I Documented the Girl Running 4,000 Miles this Summer

Ulman 4K for Cancer.

By Gracie Campbell

20 April 2022

Sydney Beason who is one of my best friends at school was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was 17 years old as a junior in high school. This summer she will be running 4,000 miles with the Ulman 4K for Cancer. I had the privilege of capturing her story. For my Mini Documentary in my Digital Storytelling class. During this process I have gained so much more confidence in my production skills.

My Process:

1. I had to select a story. This part was easy because Sydney is one of the most amazing people I know, and I wanted to create something she could use in the future during her run this summer.

2. Scheduled filming day. For anyone who has worked with two college students this is no easy task however I learned a valuable skill of timeliness because I was proactive in scheduling there was more opportunity for us to meet.

3. Shot interview and b-roll. This is something I have previously done however I had to be more intentional about my shots for this video to have enough content. This is something I realized I struggle with because I feel awkward asking someone to do random tasks for me to film.

4. Edited my shots. I utilized Premiere Pro and worked to create a story arc that portrayed Sydney has a survivor and fighter and now champion.

5. Recorded track. I added in track to enhance Sydney’s voice in the story. I have really loved learning how to do voiceover work. The photo to the left is a selfie I took while doing voiceover work to share more about Sydney’s inspirational story

6. Learned More about Premiere Pro- learned how to use different video effects on Premiere Pro to enhance my story and add more depth to the piece. I used different videos to learn new skills. The picture to the left is my work using the blur tool to add interest to a still shot of Sydney during her cancer treatment.

7. Revision. This is a stage I will be in for a while. I have learned that the revision stage can continue so your work is what you want it to be.

I hope to apply my new skills into various creative avenues. My new and improved editing and videography skills can be an asset to me know matter where I end up because I can create brand content. I also know my time management skills will help me in the future be a successful professional.