Video Work
I’ve always found video to be a highly impactful and fulfilling storytelling medium because it allows me to totally delve into other’s stories in order to amplify them to a larger audience. Video allows for emotion to be expressed, empathy to be felt, and understanding to be built, bridging gaps between communities. Through the video making process, I have been presented the opportunity to live curiously, connect deeply, and explore the lives and passions of many. I have been freelancing since circa 2013, exploring branding and storytelling for businesses, nonprofits, and events.
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises 2019 Video Internship
I worked in the video department of one of the largest privately owned restaurant groups in the U.S. Working alongside the marketing and design departments, I assisted shooting, sound management, and editing content for various restaurants’ social media and websites. Other projects included the Summer Scratch Off loyalty program video campaign and Windy City Smokeout barbecue festival coverage and promotion.
Women's March Chicago 2018
I was lead video producer on the digital media team for the Women’s March Chicago 2018. I organized interviews with 30+ Chicago women CEO’s, political candidates, and activists who voiced support for the message of the March. The videos were shared across social media platforms in the weeks prior to the March to advertise the event and increase social impact. On the day of the March, these powerful video clips were shown in a montage on the main stage to kick off the March. During the video production process there was emphasis on digital asset management and archiving as well as advertising and communication for social change.
300,000 people attended the March on January 20th, 2018.
Chicago Period Project
2018 promotional video created in collaboration with Ashley Novoa, founder and president of nonprofit Chicago Period Project, which empowers homeless and in-need people to experience their periods with dignity. The video follows a day in the life of Novoa and her son as they collect and donate period products around the city of Chicago as they simultaneously fight the stigma surrounding menstruation.
The video was featured in a WCIU The Jam segment about Novoa’s nonprofit.
Chicago Artist Documentaries
2019 Short documentaries produced for Chicago music artists, Mugen the Human, rap collective Dead Homies, and gospel choir director Walter Owens, to showcase them authentically in their creative fields.
Gabriel Piemonte for 5th Ward Alderman
Video created in 2019 for Gabriel Piemonte, candidate for Alderman of the Hyde Park & South Shore neighborhoods in Chicago. The video featured 3rd ward aldermanic candidate Alexandria Willis & 15th ward aldermanic candidate Joseph Williams petitioning in the 5th ward in support of Gabriel Piemonte. The three grassroots candidates believe that collaboration and support between political candidates and alderman should be an integral part of Chicago city politics.
Escaping Social Isolation
As a high school student, I volunteered to make a short documentary for nonprofit Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly 2015 International Conference in Cincinnati. The video features the lives of two different elderly women who have been affected by social isolation and are currently benefitting from the companionship that Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly provides in their lives.
Changes: Issues of Gentrification
Changes is my first short documentary, made in 2014, that features the opinions of city residents about the gentrification of controversial Cincinnati neighborhood Over-the-Rhine. The video process was my first major exploration of the “person-on-the-street” style interview and my first experience connecting with strangers through my camera.
Solving Food Deserts
As a freshman in high school, I won first place in the 4H Teens Take on Health Video Challenge in 2013 with my video about food deserts in Cincinnati. The video defines what food deserts are, their impact on urban communities, and proposes that action through community gardens may be a tool to start improving this issue. The video was filmed in collaboration with nonprofit Gabriel’s Place in Avondale, community garden Permaganics in Over the Rhine, and Gorman Heritage Farms in Evendale. This was the first time that I made a video in collaboration with community organizations for the purpose of educating and uplifting, and engrained a passion for civic media within me for years to come.