Finding Inspiration in Different Places

I recently watched a documentary called “The Ninth Floor” on Mediastorm.org.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect when it started.  It almost seemed to resemble and episode of “Intervention,” which drew me to it.  I don’t know why, and I wish I knew why people have something inside them that draws them into to watching people who are misbehaving or doing bad things.

That is why I started to watch it, as bad as it may sound to say.  This story was beyond incredible though.  I wish there were words to describe its beauty.  Just a series of images placed together, you never see anyone on a video, that simple.  I say it’s simple, but I know it’s not.  You wouldn’t see me walking around with a still camera getting the images that Jessica Dimmock got. 

The story really got me thinking though.  I had to turn my head away at times because it was just so hard to watch.  What happens if I’m asked to do a story about something that is too difficult?  How will I handle it?  It also made me wonder about the people she found.  These three people opened themselves up like I’ve never seen in a story before.  How do you find those people who are just so willing to let loose in front of a camera and be themselves, whether it’s good or bad?  In every story I’ve done, I’ve been lucky enough to find sources who will help me and say the things I’m hoping they’ll say, but they would never be willing to let me follow them around and get as intimate into their lives as Dimmock. 

The story is a reminder of how much learning I still have to do.  Yes, I’m fairly far along in college, but learning never ends.  After I graduate and get my first job, I will still be learning so much.  It will never end.  All you can do is strive to be better, and have that story that people look at and think, “Wow, I could never do anything like that, I’m not talented enough.”  I think truthfully, we are all talented enough, we just have to find that right story or source to connect to in order to truly tell a good, deep story the way Dimmock did.  

Candy Shop Crunch Time

Valentine’s Day.  What is there to say about it?  Love, romance, flowers and chocolates.  This is the day where everything and everyone sweet and in love goes out to profess their love to the world.  But what about the gifts?  Does anyone even care where they come from, or what other people had to go through in order to provide for them?

Over the weekend, I did a story about a small candy store in Fulton, MO.  I wanted to go behind the scenes, so to speak, and see what goes in to making Valentine’s Day the confectionary holiday that it is. 

Diane Branch is the owner of Sweet Temptations candy store.  I asked plenty of questions about candy and the most popular during Valentine’s Day and during the year, and her story about opening the shop.  While all of the answers were very interesting, one really surprised me.

Branch has dipped more than 1,000 strawberries in chocolate.  1,000 strawberries.  I can’t even imagine what that looks like.  They are all hand dipped and then hand decorated.  Diane had been getting to her store around 5 in the morning all week in order to have all of the strawberries ready.

This story was kind of frustrating for me.  My whole idea going into the story was to focus on how busy candy stores are the day before Valentine’s Day.  When I called to set up my interview, Branch said that she was going to be very busy and wouldn’t be able to do an interview until after the store closed.  She decided to keep the store open until 5:30, so I said I would be there around 4:15, so I had 45 minutes to get video of all the people in the store, and then stay after to do an interview with the owner.  I thought it seemed pretty logical.

My timing would have worked out perfectly, except I didn’t realize that word never got around town that Branch was staying open later.  Everyone thought that the store was closing, so they came by 3:30.  So now, instead of having a candy shop full of customers, I have an empty one that has one customer at the end of the day.

Now I’ll have to focus my story on making chocolate covered strawberries and the owner herself, instead of the hustle and bustle of February 13.  It’s frustrating, but I think it will still turn out well.  Well, at least, I hope it does!

Finding a Common Bond

I listened to a WGBH Morning Story today.  It was called "A Million Dollar Cookie."  It started with Tony Kahn eating a cookie made from an original recipe.  He described everything about the cookie.  The taste, the smell, the texture.  Everything you recognize when eating a cookie yourself.  In all honesty, I really wanted to try this carmel chai cookie!  

The story went so much deeper than just the perfect brown color of a cookie though.  We met Kerstin Sinkevicius, who created the recipe.  We learned some background information about her life and her family.  She had entered over 30 recipes into the Pillsbury Bake-Off in an attempt to win a million dollars!  The money would secure a bright future for her future children.  All she wanted to do was be able to provide for her children what her parents could for her.

Then, the story took a surprising twist.  It didn't come until the middle of the story.  Here the audience is, thinking that they're listening to a happy story about cookies and winning millions, and then you're hit with a bomb.  Her mother has a brain tumor.  Ironically enough, Sinkevicius has dedicated her life to learning more about tumors and why they grow back after they've gone away.  There isn't much she can do though.

Kahn was able to become a part of this story because his mother in law recently passed away, and her and his wife shared a love of baking.  He talked about his wife having a cook book that used to be their favorite.  This got Sinkevicius talking about the passion her and her mother have for baking, and her favorite cook book that's pink with a cupcake on it.  Kahn bringing up his personal story made Sinkevicius feel more comfortable and able to open up about her story.

Finding a common ground with the central compelling character seems to be key.  You make the CCC more comfortable, and show them that you, as a journalist, are a human being, and not just someone asking question after question.

A Soup Kitchen That Serves Spirit

  Being a 21 year old girl who grew up in a middle class in the suburbs of Chicago, I really had no idea what to expect at a soup kitchen.  When I walked in all of the people just stared at me.  I felt so out of place.  I finally found Helen Manson, the kitchen coordinator, and she gave me the run down on what would be going on.  I went into the kitchen to start getting some video of the volunteers serving.  

  There was a window in the wall that the volunteers would serve the food through. When the residents saw the camera, they instantly began asking questions.  They made it very clear that they wanted nothing to do with being on camera or answering questions.  

 

After talking to the volunteers, I began to understand why no one wanted to talk. If I were in their position, I wouldn't want to talk either. Some of these people come in

religiously every week. Now that the kitchen is open twice a week, the volunteers will see them more. One volunteer even said that he had a sneaking suspicion that

this might be the only time during the week that some of these people eat. Hearing that is heart breaking.

 

While each resident attending the dinner has a sad story, the volunteers are incredibly positive. They had nothing but good things to say about the city of Holts Summit and how it's always willing to help no matter the circumstance. The

people who come in every week have become like family to the volunteers. They sit and eat with each other and share stories. It's so easy to see the bond that these people share, and it makes you feel good all over.