Videography
Videos combine a variety of types of media to tell a complete story. This multimedia approach engages multiple senses and makes videos a particularly impactful way to share a message.
Through the storyboarding, filming, and editing process, I enjoy figuring out how to most effectively convey stories worth sharing.
Real People, Real Impact
COVID-19 Lockdown Mini Documentary
At the start of the pandemic last year, during lockdown, I created a mini documentary of what life was like at the time. I wanted to show the real impact of what was occurring on real people’s lives. To accomplish this, I included interviews with a variety of people whose lives had been upended one way or another.
I started out by planning out the shots I would need. I decided to begin the video with clips showing how different things suddenly were – of police tape on playground equipment, signs in businesses’ windows saying they were closed, and my setup for completing classes virtually. After that, I launched into short interviews with an EMT, educators, an essential worker, and newlyweds.
When filming the interviews, I was unable to capture the quality of video I would have liked due to the equipment I had on hand for filming, as well as the fact that the interviews had to be recorded virtually. This resulted in lower audio quality and lower-res footage than I’d hoped, though I was able to work with it.
As I collected the footage, I began to edit it down to the final 2-minute timeframe. I cut it down to the most important moments and quotes, then pieced those together to create the final sequence. I also did some basic color grading and made some audio adjustments. Additionally, I found somewhat eery, somber music that matched the serious mood I’d hoped to establish.
The most fun part for me was creating the opening and end sequences in AfterEffects. For the opening, I had a video clip of a sunny day in a neighborhood that I slowly faded to black and white, symbolizing the sudden change in circumstances with the start of the pandemic. I wanted to showcase how normal life had faded into a nightmare for all virtually overnight. I then pulled in the words, “COVID-19 Real People, Real Impact.” For the end sequence, I once again showed the neighborhood scene in black and white, reiterating a similar message.
The limitations imposed by lockdown, such as virtual interviews, made creating the video a challenge. However, I feel that it captured a realistic view of what life looked like during the early days of the pandemic, showcasing its impact on individuals’ lives. Therefore, I feel that it accomplished the goal I had set for it.