My Video Portfolio
Welcome to a representative selection of video work I’ve done over the years. I’ve grouped them first by shorter, more high energy projects and then to a bit longer, more documentary style projects. I end with a few family and friends videos.
As you view the videos below, I’d like you to remember a few things.
First, none of these videos were initiated or undertaken as a part of an actual job, they are all spare time or “for fun” projects. I was drawn to them because I have always had a creative aspect to my life. I have been a musician since childhood and have had the honor of playing stages literally around the world. Video took off later in life as another expressive outlet, born out of that deep passion I’ve always had for music, art and creativity in general. These artistic elements came together primarily for me as a desire to capture unique moments in the history of the schools in which I’ve been employed.
Second, none of these projects were shot or produced on equipment I would refer to as professional. The early videos were all shot on a small, handheld Flip camera that I owned personally. Later, I upgraded to a Canon 70D DSLR to capture video. Most of the Good Shepherd Episcopal School projects were shot on better quality gear and with better lighting but all of it was still very much consumer grade equipment.
And finally, I’ve had no formal training. That was likely evident from the two points above and may become more evident as you view these videos. However, I have approached video work in much the same way as I have approached music…I study good work. I watch, I listen and I learn. One strategy I’ve leaned on in many projects is, I will shoot the video with a general idea in mind but I then let the music drive the cuts and other creative elements in the end. No doubt this direction stems from my music background. Another element of my approach that I’ve learned is, you can never have too much footage. While organizing it can be a challenge, having just the right clip can add so much to the finished product. However, being a life long learner, I know there is so much more out there for me to uncover as I continue to do this kind of work.
Thank you for taking a look.
A few examples of shorter, higher energy videos:
Grandparents and Special Friends Day 2017
Good Shepherd Episcopal School
Length: 1 minute 28 seconds
Fort Worth Academy Extravaganza 2015
A short video capturing the 2015 Extravaganza event itself
Length: 1 minute 39 seconds
Union Pacific’s Big Boy
Passing through Collinsville, TX on October 13, 2024
Length: 44 seconds
Ice
This was the ice storm of December 2013 that pretty much shut down much of North Texas. Like everyone, I was stuck at home so I spent time watching all the videos and pictures my friends were posting on social media of their goofy ice antics. This project came to mind so I snagged lots of the videos and images and created this video.
Length: 2 minute 31 seconds
Fort Worth Christian Robotics Team
A short video of one of my son’s robotics tournaments from his high school days.
Length: 1 minute 7 seconds
A few examples of videos that are more documentary style:
Extravaganza Fundraiser Video
Each year, the school held a fundraising gala. This particular event, the boss wanted to share a video with the constituents at the event to give them an inside look at the students and the school. I produced the entire video from concept to final product. Our Director of Development drafted the questions and did the student and faculty interviews.
Length: 7 minute 48 seconds
MidWinterim at The Academy
One of the first video projects I produced end to end, from concept to final product. I shot everything, arranged and led the interviews, chose all music elements and edited everything together.
Length: 4 minute 49 seconds
The Leading Thoughts Project by Dr. Julie McLeod
Dr. McLeod, my boss, wanted to provide more regular communication to the constituents at GSES. I suggested we produce a weekly video message. She and I, plus a couple other school administrators, put our heads together and created the concept of the Leading Thoughts series. The background graphic element you see in the intro and outro and the school logo were designed and created by our marketing department. I produced each intro and outro bumper including music selection and adding motion to the text and graphic elements. I then lit, shot and separately recorded the audio for each weekly content segment and edited (on my own time at home) each week together and published to the school’s YouTube channel. As you will see and hear, we shot at different locations around campus each week so lighting and sound often proved to be a bit of a challenge. I have picked a handful of the weekly segments to demonstrate different content and editing techniques I used.
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Leading Thoughts - Space Week
This primary video was shot in our green screen studio so the space image behind Dr. McLeod was added in post. I shot and included lots of B roll footage and picked the video elements that tied to the dialog Dr. McLeod was speaking about. I even included some footage from a GoPro camera I mounted on the wall to capture the crowd in our library.
Length: 2 minute 05 seconds
Leading Thoughts - ERB Testing at GSES
This is a two camera shoot with added graphic elements
Length: 3 minute 18 seconds
Leading Thoughts - Reggio Emilia
This is a simple, one camera shoot interview style with two people mic’d up and on camera
Length: 2 minute 07 seconds
Leading Thoughts - Annual Fund Time!
This is a simple, one camera shoot with only Dr. McLeod
Length: 2 minute 13 seconds
Our Future Is Strong
A Q&A with Head of School Dr. Julie McLeod and Board Chair Catherine Bowe
Coming out of our COVID year, Dr. McLeod wanted to share about the upcoming school year. This is an example of a three camera shoot I did. This video is still on the GSES YouTube channel.
Length: 10 minute 8 seconds
A few random, for fun school video projects:
Over The Edge
My boss, Bill Broderick, signed up to repel down the side of a building in downtown Fort Worth. I thought I’d capture it all. I used a cheap Flip camera to shoot the stuff before and after. I also strapped a small camera to his helmet to capture what he saw during the repelling.
Length: 3 minute 40 seconds
Oi at The Academy
We were remodeling a space at the school and got some new, modular furniture. I thought I would capture a time-lapse of us setting up the furniture and some footage of the first few students to enjoy it.
Length: 1 minute 7 seconds
A Few Family and Friends Oriented Videos:
Yule Loy Christmas 2019
Debbie made this candle and picture frame display in our fireplace one Christmas and decided to light the candles. I shot a minute or so and looped it to cover the Christmas music.
Length: 3 minute 20 seconds
David McGee Memorial Prayer Bench Dedication
Length: 1 minute 28 seconds
David McGee’s Memorial Video
A tribute to my father-in-law that was shown at his funeral service.
Length: 7 minute 29 seconds
Man with the Golden Sax
There was a major news story about a homeless man asking for donations on a street corner with a sign that said he had a Golden Voice (see the video here). It was very compelling so I came up with the idea of doing a humorous take off of it with a friend of mine who played a “Golden Sax”. We did a few takes so I’m sure the people of Southwest Fort Worth, where we shot this, were more than a little annoyed with us.
Length: 48 seconds
Navarre Beach Helicopter Ride 2011
I took my boys on a helicopter ride over the beach in Florida where we were on a family vacation. Shot on a cheap Flip camera (which you can actually see at one point in the reflection from the helicopter glass). My oldest actually was on an episode of NPR’s show “All Things Considered” as a result of us being in the right place at the right time in Chicago in 2004, which is the clip you hear of his tiny, 10 year old voice. Also, I did get in a bit of trouble with YouTube for using Creed’s song, “Higher” but I thought it was appropriate for the content. I’m surprised it worked out and is still on YouTube today.
Length: 6 minute 30 seconds
Actual Film:
Making Movies Circa 1977
A short clip of some of my pre-digital movie making, shot using an 8mm movie camera in a friend's back yard and recently digitized for sharing. Note, do not attempt to adjust the volume, there was no audio on the 8mm movie film.
Length: 2 minute 33 seconds