Storyhunter Staff Picks: April 2020
After March felt like it would never end, April went by in the blink of an eye. If there’s anything we’ve learned over the course of this pandemic, it’s that we, as humans, are resilient. Schools around the world are transitioning into remote learning, grocery store clerks continue to do their part and freelancers are finding new ways to tell stories, and safe means of doing so. In this edition of the Storyhunter Staff Picks, you’ll see a documentary with footage from eight freelance filmmakers from across the globe, some breathtaking drone footage from the city that usually never sleeps, and much more.
How Coronavirus Has Changed Lives Around The World
Great Big Story
Freelance Filmmakers: Jeremy Kruis (Philippines), Fred Dufour (China), Jack Davis (Hungary), Alex Gatenby (London), Tim Smith (Spain), Luca Immesi (Italy), David Wardell (Australia), Masoud Soheili (Iran)
Great Big Story started a series called Around the World, where they explore common elements of the human experience like love and coffee. Since the pandemic has forced billions of people into quarantine, they collaborated with eight filmmakers in eight different countries to show that we’re experiencing the same pandemic in similar ways. Beryl Shereshewsky, Great Big Story’s Senior Producer, documented her own situation in New York City just like the freelancers, and talked about this project in an interview with Storyhunter.
New York, Paused
Voice of America
Drone Photographer: Aaron Fedor
There has been some really powerful imagery of desolate cities, and Voice of America hired drone photographer Aaron Fedor to capture some in New York City. The aerial footage he got of the city that supposedly never sleeps is unsettling, even though he was able to film on a day with picture perfect weather. Aaron has done work for 12 different clients on Storyhunter, including Business Insider, NBC Universal and Quicktake by Bloomberg. He’s also been very prolific the past couple months, completing 8 projects between March and April.
How a Small Blog From 2004 is Keeping The Golden Age of the Web Alive
NBCUniversal
Director/Cinematographer: Lucas Alvarado-Farrar
NBC Universal was in need of an experienced filmmaker to help them profile a 2004 blog that has stood the test of time, and is still around today as a blog, app and community. They turned to a familiar face, Lucas Alvarado-Farrar, who has worked with NBC through Storyhunter seven times. Lucas has had success as an independent filmmaker as well. He produced and filmed Sundance nominee Whose Streets, a documentary covering the uprising in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Ancient Practice of Self-Isolation
BBC Reel
Multimedia Journalist: Alice Carfrae
Over the last few months, a lot of people have been forced to self-isolate, probably for the first time in their lives. The practice of self-isolation is by no means a new concept though, and BBC Reel worked with freelancer Alice Carfrae to tell us just how far this goes back. Alice is a multimedia journalist who has done work for Great Big Story, GoPro and the Golden State Warriors.
Vegas’ Solution To Homelessness During COVID-19
Maffick Media
Freelance Videographer: Lucas Mullikin
Maffick Media needed a video journalist and drone photographer to shoot this piece on where Las Vegas is “housing” their homeless individuals. Lucas Millikin applied for this job with an impressive resume, having 47 projects on Storyhunter under his belt. Maffick Media gave Lucas a 5-star rating for his work and left this review — “Lucas was three hours away but ready to hit the road the minute he saw the posting. He filmed amazing footage and provided complimentary drone shots, and transferred the files the same day.”
By Jake Watkins, Head of Stories
