Project Overview: The Madison County Clerk, Linda Andreas, reached out to me to create a video to recruit more election judges in Madison County, IL. I was excited about this opportunity to support the community and contribute to the democratic process.
Challenges: There's been a decline in election judge volunteers, which poses a challenge for the county as it tries to keep up with the growing number of voters. More volunteers are needed to set up, monitor, and assist at polling stations. The video specifically targets the 55 and up demographic, who are often retired and might have the time to volunteer.
Approach:
The Script: I provided a narration script template to Linda, who is an excellent speaker. She modified the script to fit her style and included personal touches. Additionally, we had two actual judges (non-actors) speak about their experiences. We exchanged ideas to enhance the script’s impact, ensuring it was direct and featured a strong call to action.
The Shoot: At the Madison County admin building, I arrived with a detailed two-page shot list and a cart full of equipment, including cameras, lighting, light modifiers, and sound gear. We began the day by filming b-roll of real judges setting up polling booths, sample ballots, poll books, pens, and “I voted” stickers. County employees acted as voters, walking through the verification, voting, and ballot submission processes. I captured a variety of shots using a tripod, gimbal, and my iPhone 15 Pro for POV shots. The shoot concluded with interviews of the judges and Linda delivering her script via teleprompter. Despite it being her first time using a teleprompter, Linda performed exceptionally well.
The Edit: Linda requested patriotic music, which I sourced from a royalty-free platform. I selected a fitting track and followed the script closely, adding creative touches such as starting with the judges’ voices sharing their experiences. The meticulous planning paid off, and the edit came together efficiently and beautifully.
The Final Result: Linda was thrilled with the final product. The video received positive feedback from other government workers and will be shown on Facebook and other social media platforms, as well as in a PSA on St. Louis area radio to attract more volunteers. Take a look at the final video below.
コメント