| Visual | Audio |
| Black screen- white text (bottom to top). Pete walks on the sidewalk of the library. Pete enters the library, heading to the register. | Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata – 1. Movement – Piano Sonata Nr. 14, Op.27, Nr. 2 by GregorQuendel, CC BY- NC 4.0 DEED |
| Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). 0.15”. (Pete is sitting at the back right of the book sales area of the library, which is a quieter space, using one of the laptop tables). | Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata – 1. Movement – Piano Sonata Nr. 14, Op.27, Nr. 2 by GregorQuendel, CC BY- NC 4.0 DEED |
| Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text) right camera. 0.20”. Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text), right camera. 0.43” | Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata – 1. Movement – Piano Sonata Nr. 14, Op.27, Nr. 2 by GregorQuendel, CC BY- NC 4.0 DEED |
| Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text), left camera. 0.53”. Black screen- white text- question (bottom to top). Pete answers the question (based on text), right camera. 1.15”. | Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata – 1. Movement – Piano Sonata Nr. 14, Op.27, Nr. 2 by GregorQuendel, CC BY- NC 4.0 DEED |
| Black screen- white text (bottom to top). Statement, 1.45”- 1.52” Remarks- thanks, copyright after “statement”, 1.53”- 2.00”. | Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata – 1. Movement – Piano Sonata Nr. 14, Op.27, Nr. 2 by GregorQuendel, CC BY- NC 4.0 DEED |
| The End | The End |
Synopsis: “Pete and the Librarian” explores the transformative relationship between George, a committed librarian, and Pete, a homeless man who often visits the library. The story reveals how Pete ended up living on the streets, what he has to share with the audience, and how he becomes “the library within the library” by sharing his life experiences and offering advice. The interview also unveils the harsh reality of homelessness, illustrating how easily one can find themselves on the streets. It emphasizes that homelessness is a societal issue and highlights the fact that everyone “has a story.”
Script:
Questions are on white text (font: lucida grande), on a black screen:
“Pete was a successful
entrepreneur,
until his finance partner
passed away” (text)
“He started a business
in ’78, sold it in ’94,
Invested $1.6 million
on a Ponzi scheme
and is now on the streets” (text)
Question (text):
“What business advice
do you have for us, Pete?”
Pete: If you want to create your own business you should take a few lessons in business itself, which I didn’t really do.
Question (text):
“You had a big business,
do you consider yourself
a successful business person?”
Pete: As far as being a business person, I am a failure, really.
Question (text):
“Pete, tell me about you…how do you spend your days?”
Pete: It varies, there is a song “every day is a winding road” and it is with me, I am sure it is with everybody here, whatever is happening, it is not expected.
Question (text):
Can you share
where you stand
in the journey of life
at the moment?
Pete: You know, I am 88 years old, and in 3 months I am going to be 89, so I can’t complain- that’s another thing about advice, you know, I never thought I’d live this long so I didn’t really plan on that either, I shouldn’t complain about that… (smiling)
Pete closes his notebook.
Final Text: “Pete is one of over
16,000 people
calling the streets of
Broward County, FL,
their home.
Every one of them
has a story”.
Thanks- interview copyright, music CC.
Background: Informed by my own experiences in a library setting, this project seeks to illuminate the lives of those grappling with homelessness, mental health challenges, and poverty. The objective is to present Pete as a multidimensional character, challenging typical stereotypes and fostering understanding and compassion among viewers.
Character Development: Pete was a successful businessman who had a nice, comfortable life. Bad investments left him homeless after COVID. Pete seems to also be happy with his life overall. He is open to expressing his feelings, and as a side note is eager to brush up on his French (he takes additional lessons in the library), has a great sense of humor and some not so great friends.
Media Assets:
• Media that will be used: three cell phone (2 iphone, 1 android) cameras with tripods, and wi-fi microphones.
• Existing song (audio), library setting/ closeups of Pete in the library (visual), text based on Pete’s quotes (visual), as per the storyboard.
• NOTE: The video will be original (Interviewing Pete in the library).
Reflection:
My project employs an inductive approach, distinct from the deductive methods I could be using if I was choosing another treatment (II). In hindsight, it could potentially be easier for me to choose a general concept, translate it into a narrative and then work on specific photos and media to match this overarching concept. Instead, I am interviewing Pete, a homeless individual who frequently visits our library (see copyright consent attached previously) and have built my story around that interview. This direct engagement with a specific individual’s experiences allows me to gather nuanced, real-life insights. From Pete’s unique story, we can extrapolate broader themes and understandings about homelessness, moving from the specific to the generic. My project’s strength lies on the 4 very important questions I ask Pete, hoping that his answers will be thought-provoking for the viewers, based on his personal real-life experiences.
Resources:
“Educational Video Copyright Release Form” signed by the interviewee.
Audio credits:
Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata – 1. Movement – Piano Sonata Nr. 14, Op. 27, Nr. 2
by GregorQuendel CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED.
Video was made with VideoPad Video Editor
