SERVICES
Short Documentaries For Non-Profits:
A still from FOOTPRINTS, a documentary produced in conjunction with The AIM Center
Non-profit organizations and foundations are often in need of video material, whether its purpose is to aid in the raising of funds, to educate the public, to assist in the orientation of new staff members and volunteers, or some combination of all of these things. All too often, the films produced in response to these needs end up being somewhat dry and “industrial” in flavor, and thus fail to paint a true and compelling picture of what their subject organizations are all about. Viewers simply find it difficult–if not impossible–to engage with the material on a personal level, and so the effect it has on them is greatly diminished. Being a board member of a small non-profit myself, I know quite well that funding is hard to come by and cannot be wasted on projects which do not fully achieve their desired effect(s).
Films produced in response to institutional needs don’t have to be boring. When I am contracted to produce any short piece for a non-profit, I treat it first and foremost as cinema–not merely as an “industrial video,” “training tape,” or “PR statement.” My documentaries honestly and candidly tell the stories of the real people on the screen with the acknowledgment of their humanity, and I truly believe that this is the best (if not the only) way to tell the story of the organization which serves them. I only photograph/record the real sights and sounds of actual events–I don’t believe in voiceover narration, manipulative pre-recorded music, or staged interviews. These things build a kind of wall between an audience and the subject matter, and tend to neglect the people in the film in favor of the institution itself.
From PASSION FLOWER, a co-production of Oak Street Films and CoPAC
Even when produced with a clear institutional goal in mind–say, fundraising perhaps–my documentary work is designed to appeal to as broad an audience as possible; because of that fact, it will also be even more interesting to a targeted audience. And after the fundraiser is over, we can educate the public regarding your cause with a public screening. Or you can screen it at your next conference. Or we can submit it to a film festival with the hope of drawing national attention to your cause. Or anything else we can think of.
Interested? Send me an email and let’s talk about it. My fee structure is extremely flexible and can be suited to practically any budget. No matter how cash-strapped your organization might be, I guarantee we can work something out.
