The Story Behind Storytellers for Good
It was the day that marked the beginning of the end of my television news career. It was a “slow” news day…so slow that our crew got assigned a car accident. A fatal accident on a Boston freeway…not something that would typically warrant an entire crew in a news market of that size but, given that it snarled the morning commute and nothing worse had happened yet, we were given the story. By the time a photojournalist and I arrived on scene the wreckage was long cleared and traffic was running smoothly. We called the news desk. Still slow, so it was still our story.
By mid-afternoon, we were sent to the home of the accident victim to see if this non-story would become one there. We got an address and, with heavy hearts, and in the same robotic mode with which we learned to approach all such situations, arrived at the address with hopes that it was either the wrong one…or that no one would be home.
A young teenaged girl was sitting on the porch. She ran over to me before I had a chance to say a word. “What happened to my mom?,” she asked. “I know something happened to her. My dad called and told me to wait here. I just read about a fatal accident on-line. Was it my mom?” There were tears in her eyes and a desperation in her voice that left me speechless. Without my saying a word she put two and two together. The presence of a news crew alone had confirmed her worst fear.
In my 10 years in TV news I have, sadly, seen people in the worst kinds of pain. I’ve seen grieving fathers, angry mothers, speechless siblings, distraught classmates. I have had the door slammed in my face, been called names, and been chased off properties…all in the name of getting the story. But never had I seen it unfold quite like this. Never had I seen someone descend into pure shock and panic right before me…meanwhile knowing that I was somehow a part of making this already horrible situation worse. This was something I could no longer justify as “just doing my job.” I realized then that my news days were numbered.
When my contract ended that year I traded my big city news dream in for a backpack and a one-way ticket to Argentina. What started with a plan to learn Spanish for a month evolved into a nearly year long adventure through South America, Europe and India. Among other highlights, I hiked through Patagonia, visited my great great grandmother’s hometown in Chile, volunteered at an orphanage in Bolivia, climbed Machu Picchu, walked 546 miles across the north of Spain, discovered yoga in the land where it all began and trekked through the Himalayas. Most importantly, I rediscovered parts of me that had shut down to handle my work. I was ready to return to Boston and to a more inspiring version of myself.
Soon after my return I moved to San Francisco, became a yoga teacher, a life coach and finally had the opportunity to pursue work that has been in me all along: the work of becoming a video storyteller….for good. It all started before I ever left Boston with a series of stories I initiated at my last news station about people who have forever changed my outlook on life: a blind and autistic musical savant, a 6 year old girl paralyzed by a bullet who forgave her shooter, a disabled Iraq Veteran turned artist and gallery owner, a couple in their mid-40’s who, after grieving the loss of their teenaged daughter in a drunk driving accident, decided to start all over again…with triplets. These are the stories and the people who gave meaning to my work. They moved and inspired me…as they moved and inspired others and demonstrated, for me, the power of television and the media to influence the way people think, act and experience life.
The work of Storytellers For Good is to create inspiring stories just like these…as well as help good people and organizations produce compelling videos to promote their work. Recognizing that a culture can be defined by the types of stories it chooses to tell, we ultimately hope to help create a shift away from the fear and tragedy focused news that has so influenced our world. Whenever possible, we seek to give voice to positivity over pessimism. We aim to promote goodness and, in doing so, inspire greatness.
Stay tuned for our adventure and many inspiring stories to come!
Cara
<!--EndFragment-->
Cara Jones is a multiple Emmy Award winning writer, reporter, and producer with vast experience in using video to tell compelling, inspiring human-interest stories. She has more than a decade of experience in broadcast journalism and has reported for network affiliates in Southwest Florida, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area. Having been frustrated by the tragedy focused and negative nature of local news, she seeks to use her skills to tell personal stories that move and inspire. She founded Storytellers for Good in 2009. Cara is a graduate of Princeton University with a degree in public policy. She volunteers with the Big Sister Association, 826 Valencia and has raised funds for cancer research in connection with her running the Boston Marathon. She speaks Spanish and has back-packed through South America, Europe, and India. Cara is also a life coach and yoga instructor.
Bow Jones is an award-winning videographer, editor, web designer and artist. He has created promotional videos for schools and non-profits around the country and world. Bow has traveled, lived and volunteered in more than 20 countries and is a graduate of SUNY Purchase where he studied film. He is passionate about sustainable living, rock climbing and designing his own line of unique T-shirts which have been sold nationwide. His website:www.lovejoneslive.com’
Theodore Allen is a San Francisco Bay Area filmmaker who has worked on projects domestically and internationally. His passion for filmmaking has taken him to numerous countries including Israel, Jordan and Korea, often times to participate in volunteer activities. Ted first started shooting video at 15 years old and, in the last decade, has worked as a cinematographer, editor, and director on separate projects. He loves both the creative and technical aspects of his work and strives to use his skills to push the envelope of independent film making. Ted studied film at San Francisco State University and co-founded Verus Productions: www.veruspro.com
Erica Hintergardt is a veteran TV and documentary photojournalist with more than 15 years of experience. Her work has been recognized with regional Emmy nominations as well as several citations by the National Press Photographers Association, Bay Area Press Photographers, The Pass Award, Radio Television News Directors Association and many other professional awards. Erica is passionate about helping others to tell their stories. She continues to work with the woman and children in Kenya to bring a voice to survivors of gender violence and help find a solution for the devastation caused by the AIDS epidemic. She supports the For the Girls Program with Children of Strength to bring sanitary supplies the orphans. An avid world traveler, Erica is most happy with a camera on her shoulder and new places to explore.
A creative spirit from the start, Doug Logan has been drawing, painting, writing and making things with his hands from a very early age. Creating a profession from it seemed inevitable. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, Doug has now been a professional still photographer for 20 years and graphic designer for 16. He has worked in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco and his work has been published in many national award-winning ad-campaigns. He is a strong believer in giving and continually donates a portion of his time, talent and income to many charitable causes for people in need. Doug is also a member of several arts organizations that support the business and education of artists. He has the rewarding gift of being able to bring out the best in people and it shows in his work. His greatest passions are sharing real life moments with people, showing love and caring in everyday life and inspiring people to be good humans.
Storytellers for Good will produce 5 high quality promotional videos for non-profit organizations in need. The stories will be roughly 2-5 minutes long and include interviews, graphics, text and music. They will be displayed on each organization’s website as well as distributed through social media channels to help move and inspire funders, volunteers and the general public.
