As I write, I sit in a stiff wooden pew in a Methodist church just shy of Powell Boulevard. The interns from Texas are sitting beside me as the melodic strands of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto dance in the otherwise still air of the sanctuary. The Dickson String quartet is in good form, their fingers flitting over the instruments, never resting, always roving to find the next dulcet note.
Caleb and Aaron are filming the concert. It's interesting to finally see them in action, standing behind the cameras, eyes watching, gauging the action in front of them through the lens of the camera. This is also their first chance to try syncing two cameras together. It was a mad rush to set the cameras up for the concert.
For a moment, it's easy to forget that they don't have an "easy" medium to work with. Photographers can point and shoot with their cameras, showing up minutes before and leaving after the action. All a journalist needs to survive is a pencil and scraps of paper. But for a videographer, it's a different story. They must strive to keep the delicate balance of audio and visual—capturing the faces and the voices of the stories unfolding before their cameras.
As the music fills the background of my thoughts, I can't help but draw comparisons between the quartet and the documentary project. The quartet is made up of dedicated musicians. They didn't just come off the street. Before trying to play with another musician, they first had to learn how to play their instrument, master it, caress it and draw the sweet melodies from within. Hours were spent alone; playing scales, finger exercises and solos while their friends were playing outside in the sunshine. During the summer months, practicing was not always what they wanted to do. But yet they persisted.
In the same way, each artist coming to this project is like the quartet members. Members spent hours, months and years fine-tuning their chosen craft until it reached a level that was pleasing not only to themselves but to the public as well. Each one has thrived individually in their field. Some of us have worked on big media projects before while for others, its uncharted territory.
There is one question that lingers in my mind as the music plays. What will our music sound like?
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As parents we are praying that God will surround all who is envolved with the work that you will be doing with a hedge of protection and many seeds will be planted. God bless all of you
Mm. Wonderful thoughts, Caitlin. We'll all be waiting with you to see what comes of it!
We pray for all of you everyday and are so excited to see what God will do with all these gifts and talents He has given each of you. Caitlin, you are a gifted writer- ask Aaron, I dont say that to too many people! Dont get weary team!