Details
Category: Feature
Media: Video
Turnaround time: More than a day but less than a week
Description of story
A church in Johannesburg, South Africa, is helping the most vulnerable of immigrant Zimbabweans try to regain a foothold in their difficult lives.
Feedback requested
I tried for a documentary feel but in four minutes, and I wondered if you thought the mini documentary was a worthwhile product for the web, whether giving a sense of place and challenge and heroes is worthwhile in that amount of time. Thanks!
Gear used in production
sony hvr-z5u, final cut pro
Hello and Happy New Year Nico-
You have a great start to a story here with some good audio, music and singing combined with interesting video clips. To address your statement in the "Feedback Requested" this story or issue needs more than four minutes, this video you have here is good for establishing the issue but you need more. Maybe several video chapters that are four minutes long?
I was hoping to see the contrasts between the hard life of the Zimbabweans in South Africa with the relief, joy, and belonging they are experiencing within the confines of the church. I didn't see destitute or get the sense of alienation alluded to in the title and interviews. Maybe follow one of the church members to work or in search of work, show that process. Ask someone to answer, "How does a Zimbabwean get work in South Africa?"...then visually explore that process. We know these people are struggling, find a way to show it. But I understand that there are likely barriers to access, possibly language, security, culture but to tell more of the story you need to go deeper.
I applaud your efforts thus far, Thank you for sharing.