A Collaboration

This past semester, the Educational Media Center’s Video Production Unit had the opportunity to collaborate on one of the most uniquely creative projects that we’ve been a part of, My Monumental Summer, the mural exhibition curated by Leeward Community College’s Ho‘ikeākea Gallery curator, Kosta Kulundzic.

The exhibit brought together five artists from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, each invited to paint a large-scale mural reflecting their own summer experiences. From the moment the project was introduced, we knew it had the potential to become not only a compelling visual showcase, but also an educational resource that would resonate deeply with Leeward students.

How the Collaboration Began

Our initial involvement began simply: offering guidance on setting up time-lapses for documenting each mural’s creation. But as conversations continued, the collaboration naturally expanded. It became clear that this exhibit wasn’t just about five murals on the gallery walls—it was about the stories, techniques, and artistic journeys behind them.

Together with Kosta, we began shaping the idea of a video series that would serve as a reflective and educational companion to the exhibition. The goal became twofold:

• Document the creative process from start to finish
• Capture the voices and experiences of the artists themselves for students seeking insight into real-world art practices

Inspiration and Approach

Before filming, our team looked to successful artist-focused programs for inspiration—particularly the Louisiana Channel, known for its in-depth, thoughtful portraits of artists and their philosophies. That format aligned with what we hoped to achieve: not promotional hype, but honest, grounded conversations paired with visuals of the artists at work.

We structured the project around two consistent elements:

• Ongoing b-roll coverage of each mural’s creation
• End-of-project interviews that reflected on each artist’s process, background, and growth

The b-roll required us to revisit the gallery multiple times throughout the two-month painting period. This allowed us to document the evolving energy of the exhibit—and the uniquely different ways each artist approached a blank wall.

Some worked methodically and precisely. Others painted with expressive spontaneity. Some spoke loudly through color; others expressed themselves through subtle linework. Filming these differences—and seeing their eventual points of overlap—became one of the unexpected pleasures of the project.

Growing Our Toolkit Along the Way

A project of this scale required us to expand our recording capabilities. Several team members invested in compact equipment—small-format cameras, a new gimbal for fluid stabilized shots, lightweight lighting setups, and flexible grip solutions. These additions allowed us to move quickly and quietly around the artists without interrupting their workflow.

The project also gave us the chance to take studio-level production into the field, experimenting with new configurations, lenses, and lighting strategies that aren’t typically needed in controlled indoor environments. Those field tests ultimately became an important part of the learning experience for our whole unit.

Interviews: Capturing the Artists Behind the Art

We scheduled the interviews close to the end of the exhibition. Although we originally aimed to release the videos by the gallery opening, scheduling constraints shifted the format toward a reflective series rather than a promotional one—and the project benefitted from that evolution.

Across two days, we filmed all five interviews. Kosta conducted the sessions with a natural ease that helped each artist open up about their personal histories, creative challenges, and artistic philosophies.

To support the process, we pre-generated question ideas by feeding background information into AI tools that helped surface themes, connections, and possible discussion angles. We then refined those questions with our own insight so the interviews remained organic and human-centered.

Editing: A Labor of Love

Editing the series required careful shaping. With hours of footage across months of recording, the challenge was identifying the clearest narrative threads while honoring each artist’s voice and perspective.

We used transcripts and AI-assisted organization tools to help group quotes, categorize themes, and map segments into a cohesive structure. This allowed us to meet the tight turnaround time required to release the videos before the exhibit closed in mid-November.

Despite the pressures, the edit was deeply rewarding. Each artist contributed genuine insights—about life, creativity, discipline, community, and personal identity—that we believe will be meaningful for Leeward students encountering these videos in future classes.

Looking Ahead

Working on My Monumental Summer reminded us of the power of art—and the importance of documenting the creative processes happening across our campus. Projects like this showcase the talent within our community and create valuable learning resources that connect students to real experiences.

We’re grateful to Ho‘ikeākea Gallery, to Kosta, and especially to the participating artists for allowing us into their space, their process, and their stories. We hope this is only the beginning of future collaborations that blend creativity, education, and community in ways that inspire both our students and ourselves.

Watch the full My Monumental Summer artist videos playlist to experience these stories firsthand.