Rarely This Quiet: Marshall District Library (VS2)

Since COVID-19 Marshall Public library in Marshall, Michigan has had to go through many changes. Implementing multiple safety procedures such as, mandatory masks, quarantine books, many new at home activities, and time limits for in the library and on their computers. While safety continues to be a number one concern for the library following close behind is Community. The library employees pride itself on the library’s atmosphere and being a community HubSpot and has been doing it the best to continue the sense of community the sense of community in Marshall.

Especially in times like these having access to the types of things a library has can be very important. One example is that the library has Internet access and its parking lot for those who may not be able to access the Internet at home but can’t come into the library due to regulations. Another thing the library has done is created a bunch of at home substitutions for things they would’ve done in person, like a pre-recorded videos of staff reading for story times and a virtual trivia night that can be played from home and that staff can monitor from home. It’s easy to tell that the staff of Marshall District library cares so much about the environment that they create and just want people to be able to have a safe space in times like these, and that is exactly what they have done.

I had a really good time filming this video and the staff was incredibly helpful and super nice, I was even told I should apply to work there (which I totally would have if I didn’t already have a summer job). I decided to do the library when I was walking through town and parked in the library parking lot, I thought I need a video two, so I walked in and talked to Angela, the library director, and emailed her later that day to make it official. Looking back at the video I think I got way more interview video than I ever needed, which in my opinion is the perfect amount of interview video, as I didn’t even use two of the people I interviewed. It was also mentioned that I didn’t actually say the name of the library or where it is in the video. In one of the first clips I have an outside to the library that says its name on the side, it is however difficult to read and if I go back into the video to edit it I will absolutely write in the name on the title screen. B roll was pretty easy, I just had to make sure to ask all the patrons of the library before I had them on video which wasn’t bad at all, everyone said yes. I would’ve liked to get more C role of people interacting, but overall, I’m pretty proud of this video.

A Weird Year for Robotics (VS1)

           The students at Marshall High School, FIRST robotics team 4435, the Red Hot Chili Bots are doing their best to adapt to the new regulations of both the school and the FIRST program. This year things are working a little bit differently than normal for the team, normally they would be introduced to a challenge/game, have 8 weeks to build the robot, then compete in at least two competitions with approximately 40 schools at each. Because of COVID that can’t happen this year. Team 4453 is following regulations by wearing masks during meetings, having meetings less often, and communicating online through programs like Discord.

           The worldwide program that hosts these competitions, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) has taken what would have been last year’s competition, that only a couple of teams got to participate in before they had to stop and rebranded it so that teams can do the challenges at home and record them for submission. There are also judged awards not based on the robot, for those teams will schedule a video call with judges where they will present their team’s accomplishments and the robot. As opposed to previous years where judges would stop in a team’s pit during the competition to talk with them.     

          When making this video I wish I could have used videos from previous years to show what the competition would have been like versus how it is now. The hardest part for me was finding a good place for interviews in their environment I didn’t have access to light I could change, so I know the interview setting could have been better. Also, I shot a lot of video which is a good thing in general, but it made editing a long process. Overall, for one of the first videos I’ve ever made it’s not too bad.