307: Elevating Media Literacy Through Screen Language: Insights from Sherard Duvall

Discover how Sherard Duvall went from spinning beats to spinning tales that captivate and educate. In a surprising twist, this DJ-turned-filmmaker found that the language of screens held the key to bridging the gap between storytelling and education. Join him on a journey where the power of human connection meets the magic of screen language. Get ready to dive into the world of screen language, where the episode dives deep and enables listeners to:

• Discover the power of media literacy education and how it can enhance student learning.
• Understand the importance of screen language in our digital world and its impact on communication.
• Learn effective strategies for teaching screen language skills to students of all ages.
• Explore practical ways to integrate media literacy into the curriculum and make learning more engaging and relevant.
• Empower your students to become critical thinkers and responsible consumers of media through media literacy education.

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, you'll hear an insightful conversation between hosts Jeff Utecht and guest, Sherard Duvall.  Sherard shares his passion for media literacy education and its importance in today's screen-driven society. Duvall encourages teachers to incorporate media literacy into their classrooms, providing resources and suggestions on how to get started. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the need for individuals to understand and analyze screen language, as it is essential for navigating the digital world. With his expertise and practical advice, Duvall offers valuable insights for educators and parents alike, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in fostering media literacy skills and empowering students in the age of screens. 

Learn more about our amazing guest:

Born Sherard Duvall in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Columbia, S.C., at 8 years old, “Shekeese” discovered his love for filmmaking, turning a personification tale about a day’s journey of a stamp into his first script. But it was Hip-Hop that first captured his heart after his mom gave him a hand-me-down fisher price record player and a 45” of LL Cool J’s Go Cut Creator Go - lying down in the bathroom near the space heater with headphones on, he became a child of hip-hop culture.

At 15, he began his hip-hop career, first djing basement and backyard parties for high school friends and sometimes during lunch, then after purchasing his first pair of Technics 1200s at 16, Shekeese Tha Beast was born. Exploding on the scene in 1996, his senior year of high school, at 17 he began djing first on Columbia’s WWDM then Hot 103.9FM, going on to DJ on several radio stations along the east coast from New York to Florida. He released several mixtapes and made his first appearance on BET with Dj Shakim at SC State’s Homecoming and MTV the same year on the infamous “Spring Break” filmed in Myrtle Beach.

In 1998, in his freshman year at the University of South Carolina he met Dj Kingpin and the two started the NonStop Hip-Hop 2-hour radio show on WUSC 90.5FM. The radio show evolved into “NonStop HipHop Live!” where Shekeese and Kingpin would hold weekly events showcasing hip-hop culture. It was during this time that Shekeese hooked up with SC Hip-Hop juggernaut Fat Rat Da Czar, becoming his manager and DJ. Eventually Czar, along with his longtime business partner LJ Chisholm, became part of NonStop Hip-Hop Live, the crew that established the nonprofit Love Peace and Hip-Hop in 2013. Love Peace and Hip-Hop’s World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day became one of the largest festivals in South Carolina music history, bringing over 20,000 attendees annually to Columbia’s Main Street.

It was in 1998 as a African-American History minor and Media Arts Film major that Shekeese first started exploring film as a creative expression. After graduation in 2001, he took a job first as Production Assistant at Columbia’s Mad Monkey, then in 2004 as an editor at Genesis Studios in Cayce, South Carolina. At Genesis he began to grow his filmmaking career; becoming an accomplished editor, director, and producer for commercial and documentary projects for VH1, Discovery Channel, ESPN,the American Cancer Society and many more. In 2009, Shekeese transitioned to filmmaking full time, adding Media Literacy and Film Education to his skillset. In 2013, he became the Director of Media Education at the Nickelodeon Theatre in Columbia, SC. 

During this time Shekeese began to become more involved with community work, serving on boards for the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, The RAM Education Foundation and The City of Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals. He has served on advisory committees for SCETV, Historic Columbia, The North Columbia Business Association, and the Justice 360 Death Penalty Resource. Shekeese is also a 2022 SC Arts Commission Fellow, a 2023 Aspen Global Leadership Fellow, a 2021 Liberty Fellow, a 2016 Riley Fellow, a 2016 Leo Twiggs Arts Leadership Scholar, 2015 South Carolina 40 Under 40 and a 2014-2015 American Graduate Champion.

While continuing to satisfy his creative passion with art, music, film, and education projects, in 2012 he established OTR Films with guidance from his longtime partner turned entrepreneur FatRat Da Czar. In 2017, he launched OTR Media Group, a nonfiction entertainment, media literacy, and media strategy house that works with businesses and organizations that want to experiment with new ways of seeing and sharing the human experience through the moving image. 

Today, Sherard “Shekeese'' Duvall is a film and messaging professional who resides in Columbia, S.C. He’s focused on nonfiction storytelling, media literacy education, media strategy, and is an ambassador of South Carolina Hip-Hop culture. He is currently in development of his documentary shorts series Blaktastik: Celebrating South Carolina’s Creative Black Culture.

Connect with him:

www.otrmg.com // FB - OTR Media Group // Twitter/IG: @otrmediagrp // @ShekeeseSMD

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Special thanks to our amazing sponsor: Mackin!