Smart Growth America is seeking an experienced videographer to help us produce 4-8 minute videos from (at least two, as many as three) specific cities telling a tight, simple story about their need to improve street safety, why and how they passed a Complete Streets policy, and the results they are seeing and/or hoping to see as a result.
SGA is seeking an individual or a small company with experience producing short narrative videos and is available to travel to the selected cities (Tucson, Louisville, KY and potentially Pittsburgh), can help our team develop a concept and narrative through pre-production, is comfortable conducting interviews on their own (with logistical support and scripted guidance from SGA), can capably shoot compelling b-roll of street scenes to focus on people and infrastructure, can potentially edit the final product, can move quickly and lightly with simple setups, and can think and adapt on the fly to unearth and follow an emerging story.
Background
In partnership with CityHealth, Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition are encouraging cities across the country to adopt strong Complete Streets policies to create healthier, more livable communities. Complete Streets policies require cities to include the needs and safety of residents who use all forms of transportation into street design, making it safer and more convenient for people to get around by walking, biking, transit, or using an assistive device like a wheelchair or cane. Our goals for the project are to:
- Celebrate strong Complete Streets policies in three major cities, learn about what factors led to their adoption, and spotlight some of the people involved in passing and implementing them;
- Gain a better understanding of what makes these policies successful in creating safer, accessible and more activity-friendly streets;
- Show the connection between Complete Streets and transportation equity;
- Highlight the need for strong policies as a tool to improve the poor conditions of the roadways for people outside of vehicles; and
- Illustrate the dangers that currently exist in these cities that the policies hope to address.
Desired final product
We want to work with a videographer and local experts and advocates in each city to develop short films (4-8 min max) that will tell why these policies were needed, how these places adopted and implemented a Complete Streets policy, conditions of the streets that are inhospitable for people walking or biking, and the policy’s impact on design/implementation of projects to make things safer.
Travel
Travel to the cities will be an essential part of this project. An SGA staffer may be on site to help coordinate and produce.
Coordination with Smart Growth America
SGA will be doing the bulk of the legwork to identify contacts for interviews, arrange logistics for interviews, develop scripted questions to ask, and provide an overall desired narrative for each story in advance, which will be developed in cooperation with the videographer (feedback will be welcome). While a little different in scope and focus, we are looking for stories similar to the videos produced by Streetfilms.org.
Budget
- Our working assumption for each city is two shooting days: one day to shoot interviews and a second day to shoot street scenes and/or b-roll content from around the city.
- Our budget range for each video (including editing the final product which can potentially be farmed out to a separate editor instead) is $8,000-$10,000.
- All travel costs will be covered and booked by Smart Growth America (travel and lodging).
- The decision about shooting two videos or three will be made as we go, so provide a budget for each single video.
- Exclusive rights will be assigned to Smart Growth America, though you retain rights for any personal or professional use.
Desired qualifications
- A proven ability to communicate complex policies into simple, understandable videos accessible to a wide range of audiences.
- Basic understanding of transportation policies and Complete Streets as well as a readiness to listen and learn more.
- Quality portfolio of videos designed to educate and demonstrate a need for change.
- Experience creating art that communicates the equity implications of policy or decision-making, and that accurately depicts a range of demographics including people of color.
How to submit a proposal
Please send to AVP of Transportation Strategy Steve Davis ([email protected]):
- A short one- or half-page letter describing your approach and interest in the project
- A draft budget for the project
- Some samples of recent work
- We’d love to see your work that best lines up with our goals for these videos, namely a complex subject rendered clearly and understandably, comparable in length (less than 10 minutes), work done for non-profits, etc.
Deadline and timing
Please send in your proposals by midnight on November 7, 2021. Proposals will be reviewed on November 8, 2021, and a final selection made later that week. The project will kick off soon afterward. All videos will be presented to the public before the end of January 2022.