Video: Harley's Transformation

link: https://vimeo.com/412569922

The ultimate goal of this project is to bring attention to the non-profit organization Amachi and its inspiring missions. The organization works to bring communities together and ultimately create an improved environment for the people. Amachi specifically focuses on leading unmotivated children in the right direction by pairing each mentee with a mentor that fits each child’s specific needs. The video tells the story of a young girl, named Harley and visually portrays her journey/ transformation before and after Amachi. After watching the video, I hope to encourage viewers to volunteer for the program to make a change or bring awareness of the program to someone who would benefit from it.

I wanted each emotion Harley felt to be emphasized and the main focus to be on Harley’s overall transformation. Prior to creating the final video project, I had planned to add a voiceover in the background but found that without it, the video brought a stronger message to the viewer. Because there is not a voice-over, the background music needed to be powerful and give off the emotion that Harley is feeling in order to create an emotional attachment with the viewer. The first audio track is sad, slow piano music when picturing a neighborhood, the sound continues when Harley is introduced Downtown Lexington. The music then transitions to the sound of children playing when the location changes to a school. I used the razor tool to cut audio tracks in order to use multiple sounds. The next location is a library and the sad, slow, piano sound continues. About halfway through, Amachi is introduced and the sound progresses to a happy, uplifting beat to represent the joy that Harley felt after joining the organization. This sound continues until the end of the video.

The video begins by giving a background of the story while setting a scene for the viewer and introducing Harley. The first scene pictures a neighborhood with a title screen/ overlay saying “Harley’s story”. The font Silmon was used with capital, white text, and a shadow to create contrast with the background. The text fades from 100% opacity to 0% in order to create flow into the next scene. Harley is then introduced in a city environment and transitions to video clips of children playing at a school to reflect the way she wishes to live. Next, she is in a library reading and playing attempting to feel like the other children. Harley had always loved to read and wished she was able to have all the books she could imagine. I used the speed tool to slow down several library scenes to create depth and drama for the viewer. Harley is then walking downstairs to leave and a replayed close up on her sitting on the curb is inserted here. Following along, Amachi is introduced and the building is showcased. The last location would ideally be filmed in the Amachi building, instead, I used an apartment environment to introduce Harley’s mentee. Here, she is giving Harley a stylish coat and a new book. In order to create emphasis on this exchange, I filmed the video from Harley’s perspective. Concluding the video there is the second special text/ layover. Black Silom font, with a shadow to create contrast with the white background. I also adjusted the opacity to start at 100% and fade out as I did with the beginning special text/ layover creating flow throughout the video. The text reads, “Amachi, see the change” with a picture of Harley and her mentor hugging. I found it fitting to end with a photograph to represent the memories that Harley and her mentor have made that will last a lifetime and something they will forever remember.