The construction of a persuasive video first and foremost needs a foundation of creators who believe in its cause, and who therefore apply themselves whole hearted into its creation. It needs to set the mood, project a certain level of credibility, and get the message across, all the while leaving the viewer with as much information and little doubt as possible on the validity of the issue presented. This video intended to persuade the audience with facts, interviews, and news footage to show that reform concerning student tuition rates needs to take place.
It was very important to begin the video with an image that shows compassion and a deep founded belief that children are our future. The image was followed by a set of facts that were taken from The Miami Herald and fl.gov to accurately portray the problem and give a clear clue as to what the video was about. These facts were presented with an all black background, which commanded attention and set a serious tone. Throughout the beginning of the video and leading up to the first interviews, the song “We are the world” by Michael Jackson (Instrumental) was playing in the background at a lower volume. This song is known throughout the world and resonates with many people; it went hand in hand with the facts and pictures. The video then dives directly into the main theme, which was the story of five college students suing the Florida Dept of Education claiming that their rights as citizens had been denied. News footage from Univision, a reputable Latin American TV station, was used as a valuable source of information as well as adding emotional appeal by showing the plaintiff in a struggling fashion. At this point in the video, we felt the problem had been stated, and that it had been done so in an empethatic manner. The video essay then transitioned (the same type of transition thought process that we learned with writing) into the interview phase.
At this phase, the music stopped, and a series of pictures were presented in silence until a voiceover stated with an implied voice the problems fellow students from South Florida were facing. It was crucial to get the point of view from the students at FIU. Although we had wanted to interview actual students with this problem or the plaintiff’s themselves, neither of the two were available; with the plaintiffs not being allowed by their attornies to speak on the matter. Each of the students interviewed brought different emotions and different takes on this issue. Robby Caballes gave facts and circumstances while Carlos Chirino brought out his emotions, both adding answers that were full of life, not monotone, and definitely not dry. The type and style that was used in each of these interviews to state the name of person interviewd was made to resemble a real news source. These are little things that can add to a video essay which are not difficult to do. The last interviews were news footage clips by Univision in which the Provost at Miami-Dade Community College and a lawyer with the Southern Poverty Law Center were asked about the case concerning the five college students; one can argue that the interview with the Provost at Miami-Dade was the climax of the film. While it would be very difficult to lock an interview with the Provost being a college student, using these interviews were of great help when creating this video essay. With the main point having been stated, the climax of the video shown, the conclusion of the video was created with the help of the outline Professor Lauren gave in class which asked. In specific, what were the solutions to the problem? That question would serve as the final phase of the film, on how to fix the problem.
This last segment begins with a purple/blue screen shot with more facts. The color was chosen because it still lends a serious touch while keeping a hopeful outlook on the situation. The screen shots included some solutions to the problem of tuition reform. It was stated in a way that was not confusing, and to the point. The final picture of the hats in the air, were there to represent the DREAM of graduating one day.
This short video essay mainly dealt in the political to philosophical genre category. Its goal was to present a major problem, allow voices and viewpoints to be shared, and finally to provide a solution.
