NIU’s past is coming to life.

Michael Phillips, an NIU graduate student, is working on a four-hour documentary about NIU and the DeKalb area titled “Castle on a Barb.”

“This film is an homage to what Northern gives to people,” Phillips said.

The film examines such aspects as economic and social development in the DeKalb area, as well as the rest of the country, over the course of history. In addition, it will also focus heavily on architectural changes and perceived social injustices at NIU.

“I don’t want to be associated with a morally weak film,” Phillips said, adding that he hopes to educate through examining biases.

Phillips has compiled a vast collection of historical photographs, blueprints and archetypes that display evidence of DeKalb’s progress over the years.

“It’s a lot bigger than a movie about NIU,” he said.

Phillips hopes to raise awareness and portray DeKalb in a positive light. About 30 students have participated in production on the project.

Phillips has worked on at least three previous documentaries and has studied at more than eight different colleges across the country, he said.

Previous documentaries of his have examined the resemblance between the American drug scene and trucking, as well as projects in both Iowa and Montana.

Although Phillips has only been in DeKalb 14 months, he holds the area in high regard.

“DeKalb is a very secure place. In my opinion, a very believable place,” Phillips said. “DeKalb is humble, but intelligent and unselfish.”

After studying across the country, Phillips feels NIU possesses something many other institutions do not.

“I found a lack of teaching in many others schools. NIU is a university that embraces teaching,” Phillips said.

Phillips hopes to avoid the pitfalls of other historical documentaries.

“Personally, I have felt other documentaries to be boring. I guarantee this will not be boring,” he said.

The film is tentatively scheduled to be completed in May.

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