The screening of “The Kings of Flint” will be shown at 6 p.m. tonight in Room 147 at the Communication Arts and Sciences Building. The 30-minute film was created by professors Geri Zeldes and Troy Hale along with the help of five student producers.

“(It was) a really easy project for us to film because the characters were so compelling,” Zeldes said.

The documentary follows karate masters Jacky and Dora King of Flint and their efforts to revive the broken community with urban agriculture practices, Zeldes said. Although martial arts is the Kings’ specialty, they recently have moved to teaching students the ways of urban farming as an attempt to bring Flint out of its economic doldrums and boost the economy, she said.

“(The Kings) see growing as a means of self-defense,” Zeldes said. “You know what’s going into your body when you know how it’s grown.”

Zeldes, a Flint native, had the idea for the documentary after contacting an old friend who first told her about children in Flint growing food. She saw the potential right away, and after spreading the idea to numerous colleagues, Hale showed a lot of initial interest.

“The thing I like about the Kings is that they say, ‘We don’t like what’s going on — we’re gonna change things,’” Hale said. “You can find interesting characters right around the corner from you.”

The film depicts the Kings’ unique techniques as they incorporate some values and lessons of karate into farming, Zeldes said. It shows the entire process of teaching, cultivating and even selling produce at the local market by the students — a movement the Kings hope could catch on throughout the community and spur the local economy, she said.

One scene shows students doing karate exercises with shovels and garden hoes as props.

“It’s an opportunity to change the narrative in Flint — something good, something positive is happening,” Zeldes said.

Communication senior and Flint native Natasha LaGrone is one of five student producers who have worked on the film.

One of her primary responsibilities was to gather as much information about Flint as possible, making numerous trips to various archives and libraries to gather research. Hometown ties were one of the main reasons she was so excited to be a part of this project, she said.

“(Being from Flint) really kind of makes my contribution different in the sense that I live, breathe, eat and sleep Flint,” LaGrone said. “(I have) that inside view of what’s going on.”

Despite the documentary’s focus on a specific city, she said it is easy for any student to get involved in their communities and make a difference.

“I think it’s great to be knowledgeable about what’s going on around you,” LaGrone said.

There will be a second opportunity to view the film at 10 p.m. next Monday on WKAR-TV.