'Where does the hate come from?' A documentary by Leonie Palm

Can you describe the project that you worked on for your Capstone? 

Leonie: ‘The Capstone project allowed us to pursue our passion projects related to media. Some students collaborated with companies to create a product, while others opted for a more traditional thesis, or even ventured into starting their own company. As someone passionate about production and film, I decided to create a documentary. It became a larger project than required, but I'm really happy with the end result.’ 

‘I collaborated with a professional freelance filmmaker, Martin Steimann. Our documentary centred around students from Germany and Israel (among those who identify as Palestinians). We explored personal stories about the origins of hate, during their creation of a theatre play. Many German students had migration backgrounds, giving them a unique perspective on racism and prejudice, which could serve as a bridge between Arabs and Jews. We also sought to understand whether media or parental influences played a role in fostering hate.’ 

What was your role in developing this documentary? 

Leonie: ‘I was thrown into the deep right from the start. The initial phase took place in Hamburg, where we visited the students. Throughout the process, I went with the flow, adapting to the circumstances. I filmed with the second camera and took on the responsibility of conducting interviews. I was the main editor, while the director, Martin, provided valuable feedback. He assisted with polishing and colour grading, while I focused on the overall flow. It was a challenging task, considering we had around 80 hours of footage. Finding the core narrative thread and breaking it down into smaller portions proved to be the most significant challenge.’ 

‘This film titled “Where does the hate come from?”, was part one of the documentary, and the project for my Capstone. But it didn't stop there. Three months after filming in Germany, we travelled to Israel. We visited cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and even the border of the Gaza strip, focusing on capturing visually engaging footage and story from as many different people as possible. This second part of the documentary is called “We shall not hate”.’ 

Could you tell us more about your Capstone project, aside from the documentary? 

Leonie: ‘In addition to the documentary itself, the Capstone project included the creation of a portfolio. This portfolio addresses five intended learning outcomes (ILOs), such as self-reflection, management, and communication. It consists of logbooks, problem-solution lists, planning schedules, and feedback moments with everyone involved. I also conducted small research on how to distribute the documentary effectively.’ 

'I am proud to share the news that I have received a perfect score of 10 for my Capstone project.' 

What are your future plans following the completion of this project? 

Leonie: ‘Currently, I'm exploring opportunities to showcase our documentary at film festivals, with a particular focus on festivals centred around Arabic culture in Germany. I hope the film can also be screened in schools, opening up discussions on racism and conflicts.’  

'Ultimately, I would like to work on film sets, both in documentary and feature films. I plan to seek employment in a production company, to network with industry professionals. It would be great to be able to continue telling meaningful stories.’ 

If you would like to know more about Leonie, visit her LinkedIn profile or her personal website!