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I love this part of the process-finishing something and then reflecting about it. It’s 6 am and I just opened my computer and watched this conference piece once again, here on my blog. How cool is that? I could put it through another draft, but I think I’m going to leave it alone for now.

I shot this piece on April 1 and it’s July 3. I could have completed this piece sooner, but I did stay away from, avoiding it as is my MO but at least a month of the delay was beyond my control. Computer problems and at the end of month of repair efforts I walked out of my Apple store a brand new computer, an upgrade from the original one just about to turn a year old. So it was a win, win for me and the pressure was on to get moving before our SI begins on Monday. I have another DS due for our opening day. Ah deadlines, I work best with that real-world demand.

So what happened to get this one created?

It was different. I was an observer, holding tightly to my video camera and moving with the group of participants as they began the day in one place and watching them with the inspiration and expertize of the workshop presenters, shift.

It was exciting and I wanted to document that shift and I think I did. Now I’m wondering how could we take it to the next step. What happened when those excited teachers returned home and back to their classrooms. How can we know?

As I created this piece I was engaged in my own learning. New software to create a piece with more bells and whistles mostly centered in the opening sequence, using Motion. Funny, no one mentioned that in their comments. Well, Tuvia did and my guy at Apple did and I felt good about finally creating it on my own after a few sessions of having someone break down the program’s complexities for me. I have yet another fat manual for future reference.

So my computer left me waiting, the software slowed me down, as I returned to my learning stance, and then there’s my own procrastination, avoiding the video I shot, documenting the day. I had lots of video, an hour of video and from that I only really needed 5 minutes, 6…I settled for 7 , almost 8.

Ugh, how do you edit to the day’s essence?

I remember early conference calls with the ELL NWP team. I remember thinking through I goals for the piece, to document participant ahaas..I remember Paul Oh cautioning me about setting my expectations lower given the usual realities of a conference day. I think that with the manageable number of 30, it was easier to follow faces that grew familiar.

Okay I finally began watching my hour of video and creating groups of clips in simple chronological order from start to finish, following the day’s structure: last minute preparations, tech lit icebreaker, first collaboration exercise….on and on…

Of course I wondered about what I didn’t capture. Not enough tape from Lynn’s workshop, Judy moved away from the camera too much, how much of Paul’s keynote would work with the focus of my piece, how could I use presentations as voice overs with action? I kept watching section after section and cutting…lots of cutting…even after the first draft went up and I got some comments from Kevin, I went back and cut more and then as the piece remained with me when I turned off the computer, I was relived, i still had everything I cut, in reserve if I needed to bring it back.

And what was hardest, merging the voice and visuals and smoothing it all out with transitions and of course the use of the camera, wondering why I moved when I did. Did my jet lag hold me back from being more engaged in the day?

So a piece was created given all the delays, procrastination, the issues and that’s the magic and yes, I am satisfied that I was able to capture the process of the participant experience.

Now let’s see how others feel, but I’m feeling good. I remember how I felt as I finished directing a high school play. Loved being in that creative process and creating these digital pieces are offering me another opportunity to get immersed in a collaborative process. Love this too.

And there’s one more thing that needs to be brought into the mix, this was a comissioned piece. So I think I viewed the whole creative process differently.  I didn’t write the text for it.  I was the to document and nervous that my vision would do justice to the hard work of others and that we were on the same page.  It was great to put a draft here, ask for feedback and get it.

Thanks to everyone who watched and to those like Kevin and Elyse and Judy who offered great feedback.  I hope the latest version incorporated the suggestions.

Bonnie