This Is My Brave: Inspirational Stories from Everyday People

It's Time to Live Brave

This Is My Brave is a non-profit community of advocates dedicated to ending the stigma around mental illness. At one of their shows, it is hard to not be affected by the inspiring stories of courage presented on stage. As such, it was an honor to get the opportunity to bring these stories to a wider audience by first shooting invitational promos for their annual show, but also to record these performances for people who wanted to go to the show but couldn't. 

Part of the challenge is marketing for a show like this. Part open mic night, part support group, the video needed a particular look. We went with bright pastel backgrounds with a little glow behind the speaker to convey the mood the organizers were going for. It couldn't be too dour, because with the subject matter it could drive away the very type of people it was trying to reach. We had each speaker come in to our green screen in Fairfax and speak a bit about their struggle and what the show meant to them. Word spread fast, and the show was a hit! Look at some examples of how we've produced videos to promote this enlightening show.

Inspirational Stories Live On Stage

When shooting live performances it is key to have multiple cameras set up in order to have a few angles to sync up and work with. Our experiences with the Adagio Ballet company helped us prepare to cover their live show and the work speaks for itself. We wanted to convey just how emotionally powerful these shows are. For these shows, we used tighter close ups to enhance the impact of highly emotional moments. For the musical performances we were able to pull back to a wider angle to follow the performer as he or she shared their experiences. Covering live shows is anything but easy!

Ending the Stigma

Each year the shows are always different. Presenters come and go, each gaining a measure of catharsis through sharing their story. Some are essayists, others are poets, and some are even musicians. Though the faces may change the quality of the storytelling never ebbs, and each year comes with new challenges when shooting and editing the show. Check out some highlights from the previous years' shows and see how the partnership between Gearshift and This Is My Brave has blossomed. 

This Is Our Brave

We're happy to report our partnership with This Is My Brave has been a rousing success. Their audience has grown to over thirty-five hundred! Their blog is a great resource for those struggling with mental illness, or for those who wish to lend their support. Each year new cast members join the show to share new experiences and to inspire those who struggle silently to speak up. 

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