News

Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking an experienced videographer for consultant services for its Climate Change, Health, and Equity initiative. 

Such services will help SGA and its community-based partners produce a 4-8 minute video to raise awareness of the risks associated with extreme heat, who is most affected by extreme heat, and to feature lived, resident experiences with extreme heat in the Atlanta, Georgia region. SGA is seeking someone or a small company with experience producing short, narrative-based videos who is based in or available to travel to Atlanta, Georgia in the fall, is comfortable filming interviews (with logistical support and scripted guidance from SGA), can capably shoot compelling b-roll of street scenes to focus on people and infrastructure, and can edit the final product.

The deadline to submit is Friday, August 25, 2023, 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time. 

Background

Smart Growth America is a national non-profit organization that envisions a country where no matter where you live or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize our vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.

In partnership with the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), Smart Growth America is supporting residents in Atlanta, Georgia to raise awareness and find solutions to adverse health and equity outcomes linked to climate change. Working with a resident Community Advisory Group in Atlanta, the goals of the larger Climate Change Health & Equity project are to:

• Define extreme heat and elevate the dangers of heat, nationally and locally in Atlanta
• Inform on the compounding effects of extreme heat (including pre-existing health conditions and social inequalities) and how conditions are linked to the built environment;
• Identify who is most at risk and which neighborhoods in Atlanta are likely to be most affected (featuring maps that will be provided by SGA);  and
• Raise awareness of symptoms to watch out for and resources available for relief.

In partnership with local residents, SGA seeks to create a video to build from the above goals and:

• Raise awareness of extreme heat and the future risks associated with the impacts of climate change;
• Incorporate resident interview clips throughout to illustrate key points and provide more context on lived experience in Atlanta; and
• Support viewers to gain a better understanding of—and highlight the need for—policies and advocacy strategies that create safer and more accessible infrastructure.

Desired final product

SGA seeks to work with a videographer and local residents and advocates in Atlanta, Georgia to develop a short film (4-8 minutes) that will serve as an introductory primer on extreme heat and the built environment, help residents learn from lived experiences, and strengthen the region’s extreme heat advocacy strategy.

Travel

Travel to Atlanta, Georgia will be an essential part of this project. An SGA and/or PSE staff member will be on-site to help coordinate and produce the resident interviews and b-roll infrastructure footage.

Coordination with Smart Growth America

SGA will be doing the bulk of the legwork to provide advance background research, identify contacts for interviews, arrange logistics for interviews, develop scripted questions to ask, and provide an overall desired narrative in advance, which can be developed in cooperation with the videographer (feedback will be welcome!). While different in scope and focus, we are looking for a product similar in presentation and style to these three videos released in 2022: Tucson, Pittsburgh, Louisville

Budget

SGA’s working assumption for the video is two shooting days: one day to shoot interviews and a second day to shoot street scenes and/or b-roll content from Atlanta neighborhoods. The project will then include editing and a limited number of agreed review cycles with SGA staff. The anticipated budget range for the video (including editing the final product) is $8,000-$10,000, not inclusive of travel or other direct costs. Payment will occur in two installments; half upfront, and half at the end of the project. All travel costs will be covered and booked by SGA (travel and lodging). Exclusive rights will be assigned to Smart Growth America, though you retain rights for any personal or professional use.

Desired qualifications

SGA is seeking a diverse pool of candidates. Black, Indigenous, and people of color-led companies are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants will be selected based on the following desired criteria:

• A proven ability to communicate complex ideas into simple, understandable videos accessible to a wide range of audiences;
• A quality portfolio of videos designed to educate and demonstrate a need for change;
• Subject matter understanding of and commitment to racial equity, climate justice, land use, and transportation preferred;
• Experience working and trust-building in and/or with community-based organizations, as well as a readiness to listen and learn more; and
• Experience creating products that communicate the equity implications of policy or decision-making.

How to submit a proposal

Please email proposal submissions to Jamie Zouras at jzouras@smartgrowthamerica.org and include:

• A short one- or half-page letter describing your approach and interest in the project;
• Links to your website and/or qualifications of key individuals involved;
• A draft budget for the project; and
• At least one sample of recent work.

Timing

Proposals will be reviewed after the Friday, August 25, 2023, 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time deadline. A consultant will be selected and the project will kick off in early or mid-September, and all videos will be presented to the public before the end of January 2024.