The Charleston Children's Therapy Center, founded by Melissa Nelson and Charlene Durham, is Charleston's most popular occupational, physical, and speech therapy centers for children.
Last year, Melissa and Charlene traveled to Houstin, Texas for a conference on a unique program called Social Motion Skills. This program aims to help children who have graduate from occupational, physical, and speech therapy, who need help in learning how to socialize appropriatey. Upon their visit, the CCTC was granted the Social Motion Skills program. Not only is this a major addition to what their center offers, but they are the ONLY business in the Southeast to have this program!
Melissa, Charlene, the CCTC and I have paired up to showcase this fantastic program. We decided that a promotional video would highlight every aspect of the program. The video would not only provide information, facts, and statistics about the program, but would include in-action footage of Melissa and Charlene teaching the Social Motion classes.
To begin the Community Partner Project process, I brainstormed business' in the Charleston area that work with children. Since I plan to pursue a career in Counseling Education and work with many different types of children, I chose the Charleston Children's Therapy Center because they work with a large array of children. Ranging from high-functioning Asperger's Syndrome to severe Autism, the Center accomodates all needs.
Once I chose the Center and contacted Melissa, I put a plan in order.
- To begin, I brainstormed media projects that would be appropriate for the Center as well as utilizing my own media literacy skills.
- I set up a phone meeting with Melissa to propose my project.
- Together we decided that a promotional video featuring the unique Social Motion skills program as well as the Center would be most beneficial for both of us- they would have a video to put on their website as well as show at conferences and I would put my video shooting and editing skills to work as well as gain knowledge and grow my video skills. In addition, I would get to see and interact with many types of children.
- I then went to their office, located in Trident Executive Offices, and discussed a plan.
- We spoke about how the video would work: what would be included, what would not be included, what would be left out, as well as technicalities such as voice overs and music clips.We then set up times and dates for me to shoot.
- I attended a Social Motion Class at Seacoast in Summerville to shoot for the video. This class had both high-functioning and low-functioning children.
- I then attended a robotics class at Fort Dorchester High School where members of the competitive robotics team volunteer their time to work with the children in learning not only how to build, but in working with each other and interacting with all ages, gender, and races. I captured more footage for the video.
- I then uploaded footage and began to create the video using iMovie.
- Finally, I went back to the office to record voice overs to play while the footage moves. I am currently in the process of adding and editing the voice overs and footage until they come together as a clean and fluid video. This video is ongoing until both Melissa, Charlene, and I feel that it is perfect for their needs: to be put on their website and displayed at conferences.
- Through this process, I have learned how to utilize my media literacy skills as well as spend time with children.
- One of the largest benefits was learning how to appropriate communicate and interact with business owners.
- The success of our collaboration has left us both very satisfied. I feel confident that my newly-developed relationship with Melissa, Charlene, and the Center will remain happy and ongoing!
To add to the overall quality and production value of this video, it will be an ongoing work. Both the CCTC and myself will benefit from the extra time put in. Over the next month, I will continue to utilize my skills, as well as expand my knowledge on video editing by adding, subtracting, and editing footage, voice overs, music clips, and quality. The final video will be posted on CCTC's website and will be played at health conferences and schools, which Melissa and Charlene attend regularly.
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