IC|reative: The power of Story

by Jason Russell

The power of story is not a mystery. Humans have been telling stories from the very very beginning of time. If you want to be the next JK Rowling, C.S. Lewis or James Cameron, there is a very simple formula to getting there: The Three Act Structure.

Structure

Act One: Introduce the hero, the protagonist. The hero can be a thief, a liar, a drunkard. The only thing a hero can’t do is think of themselves better than everyone else. We, the audience need to immediately fall in love with the hero.
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IC|reative: A Behind the Scenes look at The Fourth Estate Creatives’ Crash Course in Media Production

Story of: Creatives at The Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate hosted international activists with a range of incredible gifts and talents. From the business savvy to the inspirational dreamers, all 650 attendees possessed individual gifts that are needed for an effective social movement.

Just 40 out of the 650 participants were on the “Creative” track. They’re experience was a little different then the other tracks (Connectors, Captains, Cultivators) in that they had less than two days to actually produce pieces of media. These artists were grouped according to their focus (writers, photographers, graphic designers, filmmakers) and spent two of the four days making trips between The Fourth Estate campus and Invisible Children headquarters in downtown San Diego.

The filmmakers were split into teams of 4-5 with staff members helping film, edit, and produce. A predetermined outstanding Fourth Estate attendee (who wasn’t on the Creative track) was the featured subject for a short biographical video.

It was a daunting task—getting to know a Fourth Estater, interviewing them, filming, developing a concept, and then producing a quality video biography… in only a matter of hours…

Here’s what their schedule looked like:

Thursday, August 4

• 3:30-4:30 Introduced to Project

Friday, August 5

• 12:00-1:30 “Lunch”: which really meant 90 minutes to meet, interview and film your subject—and maybe try to consume some calories in between questions and getting B-roll.

• 1:30-6:00 Drive to IC Offices Downtown: upload video, talk about the concept, and edit.

• 6:30 Drive back to The Fourth Estate campus.

Saturday, August 6

• 12-1:00 “Lunch”: last chance to interview and film subject.

• 1:30-6:00 Drive to IC offices downtown: finish editing, producing, have rough cut ready for review by IC staff and peers.

• 6:30 Back to campus.

Sunday, August 7

• General Session Morning Meeting: Selected media shown for all of The Fourth Estate.

Here’s a brief behind the scenes look at what this hectic schedule looked like for one group and their process. You’ll see them meet their subject, Georgia, interview her, film the conversations, make their afternoon trips, edit, get reviewed, etc.:

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From San Diego to Uganda.

Kevin and Ashley share a combined eight years of experience making films for Invisible Children’s art department in San Diego. Early this morning, they left to take their filming and editing know-how to Gulu, Uganda. Yes, they’re off on a six-month adventure to create an art department for our Ugandan offices. They’ll be finding and filming the stories behind our programs, cutting it all together, and bringing it back when they come home in January.

It’ll be Ashley’s first trip. Kevin’s first time visiting was earlier this year, and he’s already using that over her to pretend like he knows everything. We already miss them both.

Vote for Laren for the GQ Gentlemen’s Fund

Stop what you are doing right now and go to this link. I’m serious. Right now: http://thegentlemensfund.com/vote

GQ // The Gentlemen’s Fund from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Laren Poole, our co-founder, was nominated for an award from GQ’s Gentlemen’s fund. He’s placed in the top 5 and needs your vote to become number one to win a spread in GQ magazine and win $10,000 for Invisible Children.

What will that get Invisible Children? Among other things, it will fund a high frequency radio in the D.R. Congo giving a war-torn community the capability to communicate with other villages to let them know if they’ve been attacked by the LRA, effectively saving thousands of lives.

So go vote. Every email gets one vote. So go create an email address for you, your dog, your couch and vote. And most importantly remember to CONFIRM your vote when they send you an email. Ready? Get voting.

The Fourth Estate has begun

As of this moment forward, the intentional mind-shift of our generation has begun. Over 800 activists, teachers, mentors and speakers are currently gathering on USD’s campus for The Fourth Estate. Together we will explore, engage and ignite a revolution.

You may not be with us on campus, but we know you are still supporting us from across the world. While we are studying what it means to become a global citizen here in San Diego, we want you to begin to delve into this idea as well from home. Take your time this weekend to listen to a few of our speakers. Feel free to share your notes, thoughts and comments- We want to learn from you.

John Prendergast

Sean Stephenson

Shervin Pishevar

IC|reative: Watch Lead Animator Chad Clendinen’s video on creating the “Breaking the Silence” animation

Instructional video by Chad Clendinen

See through the eyes of Invisible Children’s Lead Animator as he talks through the inspiration, process, and production of the “Breaking the Silence” animation. You’ll get an inside look at the layered concepts behind the visual elements of the video, and how Chad was able to make these ideas come to life.

And if animation isn’t your thing, this will still be well worth your while… you’ll get to know Chad, his mom, and more about another all-time-favorite (and single) IC contributor…

Intrigued? Perfect.

Watch below and enjoy!

(And in case you didn’t get to catch the animation during ‘25′, here it is below…)

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IC|reative is a window into Invisible Children’s Dream Factory.
Here you can see the process of IC’s Art Department, from inspiration to final product.
You know their art, you’ve seen their media, now we’re giving you a chance to meet the individuals who combat conflict with color, shape, sound and motion.

IC|reative: Film Editor Jesse Eslinger on his creative vision and innovative methods for “The ‘25′ Countdown” video

By Jesse Eslinger: On his vision, and creative execution, of the ‘25′ countdown video

I was tasked with developing a video that served as a countdown to the actual moment that the 25 hours of silence would be broken in each city for the 25 event. This video was a lot different than a lot of our media; it felt like more of an installation piece than anything else because people were still filtering in, writing letters and finding ways to communicate silently while the countdown went on.

(If you weren’t at the 25 event you can watch the abbreviated version here)

The initial split screen portion of the countdown provided an interesting opportunity to echo the 25 event branding in a physical space through video, so I used that as a launching point for my storyboard.  Here is a look at my process:

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IC|reative: Lead Editor Kathryn Lang & the inspiration behind ‘The 4th Estate’ commercial

Kathryn’s recent project: Fourth Estate Commercial.

Here’s what Kathryn has to say about her inspiration behind creating IC’s commercial for The Fourth Estate.

As filmmakers and creatives at IC, inspiration comes from anywhere you can find it.  And it isn’t always found easily.  Ideas do not come from thin air; you have to surround yourself with the ideas of others that inspire you in order to find your authentic voice and style. A favorite quote from Paul Arden sums it up perfectly:

The Enough Moment

Human rights activist John Prendergast and Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle bring us an empowering and hopeful new book, The Enough Moment, as they reveal the steps being taken by engaged citizens—”Upstanders”—famous and unknown, here and abroad, to combat genocide, rape, and child soldierdom in Africa. This event is presented in partnership with The Enough Project.

This is a free ticketed event and open to the public. RSVPs required. RSVP here.

322 South Lucas Avenue 90017
Los Angeles, CA

Online registration will be closed Wednesday, September 8 at noon. If you would like to RSVP after that time, please call 213-202-2811 ex. 23.

The Miguel Contreras Learning Complex is easily reached by taking any major freeway to the Harbor Freeway (110), proceeding to the downtown Los Angeles area, and exiting at the 3rd Street off-ramp. Proceed west on 3rd Street a few short blocks to Lucas Avenue. Parking in the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex lot is limited. Please check your e-mail for further information on places to park after you RSVP and receive your ticket(s) electronically.

Presented by the Enough Project, Facing History and Ourselves, and the Allstate Foundation

Introducing Chadwick

Uhm… this is Chadwick.  He’s one of our graphic designers. And we love him. Here is a short video detailing almost all you need to know. – Jedidiah

Things the video left out: Chadwick majored in life, graphic design, and photography at Point Loma Nazarene University. He was able to participate in a traveling art study that took him to western Europe for six months then finished off in Japan. Chadwick likes flavored sun-flower seeds, screen printing tee-shirts, taking pictures, long walks on the beach, playing bones (dominos), spicy food, supporting community, and good conversation. No ladies, hes not single…