Tag: storytelling workshop

Cutting wasted time with video interviews

by Stanley LearyPhotography

What was thing big Ah – Ha! moment with students during the Storytellers Abroad Multimedia Missions Workshop in Trinidad? How important it was to spend more time on the pre-interview.

Naz Mohammad [Blue Shirt] – Pastor of a church plant in St Augustine, born and raised in St Augustine. He is talking with some students who will be doing a story on him this week. Ñ at St Helena Shiv Mandir. [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 12800, Ä/4, 1/250, Focal Length = 28]

We build the workshop time for the students to get to know their subject. This is the pre-interview. Even so, most everyone would start their “formal interview” with the camera rolling too soon.

Lukas & Nate interview Scott Brock, missionary to Trinidad [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 9000, Ä/4, 1/250, Focal Length = 35]

They learned that if they didn’t know the story before they started, they didn’t know how to take control. They would let the subject talk and talk and talk. This meant they had 60+ minutes of an interview to edit, and every one of those interviews had to be redone.

Jeff Raymond helps Rachel Ingram and Miki Veness on their video project Ñ at Trinidad & Tobago Urban Ministries. [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 12800, Ä/4, 1/250, Focal Length = 48]

When we teach how to interview, we teach what the key points you are looking for to help tell a compelling story are.

While this storyline/narrative has been known for a long time in storytelling, we still often struggle to get those key elements.

Subject
Conflict
Resource/Help
Action they took
Call to Action

Lennox Boodram – a ministry partner, saved from drug and alcohol addiction- runs a Christian drug and family rehab center (Turning Point)that has been operating for the past five years. Great testimony. Ñ at Turning Point Drug & Family Resource Centre. [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 4500, Ä/4, 1/250, Focal Length = 38]

Now the one thing we add to our stories that you don’t see in a movie theater is a call to action. Now that you have seen this story, we want the audience to know how to get involved.

If the storyteller has taken time to get the story before they roll the camera, those interviews are usually more of a 15 – 20 minute interview. The only reason it isn’t the short 3 – 5 minute finished project is they often have the subject do a few takes. They want to get the best emotional match to the content.

All the students were talking about how next time, they will spend more time getting the story during the pre-interview so that the editing process will be much simpler.

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Meet Storyteller Stephanie Simmons

by Stanley LearyPhotography

[photo above is of the seminary night classes that share the space with a school]

Jorge Quintana is a seminary student whose storyteller Stephanie Simmons was given to tell his story.

See the story she captured here.

Stephanie has lots of positive energy. She is always smiling.

Stephanie Simmons. Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/400, Focal Length = 35]

What I admired the most about Stephanie was her focus. She wanted to learn.

[X-E3, XF55-200mm ƒ/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, ISO 5000, ƒ/7.1, 1/100, Focal Length = 300]

When I talked to her about her story before she did the interview, I could tell she had listened to the subjects. I could tell she cared for them and was sure she would stay true to the story.

[X-E3, XF18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 6400, ƒ/7.1, 1/100, Focal Length = 36]

Now I love to watch people and observe them. I noticed Stephanie would be on the edges of the group, participating but also listening.

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 12800, ƒ/4, 1/200, Focal Length = 24]

When the instructors met each night to see who might need more help the next day on their stories, we all talked about how Stephanie welcomed ideas and was eager to learn.

If you want to learn how to tell a mission story like Stephanie, join us this June in Romania with Storytellers Abroad.

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Meet Storyteller Jay York

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Jay York is working on his story for the Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 32000, ƒ/6.3, 1/200, Focal Length = 24]

I have known Jay York for years. We met at the Southwestern Photojournalism Seminar in Fort Worth, Texas. Jay was using his vacations to photograph for the ABWE.

Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/800, Focal Length = 35]

Many years ago, photographers volunteered their time to help ABWE missionaries by taking photos of work worldwide that went into a database. During the film years, missionaries would have to go to Harrisburg, PA offices, look through all the 35mm slides, and get copies to use in their slide shows that they showed to churches and supporters on leave.

Jay York and translator Andrea Carhuachîn. Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 51200, ƒ/4, 1/200, Focal Length = 62]

During our week in Lima, Peru, Jay worked on a story about Elvira Cuevas Bolívar. Here is the package that Jay produced.

Jay worked methodically in ensuring he understood Elvira’s story, which is much bigger than told in this package, and worked with three instructors, Pat Davison, James Dockery, and me.

Jay York’s Story on Elvira Cuevas with Andrea Carhuachîn serving as translator. Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 2200, ƒ/4, 1/200, Focal Length = 24]

Jay wanted to understand every aspect of the storytelling process.

Elvira Cuevas – Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 4500, ƒ/4.5, 1/200, Focal Length = 68]

A couple of months before the trip, Jay switched camera systems to the Fuji mirrorless. Jay shot most of this project on the Fuji X-T3.

Jay York with Elvira Cuevas and her son Chris. [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4.5, 1/200, Focal Length = 68]

If you want to learn how to tell a mission story like Jay, check out the opportunity with Storytellers Abroad.

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Meet Storyteller Josh Hart

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Josh Hart Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 28800, ƒ/4, 1/200, Focal Length = 24]

Mr. Positivity is how I would describe Josh Hart. He was the first person to introduce himself to me when I first met the group in Lima, Peru. He was eager to learn and had a wonderful smile.

We sat by his computer and talked about his story on Darwin and Azucena Diaz. He went out and interviewed them, and then the next day, I was able to go with Josh as he spent more time getting B-Roll.

In film and television production, B-roll, B roll, B-reel, or B reel is supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot. 

Here is the story that Josh produced during his week in Lima, Peru.

Josh Hart’s story on Darwin & Vanessa Diaz. He is a teacher at the Iglesia Evangelica Bautista “Las Flores” in San Juan de Lurigancho area of Lima, Peru. To the left is ABWE missionary Jon Stone who teaches at the seminary. During our time in Lima, Jon was a translator, driver, food coordinator, and more for the Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru
  [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/640, Focal Length = 28]

Each student had time with their subjects at a meal with everyone when we arrived. Then the following day, they hung out with them again, getting to know them better.

Josh Hart’s story on Darwin & Vanessa Diaz. Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Lima, Peru [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/640, Focal Length = 28]

Josh loves technology and shot his interviews in 4k. If you are not a geek, he shot the video with a high-resolution camera. This way, he could shoot the couple side by side and zoom in on one person at a time. This made it possible to shoot with one camera but get some variety out of the interview.

While working together shooting his B-Roll, I just hung back and watched. Since he had told me what he wanted to capture, I would add suggestions when he ran out of ideas.

Josh Hart’s story on Darwin & Vanessa Diaz. [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/640, Focal Length = 28]

The one thing I was helping Josh with was how to put into words his direction to the couple and translate what he needed next. He could tell them he needed them to walk in order, but he was having difficulty telling them what they should think about when they were filmed.

“We capture you when you come to the church and have to take the taxi and unlock the building. Please do this a few times so I can film you from your front, back and side. Just do what you do every day when you make this trip.”

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/640, Focal Length = 28]

“I want to capture the two of you doing a bible study together that you talked about in the interview. Find a passage you guys have been working on together. I need you both to talk back and forth.”

If you want to learn how to tell a mission story like Josh, join us this June in Romania with Storytellers Abroad.

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