the 10-foot-tall chicken statue in the front and the collection of giant robot sculptures in the back), but for the last 21 years, it’s been home to a magical not-for-profit listening room by musicians, for musicians. In this doc, we spend “A Night at Joe’s,” getting a privileged look into the venue’s history and operations, and of course, catching a show while we do it.
Elena Egge 
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