Story Booth: Behind the Camera

It's scary to be in front of a camera. It's even scarier to tell a deeply personal story to someone you've just met. But while videotaping story booth sessions, I've been amazed at people's willingness to come and share their stories.

The concept behind the story booth is simple. We set up a camera at a gathering of people (conference, training, etc.) who are passionate about healthy communities, then invite them to tell a story. Sometimes we ask them to tell us why they do the work that they do. Other times the participant is asked to tell a story about a success or a pivotal moment that keeps him or her going.

From those simple prompts I've been amazed at the stories I've had the honor to hear. Everyone has a story to tell and it's incredible to see how many different types of them people share. Stories that made me laugh, which is annoying when I have to edit out my giggles in post-production. Stories that made me cry. Stories of amazing success. Stories of failure, but the kind of failure you learn from to shape future success. Stories that inspire.

I know it can be scary to tell your story, but it is important. Your story is powerful and can help others. It's a great joy and responsibility to record people's stories and is not one that I take lightly.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of telling stories or if you want to set up your own story booth, please email us and we can help you out.

Written by Alan

Lessons Learned from Talking to the Camera

This was my pov (point of view) being videotaped for an instructional webinar on "Why Stories?"

Here is what I learned about talking to the camera.

I was more nervous than I expected. No one gets to stay in the room with you...except the camera man because you don't want to take a chance on any distracting noises.

It is really hard to talk with no feedback. Jeremy ( the camera man) was busy filming so I didn't have anyone to talk to....I had no clues as to how the content was being received. Was it helpful? Interesting? Boring? It is hard to stay animated talking to a wall.

We did three takes. The first because I hit the mic ( it was on my collar). The second because my slides were "off"...I had forgotten to take a transition out of PowerPoint. Third time I was determined to make it all the way through.

I didn't know when the camera was on me and when the audience would be seeing a slide, so I felt like I had to look at the camera all the time (which makes it hard to check your notes.)

So what would I do differently?
-Practice with someone just before I tape so I can remember their reaction.
-Focus on one example or story, followed up by one take-away for each point I want to make.

Written by Julie

Watching Stories Together Miles Apart

Kyle never lets a little thing like distance stop him from meeting with someone, either in a group or one-on-one. Here he is showing someone in Iowa around our office in Madison.


The other day he wanted to debut videos of several stories about serving local farm products in the Chilton, Wisconsin, K-12 school, but one person was in Chilton, others were in Madison, and he was attending a conference in Austin, Texas.

That would pose a big problem for me, but Kyle is kind of a technology geek.

How to Set Up an Online Video Premiere

• First, Kyle set up a conference call, and told everyone to expect an email just before the start.
• He set up a document with questions he wanted everyone to answer in Google Docs and used the sharing menu to generate a link to it.
• Next he drafted emails to each participant containing the Google Docs link plus links to the videos, sending them just before the call.
• When everyone was on the line, Kyle cheerfully cautioned them not to open the video link just yet, and led a phone-muting practice exercise.
• Opening the Google Docs link and document was next on the group agenda--no problem.
• He walked everyone through opening another browser window, then finally gave the okay to open the video links.

Group Reviewing in Real Time
After a few minutes of silence watching the videos, fingers were flying on keyboards describing reactions all at the same time in the Google document. It must have felt like ghosts typing alongside each person at their computer.There was a technology breakdown (weren't you just waiting to hear that?)—one person could not get the videos to play on her computer. Kyle tried troubleshooting with her by refreshing the page, trying another browser, but nothing worked.

She ended up watching the videos on someone else's computer and talking to Kyle later.What caused the video failure on her computer? Don't know...but we're looking into it.

Apart from that, it was a fun experience. I’m starting my own journey of learning about using online common space by experimenting with Google Docs.

Behind the Scenes: "Julie Talks" at Wisconsin Public Television

Today we taped Julie Swanson, our Senior Outreach Specialist, giving her presentation on “Why Story?” about using stories to communicate with researchers, public health officials and even legislators. This launched a project to create several 10-20 minute instructional webinars for the preventive health community in collaboration with Wisconsin Public Television.

Julie normally presents in front of an audience and inspires audience participation, but for this project she presented to…no one! She was by herself in a production booth. I must admit, watching from the production studio I found myself nodding to her face on the screen. She has audience engagement even through the camera.

Information will soon be available regarding how you can access the "Why Story?" webinar.

Next up, we will be following Julie to the 2011 State Prevention Conference, June 13-16, to videotape more presentations. This year's theme is "Using the Power of Our Voices to Influence Change," and there is still time to register.

Prevention Speaks webinars will be a resource to bridge the research-to-practice gap, offering practical, succinct, readily accessible information and tips in prevention efforts. We are looking forward to hearing from our audience about their experience using them.

Blogging from the CPPW Training in Atlanta this week!

We're excited to launch our first featured video at Tuesday's plenary.

Look at me. I'm here! I survived to make a difference.
Stand up and make yours.
     - Lu McCraw of the Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma)

Complete the Streets on Facebook

Communities across the country are asking their transportation planners and engineers to create streets that allow children to walk to school, people of all abilities to move independently, and non-motorized commuters to arrive safely. Complete the Streets Campaign in La Crosse County of Wisconsin is part of the National Complete Streets Coalition influencing policy that keep in mind bikers, walkers, motorists and public commuters when designing roadways.

The Complete the Streets - La Crosse Campaign¹ is using Facebook to communicate with their community. Check out posts of inspiration to bike in the snow, information on partnerships of support, and interactive polls. See how they are using Facebook as a resource to share their story. 'Like' them to show your support.

Complete the Streets - La Crosse is dedicated to changing their environment to make the healthy choice, the easy choice. The growing interest for more bike friendliness on motor-dominant roads has prompted the campaign to adopt the Complete Streets Federal and State law in La Crosse County. The La Crosse County Board will be voting on Complete the Streets policy on March 17th, 2011. Complete Streets Policy is important for healthy living and supports sustainable communities.

Are you using Facebook to connect to your community? Share your story with us.

Resources:

1. "Complete Streets La Crosse" Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Complete-Streets-La-Crosse/173272486016366?sk=wall Retrieved March 11, 2011.

The Stories We Need to Hear...

Every day, talented, dedicated professionals and volunteers are making the places we live, work, and play healthier. Across the country people are tackling similar challenges, yet the barriers of geography and time keep our common victories apart. What would happen if it was easier to hear about, and learn from, the hard work and successes of others travelling similar paths?

Using the power of the web, Prevention Speaks aims to connect people working to build healthier communities. After all, it’s our peers who often influence, inspire, and teach us the most, yet they can’t do that if we never meet them! In an innovative partnership with Wisconsin Public Television, the Wisconsin Clearinghouse will produce stories profiling what (and who) is working on the front lines of prevention. In particular, we’ll highlight successes in tackling obesity and smoking as supported by the Communities Putting Prevention to Work and the US Centers for Disease Control.

We hear so many powerful stories that never make it beyond the bounds of the training room and to the ears of those who would be so very moved and inspired by them. Just like a mentor, the story of another can encourage change, whether that translates into a boost of confidence for approaching an elected official, a shot of persistence for changing the way food choices are made within an entire school district, or a dose of courage to take on the tobacco industry!

Each month, we’ll be introducing a handful of stories and connecting them to helpful resources. We hope these stories humanize, affirm, inspire, teach and leave us all just a little more hopeful and ready to go that extra mile to put prevention to work in our own lives and communities.

Carrie Sullivan, MPH
Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention
University of Wisconsin, Madison