Caring for a community: a case study
In 2009, Lee Kramer was part of a group that went to South Africa to visit one of the projects of NOAH (Nurturing Orphans on Aids for Humanity). NOAH is a non-profit organisation that works to build the capacity of local communities to care for their orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa.
When they returned they decided to use the photos and video clips that they had taken to showcase their visit and to promote the importance of the organisation’s work.
Working it...
After speaking with Lee on the future uses of this piece of work, we decided to make a film that could be used for promotional and campaign purposes. This would ensure that the film would have longevity, could be used at events and complement existing fundraising materials.
As this was as much about their experience of visiting NOAH as much as the organisation itself, I interviewed the participants so that they could share their insights and observations and explain in their own words why the work of NOAH is so important. These interviews formed the base of the film’s narrative.
To accompany the tone of the film, I composed a subtle soundtrack featuring African instruments. It was inspired by the children’s live singing performance which I incorporated into the soundtrack. I interwove everything with selected video footage and photographs that I collected from the group of their visit.
The Result
The final film was screened at a NOAH charity auction in Toronto in Autumn 2009 and will continue to be used for promotional use.
"I gave Regan some amateur video shot on a small point and shoot camera and asked her to do what I thought would be an impossible task: to create something we could use for fund raising purposes. Regan interviewed the participants and managed with great skill and delicacy to extrapolate meaning. She took the good bits and turned a mish mash of amateur video into a fine little documentary. Her understanding of the vision I had was extraordinary... I recommend and thank her for her skills."
Lee Kraemer, Friends of NOAH Canada
