Tell Your Story | Video Requirements for Journey Of A Lifetime

Video Submission Guidelines

The main purpose of this video is for us to meet you and your family, see your heart and passion, and find out why you need and deserve a life changing “Journey Of A Lifetime.” It is generally best to ask a technically-oriented friend or one of your video editing geek contacts to help you make the video. They can be in charge of operating the camera (during the story telling), following the directions, keeping track of what needs to be shot, etc. so you can focus on being in front of the camera. In order to make the best video possible, please set aside a few hours to give it your undivided attention.

We understand that talking about your situation can be highly emotional, but please do not hold back and PLEASE don’t turn off the camera if you feel emotional. Make sure that all appropriate participants are present for the taping and appear and speak on camera. If you are doing this as a surprise on behalf of a family member, please make sure to provide as much information as possible about the surprise candidate, including photos and other video of this individual so we have an idea of on-camera presence. Please know that IF you are selected for the show this tape could be used on television so make sure appearances are fit for TV! Ladies, please take the time to put on light makeup and do your hair. You should dress as if you were going out for a family dinner or nice lunch. White and red are not television-friendly colors, nor are tight check patterns or stripes. Logos on t-shirts should also be avoided. Thank you and have fun with this! We look forward to meeting you and learning more about your unique “Journey Of A Lifetime!”

SHOT LIST: (please make sure the following appear on your video)
We will NOT edit your video in any way, and you will be responsible to edit your video to make a little movie of your application that will be about 5-7 minutes. The effort you put into the production of this video that shares your story is crucial, so please follow the instructions and give us the following elements:

1.Interview. This part is very important as we use it to tell the story of your unique situation. Please open up, be emotional, explain why your particular situation is deserving of being sponsored for a “Journey Of A Lifetime” and don’t be shy to ask for help. Also, please keep this reasonably brief and stick to the highlights of your situation and avoid the minor details. (If you are more comfortable alone, set your camera on a tripod and make sure you are in frame and then just talk to the camera.)
2.Then provide a background video with as much detail as possible about your “Journey Of A Lifetime” story:
a.You and selected Journey participants sitting in a well-lit area for Introductions. (Ex: “Hey there, Journey Of A Lifetime! My name is _______ and I deserve a Journey Of A Lifetime and here's why”…big waves and smiles and lots of energy.) Make sure you say your FIRST name and age. Make sure this is all done in ONE tight, static shot where you put the lens on wide, yet get the camera as close as you can. Please give us multiple takes of this. You can be as creative as you want to be with the story introduction.
b.Then invite us to envision your story and take us on a visual and narrative short story of how you envision your Journey Of A Lifetime. Take us from where you live today, how you came to be in this location, what your family history is that connects you to another country and walk us through your unique situation that you believe would be a compelling story that others will relate to and connect with.
c.Then when your storytelling is complete, finish the video by saying, “Bye, Journey Of A Lifetime! Thanks for listening to our story; we hope to hear your beautiful co-Hosts come to our door and say, ‘Get ready to leave your mark!”
3.Finally, you should provide as much information and research as you can find about the art, culture, history and local points of interest for the location where you’ve suggested we provide a “Journey Of A Lifetime.” We want to know unique local perspectives about what it is like for your family connections to live in this particular part of the world. What is great about it, what is challenging about it, what makes it uniquely identified? Its best if we have a sense of where your family fits within the local community, what the local township or village is like and how the local town may be capable of dealing with an immediate influx of a large group so we can plan properly. There is no need for anyone to be in front of the camera for this, this is just so we can see as much as possible about the area, what tourist information is available, what kind of hotels, train access, road access, etc., is available in this part of the world.
4.Outside Nominations: please have a few people speak on behalf of you and your unique story. This should be a one-minute thing. It is best to have dynamic and emotive people do this because if we get a really good one, it will go at the front of your casting tape to introduce your story.