Filmmakers tap lives of 2 Dowling debaters
A husband and wife team from New York follows Grant Nelson and Aaron Kruse for a documentary of their road to nationals.

By MICHOLYN FAJEN
REGISTER CORRESPONDENT

April 10, 2007
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Two Dowling Catholic High School students filmed by a crew from New York City to chronicle their debate successes hope the documentary will shed new light on the life of a high school debater.

For three days last week, the New York-based husband and wife production team of Ougie Pak and Cara Caddoo followed, with cameras in hand, junior Grant Nelson, 17, and senior Aaron Kruse, 18, both of West Des Moines, for the documentary “Resolved.”

The project documents the life of debate-team students as they approach the 2007 National Forensic League Tournament to be held in Kansas in June. Caddoo, a former debater herself, teaches film and media studies at Hunter College, which is part of the City University of New York. The pair are following several debate teams throughout the country as they compete at the national tournament. Their film is slated to be released by the end of the year.

“We believed that the Dowling team would add a wonderful dimension to the project. The film will not only show the debaters as they compete, but will portray debaters in their everyday lives,” Caddoo said in an e-mail to Tim Sheaff, director of drama and debate at Dowling Catholic.

The production team followed Nelson and Kruse doing research for debate topics, hanging out with their girlfriends and playing paintball. What makes these students so attractive is their dedication, or what the two call an addiction, to debate. Both agreed that misconceptions exist about the people behind debate teams.

Sheaff said debaters are high-level learners.

“Debate teams are where think tanks go to find people. These students from around the country are examining public policy from a level that is extreme, they are aware of everything, newspapers cannot print anything these kids have not already heard or read about. They have their hands on first-source journalism, researching at a higher level,” said Sheaff, whose teams are traditionally ranked in the top 10 nationally.

In 2002, Dowling Catholic placed third in the nation in policy debate. In 2003, it was the top school in the nation in cumulative points with one of its team placing 11th. And just last year, Dowling Catholic brought home the national championship title for humorous interpretation.

The filmmakers’ goal is to shoot six teams preparing for nationals; they’ve filmed four so far. “The goal in general is to focus on their preparation for the tournament. But also to give an understanding of the future leaders of the world. These are up-and-comers who are motivated and ambitious,” Pak said.

It takes intense research and an abundance of time to earn debate titles. Kruse admits spending an overwhelming part of his week researching and preparing.

“I’m the guy who is never around on a Friday or Saturday night, my girlfriend is also in debate and we’ve agreed debate always comes first, it’s my intellectual refuge,” said Kruse, who prefers learning independently. “In debate, I’m in control of the content, I’m not restricted to the information a textbook contains, and there are no restrictions to what I can study.”

And that’s the angle Caddoo and Pak want to expose, that inner-thirst and compulsive drive uncommon in most teens. Kruse said school cannot satisfy that thirst, but Nelson said it’s an interest his friends don’t understand.

“To explain it to them is like a 20-minute conversation and I’m partly to blame for them not understanding … I don’t have the time to communicate it to them,” Nelson said.

Speaking, though, is at the root of the sport, and the two can hardly keep their mouths shut.

“Admittedly, I do try to control conversations with teachers. But I just can’t keep quiet when I hear a theory misquoted or inaccurate information being shared,” said Kruse, who knows some teachers find him argumentative. “Others appreciate it and engage the conversation.”

Nelson is just beginning to see the reward for the 10 hours each week he spends on research.

“A debate friend with Bs and As was accepted to Stanford. That’s pretty surprising, but it speaks to the kind of student a debater is,” said Nelson, who enjoys water-skiing and soccer and is interested in a legal career.

Caddoo and Pak’s independent film projects have been screened at some of the largest film festivals in the world. Pak directed and Caddoo edited the recently produced film, “The 100% Perfect Girl,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006.

Andy.