Corona Virus Documentary Interest Form

Please note all data collected is private and will not be shared with anyone without expressed consent. The COVID-19 is (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime event for every generation currently alive. It is extremely important to capture thoughts, emotions, and experiences of everyone around the world as we face this together. This needs to be documented and shared with the world so we can learn from and support each other. We need to document this event for historical sake so we do not forget what life was like; history can never be forgotten. THE VISION: With today’s technology and connectivity, the best camera is the one you have with you: your cellphone. I need people to commit to making a daily video of themselves and share thoughts, concerns, and answer daily questions I might feed you as stimulus. By crowd-sourcing this footage daily from people around the world, we can create the best and most complete collection of people’s daily lives and how they change as the pandemic progresses. We need to document this to connect with each other and document our realities for future generations. WHAT I NEED: I need anyone and everyone who is willing to take a daily video indefinitely (perhaps a month or more) and upload it to a database so I can compile them into a documentary. I need people from EVERY background; whether you’re in Italy, China, the US, Algeria, etc. I want to hear from you. If you have the virus or don’t have the virus, I want to hear from you. If you are quarantined or enjoying a normal life, I want to hear from you. Whether you’re 5 years old or 95 years old, I want to hear from you. WHAT IS IMPORTANT: Committing to weekly videos, even if they’re a quick 10-15 second update, is critical. I need to document the progression of people’s daily lives around the world. Consistency is key; we need daily commitment to capture the unforeseen events that develop. WHO ARE YOU? My name is Richard, I'm a filmmaker based in Oregon but currently living in at home with family for the time being until travel restrictions are lifted. I have been doing short form documentaries for a while, most recently I returned from Japan from production on a snowsurfing documentary in Hokkaido. Right now it is only me during this "pre-production" phase where we're gathering info, participants, and footage. The production phase will begin as I start compiling submitted footage and film other segments, and during that phase I will work with a small crew and search for funding through grants. We are currently applying for fiscal sponsorship from the International Documentary Association and have an application in for National Geographic's COVID-19 Journalism grant. From there we will be able to solicit donations and apply to film grants. HOW DO I SIGN-UP? Answer the linked survey and input your basic data such as name, email, location, and age. From there I will set up an email list and send an email with instructions on how and where to upload daily videos and give questions to start answering. After day 1, I will send daily emails with new questions or talking points, and you will upload your video from your cellphone to the database for storage. Let’s come together as a global community and make something that’s bigger than all of us. In a time when we’re all so far apart, we can utilize the internet to become a little bit closer and support and learn from each other. I hope you sign-up! We need your voice!