02 Nov My Best Video Production

I’m especially proud of this amazing video:

It’s one of six that I produced for a Wizard of Oz themed virtual fundraiser. Pre-taped content is great for live, virtual and hybrid events and I love creating it!

I re-wrote scripts several times, created costumes, hung a green screen, rigged lighting, blacked out my windows and filmed myself alone in my costume room. My editing wizard and co-star, David C Jones borrowed and helped build costumes, recruited volunteer make-up artists and a camera operator, found his own studio space, then watched YouTube tutorials and learned how to add special effects. He went above and beyond the rainbow to make the videos literally magical.

As challenging as all of that was, the hardest part was talking the client into letting us do it! I wasn’t  hired to create videos. I was hired to host a virtual event dressed as 16-year-old Dorothy Gale. The event planner had talked the board of directors into having me host instead of a TV news anchor. For seven weeks I begged them to hire David and let us create pre-taped content for the event. I needed the lion, tinman and scarecrow! I was so passionate about David being a part of the project that I hired him myself and paid him out of my fee.

Here’s some footage of me hosting the event live in between the pre-taped videos:

This event was really important to me because I know and love the Langley community of generous donors and volunteers. I performed at their 2019 Hollywood gala and took pictures with most of the 400 guests.  I imagined them sitting in front of their screens alone at home this year. I wanted to give them something special. My heart was in it.

The 2021 event raised $311,000 for the hospital. My client wrote, “Your work on our virtual gala was first class. We’re still hearing amazing things from guests who participated!”

I’m performing at both live and virtual events this holiday season.  Contact me if you’d like some ideas about how I can create customized entertainment to bring joy and wow-factor to an event.

And if you know of an event planner, charity organization, association or company that could use my creative input, feel free to give me a call, send me an email or forward this one.