| The thesis project described in this abstract fulfills the requirements for a master of arts in liberal studies. The project consists of two required components: an original creation and a contextual analysis to inform the creation. The purpose of the original creation, a documentary short film, is twofold: to gain introductory experience in film production as well as to lay the groundwork for a more professional subsequent film. The documentary short introduces the world of medical research trials as well as the challenging relationship between medical academia and pharmaceutical companies. The filmmaker's point of view is that drug manufacturers can potentially influence scientific findings to increase profit.;The contextual analysis highlights the subgenre of advocacy documentaries, much like the original documentary short described in this abstract, and examines the film's strategies and impact potential. The analysis informs the project by identifying proven strategies for social change such as partnering with experts to hone the narrative as well as enhancing the filmmaker's understanding of public consciousness concerning the issue. The nuanced subject matter of the documentary short is not widely recognized or understood. With the understanding that social reform is unlikely, the goal of this initial project is to simply bring awareness and clarity to a little known topic in an engaging manner. The short will then be used as a means to solicit funding and engage nonprofit partners, as outlined in the contextual analysis, for a potential feature-length film and outreach efforts. |
