Videography & VolunTourism
For those who have utilized visual media to share their respective stories about VolunTourism, some of what follows may be redundant; nevertheless, you may be inspired to take new approaches when you hear the alternative perspectives presented in this week’s webcast: Videography & VolunTourism. For those who are new to videography and how it might support your VolunTourism activities & experiences, well, sit back with a pencil & pad and your favorite beverage – it’s time to take some notes!
First, let me introduce you to this week’s guests:
- Kelly Lind – independent filmmaker, voluntourist, and New Orleans’ born & bred
- Katie Teague – independent documentary filmmaker, with a background in Depth Psychology; her current project is Current-Sea Change – “exploring “the nature of money and our relationship to it”
- Rob Holmes – President & Founder of The Green Living Project
- Steve Friedman – Founder & Executive Director of Travel Television.org, and
- Maria Warman – co-creator of Go Live Give, and an avid voluntourist (co-host for the show)
Here are highlights from the conversation:
Community Television
Steve Friedman offered a point that likely few folks would consider – working with your local/community television station to support your videography effort. Steve suggested that you might take a videography course through the television station. These outlets could even provide you with equipment or editing support in exchange for the video content you provide them as a result of your filming project.
Sensitivity
Rob Holmes stressed the importance of cultural respect and sensitivity – this can equally apply to community residents and voluntourists alike. And Katie & Kelly chimed in on the importance of emotional sensitivity, especially for those who have experienced dramatic challenges, Kelly understanding this, personally, as a native of New Orleans.
“Off The Beaten Track” & “Offline”
Video can assist you in sharing your experience in communities that are often well-removed from traditional destinations. You can introduce viewers to places and causes that would otherwise remain unknown. Rob Holmes also stressed the importance of sharing these videos “offline” in group settings with an opportunity to discuss them openly with engaged participants in such an environment.
Historic Tracking of Projects & Experiences
Katie Teague brought forward the importance of having something that can be reviewed years into the future. It is also a way for communities to showcase the ongoing progress of what voluntourists over the course of time accomplish – they can share this with each group – past, present, and future. Video can serve as a learning tool for hosting entities.
Recruitment & Maintaining Connections
Steve brought forth the importance of video as a recruitment tool and as a means of maintaining connection for participants and community residents. Rob spoke of the “one-year update” and its role of keeping folks engaged in projects over time.
Wrap-Up
Rob pointed out the importance of determining your goals & objectives in advance of picking up your video camera. Develop a strategy and realize that the video may serve multiple purposes, if and only if, you establish your plans ahead of time.
Next Week: Cuba & VolunTourism – 29 September 2009
Christopher P Baker, renowned photo-journalist and the world’s foremost authority on travel to Cuba, and Kimberly Haley Coleman, founder and executive director of Globe Aware, will join me to address the following questions:
- What are key elements, logistical or otherwise, to consider when traveling to Cuba for residents of countries that do not ban travel to Cuba?
- If the ban on travel to Cuba is lifted for U.S. citizens, what do you foresee as the benefits and challenges for stakeholders – Cuban residents, the social infrastructure, the tourism industry, and travelers?
- Cuba has been hosting service “brigades” for decades. What changes, if any, to this format and structure do you think could be, or would be, created to potentially host more U.S. “voluntourists” to Cuba?
We will discuss these topics and more on the next episode of The VolunTourist.
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