Creativity

Video Advice by Anthony D. Coppedge Contributing Writer January 08, 2012

"Sometimes it's simple"

I had a project where a Sunday school administrator needed 12 new teachers for the pre-school area.

Easy enough, I surmised. I'll just make a weepy, mushy piece that makes the pew-sitters feel guilty. The only problem was that we had to do this project in a tight timeframe. The Pastor gave me two days.

I asked him how often he watched the David Letterman Late Show. A man in his early fifties, the Pastor responded with a chuckle, "On occasion." That's all I needed.

To summarize: A 25 minute meeting with the preschool director, a five minute meeting with the Pastor's secretary, 30 minutes spent shooting the next day, and 30 minutes editing. The result?

The Pastor gets a note at the pulpit the next Sunday morning. He informs the audience that he forgot to get the Preschool Director the necessary help, and that he promised her that he would help himself if he didn't.

So out runs the distinguished-looking Pastor through one of the rear doors of the auditorium, conveniently located right under one of the IMAG (projected image) screens. As he hits the door, the live shot from the sanctuary cameras seamlessly cuts to the pre-shot footage of the Pastor
from the reverse angle. Same suit, same tie...but with Mission: Impossible theme music.

The camera chases him as he runs around trying to push the Bye-Bye Buggie cart, dashes down long hallways, tries to feed babies, change diapers, read books and put together puzzles with kids in various classrooms, only to find himself run ragged.

This cuts to a scene of him running towards the auditorium with his tie pulled down, hair messed up and jacket unbuttoned. As he opens the same door, we cut to the live shot of him running back in, tie pulled down, hair messed up and jacket unbuttoned right on cue.

The net result: 78 new volunteers in one day. That's right, 78. The Preschool Director still sends me thank-you notes.

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