 Mount Olympus South Peaks. Use of photo granted by Creative Commons License A client recently told me a story about climbing Mount Olympus in Greece. When he started the story, I anticipated hearing details about the challenging terrain, the gorgeous views, the pilgrimage up the majestic mountain of ancient Greek mythology.
Instead I heard a hilarious story about the food he ate at the hiker's hut on the mountain. Stories about keeping a watchful eye on a struggling fellow hiker, and a magical moment they experienced together, meeting a goat herder on the trail playing a silver clarinet. It was a magical moment for me too, hearing the story of his Mount Olympus climb from so many years ago. I am grateful.
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One glimpse and we’re transported in time. UK Documentary filmmaker Greg Ward set up his camera in a quiet location and asked people to hold one of their school portraits and talk about themselves in the past, present and future. Simple unscripted methods of storytelling. I think this technique would work great at a class reunion, a family reunion or even a business retreat setting. It's an affordable approach, a great way to tell the stories of a group of people. School Portrait from Greg Ward on Vimeo.  Chris Favorito: I don't really remember picking apples so much, but I do remember my cousin dragging me out to a party that weekend and having a miserable time. 1969 photo by Manny Favorito. Creating video memoirs can be as simple as recording someone’s voice while they page through a photo album.
I used this technique with my brother in-law Chris when I saw him in August last year. I set up my microphone and prepared myself to hear a great story about his memories of being a kid from New York City, picking apples with his cousins in Pennsylvania. Funny. The story I got didn't match the photo we started with. He said he didn't really remember much about picking apples, but he sure remembered his unhappiness at a party he went to that same weekend. As I listened, I learned about what his life was like as a teenager in 1969. I learned he was independent at a young age. I listened to his voice and better understood his values, his personality and sense of humor. He drew me in. Tragically, Chris died after a brief illness recently and I can’t bring myself to listen to the audio recording right now. Not yet. But I will. And I will share it with our family, his grandchildren, niece and nephews. I’m so grateful I recorded his voice in August. We will treasure hearing it again when we’re steady enough to listen. |
AuthorProducer Audrey Robinson Favorito explores the craft of digital storytelling Archives
September 2017
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