Advanced Video Journalism

Short Doc Treatment

This semester, because of my cultural reporting class, my interest in Staten Island cultural organizations has grown. I am particularly interested in non-profit organizations. 

I plan to focus on a few topics. Which are: How does a non-profit get started, what keeps a non-profit running, who funds their educational programs, why non-profits/the arts are important to our youth. how were they affected by the pandemic and how they’re doing now.

Covid-19 caused a number of changes to cultural institutions, such as the switch to virtual operations. Especially smaller local places, such as Alice Austen House Museum, Emma’s Place – grief and loss center, St. George Theater.

These non-profit organizations that I am featuring, aside from Emma’s Place, all have educational programs for children – I want to try to highlight the educational programs, by including descriptions, with b-roll of the locations, just incase the timeline does not pan out or if permission is not granted to film in a educational setting. (Emma’s Place does offer grief training in schools and workplaces after a loss, so maybe that also counts as educational?)

My reason for including Emma’s Place among all these cultural organization non-profits is because over the last two years – many of us have suffered numerous losses,from in person interactions to jobs and income to the loss of a loved one due to Covid-19. With the interview I already conducted, I feel the importance of working through grief will be conveyed. 

Main Characters: 

  1. Karen Goldman – Founder/ Executive Director of Emma’s Place
  2. Doctor Carolyn Taverner – Co-founder / Program Director of Emma’s Place
  3. Victoria Munro – Executive Director of Alice Austen House
  4. Doreen Cugno – President/CEO of St George Theater

Possibly Staten Island Museum & Staten Island Lighthouse Museum as well

Filming Locations:

  1. Emma’s Place – Cottage Row; Staten Island, NY
  2. Alice Austen House Museum – Rosebank, Staten Island, NY
  3. St. George Theater; Staten Island, NY

Crew: Cristine Trimarco

Filming timeline: April 2022. 

Edits complete: May 10, 2022.