Dothan High grad filming documentary on area arts

Thomas Mann grew up in Dothan, and now he wants to give back.

Mann, 19, a film school student at Columbia College Chicago, is working with three friends from the college to create a documentary about the arts in Dothan.

He hopes the documentary will spread awareness of the cultural opportunities in Dothan and put the city at the center of a national art explosion.

“Right now, there’s this whole national movement going on to get art education outside the schools and have really great extracurricular activities that are cheap or free for students,” Mann said. “If we can get this information out to the public and make it of the quality we think we can, Dothan’s message will exude from this documentary, and our little circle of influence will spread way beyond just Dothan. We can hopefully make dothan the place and put it at the forefront of this national movement so artists will come here and we’ll also be putting artists into the industry.”

Mann fell in love with filmmaking in 10th grade and hasn’t looked back. Now, he views it as not only a hobby, but a lifestyle.

“Art is a way of life. When you’re an artist, that’s all you are,” Mann said. “Not only am I doing what the Lord wants me to do, but it’s a lot of fun.”

Over the weekend, the crew filmed rehearsals from Patty Rutland Jazz, a local dance group. Mann has been working on the project since January and has been in Dothan for a month working on filming.

Through a contact in Montgomery, Mann hopes the documentary will be distributed throughout the state when it is finished early next year.

“We have a contact with Alabama Public Television,” he said. “If we can make this the quality we believe we can, they will take it and hopefully show it all over the state.”