Storytelling
Interviews

I was invited to help lead a storytelling project that aimed to capture the raw, unfiltered experiences of students walking out their faith. The vision was clear: create a space where students could speak honestly about the highs and lows of their story; and do it in a way that felt as engaging and unexpected as it was meaningful.

Each conversation was filmed on a mock-basketball court, leaning into the energy and symbolism of March Madness. The setting was both familiar and symbolic; a place of competition, resilience, and momentum. It gave the interviews a visual grit and vulnerability that matched the tone of the stories being shared.

I served as the principal interviewer and co-producer, working alongside a talented production crew and editor. My role spanned pre-production through post: connecting with the student’s stories ahead of time, helping to shape narratives, formulating intentional interview questions, and being present in the moment to guide the conversation with both clarity and care. In each interview, students spoke about where they’ve found hope, joy, and peace, even in the tension of struggle. Great care was given to make sure each voice stood out. This wasn’t about perfect stories; it was about authentic retellings.

At the heart of this piece is the belief that testimony is one of the most powerful tools we have. When students share how God meets them in the middle of their mess, it doesn’t just encourage others; it awakens something deeper. This project was more than just interviews on a court. It was a celebration of grace and the God who’s still writing their story.

WHAT WENT WELL?

• This project fully delivered on its core goal: giving students a platform to share their stories in an honest, powerful way, while tying it all back to the greater theme of hope, identity, and faith.

• The basketball court setting (even though technically a warehouse!) gave the piece a gritty visual backdrop that reinforced the idea of struggle, growth, and movement.

• The students, though a little nervous at first, quickly warmed up as we moved through the interviews. Several commented afterward that they felt comfortable, seen, and encouraged throughout the process

• The end product carried a lot of emotional weight and clarity, which is always the goal in storytelling.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK?

• Filming in a warehouse came with its own set of challenges. While we were able to emulate the feel of a basketball court visually, the audio presented some initial complications; echo, ambient noise, and a bit of unwanted reverb that took extra time to fix in post.

• We also underestimated how much b-roll would be needed to really round out the final piece. With a little more variety we could’ve elevated the pacing and emotional tone even further.

1% BETTER:

• We could’ve created a companion long-form version or mini series that would’ve extended the life of the content.
• More intentional pre-visualization of b-roll and sound design would also allow us to push the final product into even more dynamic territory.

Let’s make it happen together!

Whether you need hands-on creative direction, strategic leadership or data-driven execution, I bring the expertise to move the mission forward. Click below to connect and we can start building something extraordinary today.