by Alissa Brooks

We’re starting to lose track of the number of days we’ve been here in San Diego, but today does mark our last day of filming, photographing, and audio collecting on location with Foundation for Women’s heroes.  The production phase has come to an end, and now the editing begins.

Phil says that audio is the backbone of any documentary.  Without good audio you’re sunk. Capturing sound bites is quite the process, as we have all learned first hand.  First comes microphone set up, then sound levels are tested and monitored, the interview is conducted … and then the “fun” begins.  Each interview must be transcribed, word for word, by someone so that it can be easily edited and the audio can be added to the film.  To easily pick out quotes in an interview is key to telling the person’s story.

Sara Begley transcribing an interview

“We are all walking around telling a personal narrative to ourselves,” explains Sara Begley, a workshop participant, “and they absolutely define who we are.  I think everybody wants to be heard and understood.”

Sara is the storytelling expert of the group.  A San Diego resident, Sara has made a business of capturing family histories through interviews, transcription, and printing.  While she has put her transcribing skills to good use here at the workshop, her ability to tell a compelling story has truly been her gift to this process.

“In this  documentary film making process, the story is organic – it’s them, it’s the person, it’s their life – it’s so easy to capture that, just get someone to start talking.”  The difference with this workshop is that the visual component is added to story. “Phil and his art take storytelling up a level.  Learning from him has been inspiring. I need stories, I crave them.  I’ve always been that way.  They carry me. And now I know that what I want to do for a living is possible.”