Nonprofit Work Captured on Film

On July 19^th eight nonprofits showed their impact in the community through film. Through a project funded by the Placer Community Foundation, select organizations were instructed and consequently produced, short videos capturing an aspect of their services to improve the quality of life in Placer County. These videos were screened for the public at Sierra College’s Dietrich Theatre on July 19^th at 5:00 p.m.

Click here to watch all eight videos!

The course, taught by the Documentary Foundation of Sacramento, was designed to build a nonprofit’s capacity to tell their story through short, concise videos. Throughout the course select staff members from each nonprofit learned the fundamentals of filmmaking: story-telling, camera-work, and editing. In addition to the classroom lecture, participants chose a story related to their organization, filmed it, and then edited the footage into a 3-to-5 minute film.

“Videos have become a powerful way to engage people around a cause via on-line social media such as blogs, Twitter, and Facebook,” stated Jessica Hubbard, Philanthropic Services Manager for Placer Community Foundation. “This was one of a series of grants made by the Community Foundation to provide the nonprofit sector with technical assistance aimed to create and share their stories with the public.”

Instructors of the course were Christopher Rufo and Keith Ochwat. Together they have produced films for PBS including: Roughing It: Mongolia, an adventure travel program, and Diamond in the Dunes, a feature documentary about a Muslim baseball team in China’s Wild West. Their latest documentary, Age of Champions recently premiered at the 2011 Silverdocs Film Festival in Washington, DC.

The Doc School program is an initiative of the Documentary Foundation which teaches aspiring filmmakers the fundamentals of storytelling through film. Rufo and Ochwat are the founders and directors of the Documentary Foundation.

The following local nonprofit organizations screened their videos on July 19^th: A Touch of Understanding, Boys & Girls Club of Auburn, PlacerArts, Placer Community Foundation, Placer Land Trust, Placer SPCA, Seniors First, and Sierra College Foundation.

Learn more about the variety of grants offered by the Placer Community Foundation, including how you can help support them or create one of your own with a gift today or through bequest.

Send Us Feedback

Was this helpful?
No Very

Name (optional)

Website (optional)

Email Address (optional)

Please fill in the text in the image in the box below

Comment (optional)