Breaking Down The Story

Introducing Craig Norris and VideoBand Productions 

We have all heard about the doom and gloom in regards to the environment and climate change, but what would get us engaged to be a part of the solution? Many have tried to spur us into action or at least gain our attention (some more successfully than others). One way we can take any heavy subject more interesting is to convey the facts in the way of a story. So, what makes a story captivating? Today’s Boiling Point guest is showing us how to take big problems, break them into smaller problems, and turn them into an engaging story.

Craig Norris is a previous Boiling Point guest and is back with us this week to bring us up-to-date with what he has been up to. Since we last spoke to Craig, he and his company VideoBand Productions have been busy creating engaging stories that tackle real environmental problems. Craig’s “secret sauce” in creating intriguing content that is both entertaining and educational is fairly simple. He looks to tell a story where you find an interesting person in an interesting place doing something interesting. Using this formula in his recent film, Kokota: The Islet of Hope, Craig was honoured with three awards, including Best Short Film on Sustainability at the world’s largest eco film festival, The DC Environmental Film Festival.

Check out this episode of the Boiling Point to see how you could make your next story something truly great.

In this episode

• We are reacquainted with Craig.
• He tells us about his recent trip to Washington, DC and his win at the DCEFF.
• Craig tells us the story behind, Kokota: The Islet of Hope as well as a few of his other great films.
• There is a discussion about how to tackle huge problems by breaking them down into smaller problems to tackle and achieve a great deal.
• We learn how a cross-cultural exchange between Canada and Pemba, Tanzania offered inspiration and information for both countries.
• Craig breaks down how he is able to tell such great stories.
• There is a discussion on how humor is a great way to leave a long-lasting impact on someone’s mind, even with dry or heavy material.
• Craig tells us about a time before filmmaking when he was in a job that didn’t match his values and how he made a change.
• We discuss how a lot of stress and unhappiness can emerge from having roles in businesses that don’t match our personal values.
• Craig talks about how following your passion is not easy but worthwhile and how you might end up working harder, but sleeping better.
• Greg is inspired by how Craig is able to do work in line with his values.
• Dave loves how Greg and Craig don’t treat each other as competition but as colleagues and how Craig is able to break down what makes a great story.

Links

- VideoBand's Website

- VideoBand on Facebook

- VideoBand on YouTube

- VideoBand on Vimeo

- Craig's Previous Boiling Point Episode

- Community Forests International

- Tideland Doc Fest

Charitable Confirmation

Introducing Jay Whitelaw and Givesome

We are all asked to give to charities and groups on a daily basis. Sometimes it is through adding a dollar to your supermarket total, or maybe a television commercial, or a girl scout at your front door. At the same time, many of us have become cynics when it comes to charitable giving because we don’t know where all the money is going and we often only hear from the charity or group when it comes time to give again. This cynicism has boiled over to a point where less Canadians are making charitable donations and giving less of their income according to 2014 Canadian Revenue Agency data. Today’s Boiling Point guest has taken notice of this dilemma and hacked the process of donating. 

Jay Whitelaw is the creator of Givesome, an app that changes the game for charitable donations in a few key ways. Firstly, there isn’t a question of how much of your money is going to a given charity; it’s 100%. Jay developed his system so that corporations and brands partner with him in order to pay for any operational costs in exchange for branding opportunities. This allows all funds given by person donators to go directly to the initiative they are supporting. The app also tackles another problem many fundraisers overlook, which is to show the direct impact of your donation. Givesome shows you exactly how your money was used through notifications of any project you financially support and gets funded. This way you can actually see the impact you are making with a small donation. 

Check out this week’s episode of the Boiling Point to see how you can be inspired to give.

In this episode

• We meet Jay and get inspired by the way he is giving back.
• Jay tells us why it is so much more meaningful to actually see our charitable dollars at work.
• We hear a recent example of how Givesome works, and how an initiative was funded in less than 2 hours.
• We hear how give a little and see the good works.
• Jay tells us how he got brands and corporations to fund all operational costs so that your charitable funds aren’t “taxed”.
• Jay tells us about an important piece he received that involved asking for “beatings”.
• We hear how a chance meeting with a man from Namibia changed his life forever.
• Jay explains how charitable giving without seeing the impact is like buying a Christmas gift for a kid and not being there when they open it up.
• Greg appreciates how Givesome doesn’t put too much pressure on either donators or brands.
• Dave like the practical applications of “taking beatings”.

Links

- Givesome's Website

- Givesome at the App Store

- Givesome on Facebook

- Givesome on Twitter

- Givesome on Instagram

- Givesome on Vimeo

- Jay on Linked In