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Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 11:20AM 
Almost 25 years of documentary filmmaking distilled here. It's a filmmaker's "footprint."
A corporate video is simply a journey. A journey to a new place. Heroes as corporate storytellers, formerly known as "employees," invite us to share their journey, their dreams and struggles with them. They are the organization's "voice."
Remarkable films have remarkable heroes, yes?
---Tom
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Reader Comments (9)
Our lives are driven by our personal stories, and being able to connect with heroes on film who are struggling to reach a triumph, makes for a great way to connect with an audience.
That works in presentations, training, and seminars as well - which I'm guessing is why corporate films with the same approach are successful.
It's so simple, yet so true. I think our Dna is hard-wired to try to understand each other's stories. We can all identify at some level with each other's triumphs and challenges.
Tom
Great post. The distillation of your work is powerful and clear. I think that it can serve as a map for all storytellers. We can simply focus on the parts applicable to our medium.
I agree that remarkable films have remarkable heroes. It seems that a remarkable hero acts as a hook on which I can hang my memories. Following the journey of the hero in my mind brings to mind more details of the rest of the story.
Your use of employees as heroes opens my eyes to something that you have obviously been doing for many years. All storytellers can reveal the heroic in what may seem normal to us. When we look more closely, there are challenges and triumphs in people's -- heroes' -- lives that can inspire us all. Thanks for the insight.
I've wanted to write this "map" for the longest time, and so I finally did it!
Your insights further deepen my ideas on how I capture "employees" at work. It is indeed, the heroic actions, small as they may be, that inspires us all to greatness.
Tom
You wrote:
"Your insights further deepen my ideas on how I capture 'employees' at work."
I would be interested in knowing more about what you intend to do. I am not asking for anything proprietary, I'm simply interested. I have always admired the filmmaker's ability to insightfully reveal life on film. It helps me see the world differently.
The way I "capture" employees, or "heroes" as I call them, is done in two parts.
First, I engage in a lengthy conversation or interview to draw out as much information as possible from the person and all that is relevant to the program. I want the person to speak from their heart...no corporate speak, no spin; just honest thoughts about their world, their hopes and dreams, struggles, challenges.
The second part focuses on capturing them at work spontaneously. Coming from a documentary background, I try to "interfere" as little as possible. I'm there to construct scenes that are indicative of their "normal" day at work; that's all.
Of course, before all that happens, I discover the heroes of a company long before any filmming occurs. I usually cast a full day of possible employees to uncover the best storytellers for the film. It's actually one the most interesting aspects of what I do as filmmaker; meeting so many interesting people with so many stories and backgrounds.
A filmmaker's job is like being in school continuously. We are exposed to so many aspects of life all the time. Each job is as different as the last one. I am blessed, for sure.
Thanks for your interest and best wishes to you.
Tom
I appreciate the information. Thanks for taking the time to share it.
Mig
Tom