Training media volunteers
Over the last several months I have been trying to build our media team at my church. One area that I have encountered is the area of training. Very few volunteers unless they do it professionally will be able to do a project start to finish without any help due to the nature of film/video and the nature of it. Because of the difficulty involved in training media volunteers I have developed several steps to train.
step 1. assess each volunteer individually
Do they have any experience or examples? Watch previous videos and offer critiques. Depending on their level of experience you might jump steps.
step 2. provide opportunities to practice
Give them a non-threatening assignment that can be just for fun. This will help them to develop their eye and get a better grasp at how to use the camera.
step 3. accompany during shoots and assist
Schedule several shoots where you know your volunteers are available and can make the shoots. Have them help carry stuff, hold a boom or focus the camera.
step 4. determine their specific interest
Do they like motion graphics, editing, camera operating, interviewing, lighting, the whole thing???
Determining their specific need will help you to excel instead of forcing them to learn 3d animation.
step 5. help them do one project
Once your volunteers can get one project under their belt the process will be uphill from there if they feel they have the hang of it
- Starting a youth media team
- Just to be clear
- Kurrent community brings resources for youth leaders
- If you build it they will come – a lesson in recruiting volunteers
- You’ve Got the Time
