Long-Form Video
At Colby College, almost 300 students stay on campus during the summer to do research. Some of those students pair with Colby partner organizations across Maine, and take full advantage of some of the state’s most beautiful (and high-tech) resources.
In Summer 2018, I headed off campus to profile students at Bigelow Laboratory, Belgrade Lakes, Allen Island, and Maine Huts and Trails. Each visit became its own video feature—but we also used that content to produce a ‘summer medley’ to play as the opener for the college’s $1 billion Dare Northward fundraising campaign events across the country.
FULL VLOGS
My first attempt at student vlogs involved ten Go Pros, ten students, and a single week at Colby College. I got results unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Dancing in dorm rooms. Heartfelt testimonials on college life. All the joy, stress, freedom, and fun of being a college student.
I loved the format so much that I still do it to this day – only now with Osmo Pockets. Every video is crafted to feel like the student who shot it, and I love uncovering and sharing their stories.
EVENTS
I think financial aid features make some creators uneasy – it’s too easy to accidentally make a student the “poster child” for a particular program or grant. It’s also quite common to problematically frame the school as a savior.
It’s not just the students who are lucky to receive aid. Universities should be grateful to have these amazing, often inspiring students.
During my last summer at Colby, I became fascinated with the idea of telling the full story of financial aid. How a student’s hard work, perseverance, and a sprinkle of luck can lead them to higher education.