Beneath the Southern Cross

I think you've actually got two individual stories here. The plus side in splitting them is that the running time would better fit Currents preferences, although you'll probably also have to add some sort of closure to the first segment and rework the ending of the second segment. In any case, this is a good chronicle of this effort, and so I'm giving it a GL.

good straight forward telling ... GL

well done...a little rambling towards the end, and maybe a touch long, but interesting and well told. GL

Wonderful footage. Yes a bit long as others have stated, but a well executed project none the less. Nice work!

Interesting story. GL

Split it and you have a wonderful working series and with the "to be continued" deal, you have created a "hook" and an audience wanting more.......

You are right about the length. I'm still trying to decide if this is one or two pieces myself. The question the local people asked when we were in the Amazon was "are you coming back?" Showing the students coming back to the village in the Andes was a way to demonstrate that Engineers Without Borders isn't just another group with good intentions but one that actually follows through with real assistance. I can probably do a better job of explaining that or prompting the student to address it. The feedback I get and have gotten from the producers that submit to Current is invaluable to me and any and all suggestions are really appreciated. I'll be on the road for a couple of weeks. When I return I"ll probably give the edit another go. Thanks again for the input.

I had fun learning about Engineers without borders and seeing two different sides of Bolivia. Tightening it here and there might help, but overall a well executed piece.

a truly interesting story and a really well executed pod. Your footage is gorgeous, as usual, Shipley. I am curious what kind of camera you shot this on? I know that travelling in the amazon requires a lot of boat trips so I wonder if you went for portable instead of pretty... My only critique would be, as others have said, to cut it down a bit. I was interested in the narrative but found myself drifting at about 5 minutes. Other than that, I can't wait to see more!

good story (and good work); a split would be ideal though - for time, and to keep viewers wanting more

Thanks for the comments. I have been watching it on the Currents site from the road on my Powerbook and have found nearly a minute I can axe when I get back. FYI, it was shot with a Sony D30 on a BetaSP deck. Not the smallest but I like the look better than the 4:1:1 color and little chips of the more portable rigs. It's old and I'm looking to retire it. I'm doing research on cameras that look great and are more portable. Any thoughts on what I should be looking at?

Thanks for the feeedback! I've been watching it on the Current site on my powerbook from the road. I've found a minute I can axe and will when I get back. To answer the camera question it was shot with a Sony D30 on a BetaSP deck. I like the 4:1:1 color and bigger chip look better than what I have seen from most of the small cameras. It is, however, old and needs to be retired. I'm researching new cameras. Any thoughts on what I should be looking at? Sony XDcam? Any ideas would be appreciated.

gALLIxSEEmedia. Glad you like this kind of stuff. I shoot with a Sony D30 on a BetaSP recorder. Heavy but I like the images. When I get a chance I'm going to look at replacing it but I have a lot of research to do. I don't like the way many of the small cameras do color. Anyone have any ideas? The new Sony XDcam or the HD version that shoots to disc?

I'd never heard of Engineers Without Boarder, so it was nice to learn something new. Now that people all of over the world are becoming more connected I think it's really important to think globally, the way those students are. Yeah, the pod could be cut a little shorter, but keep the amazing wide shots of the landscape. Great work, GL.

good work. Agree on the length. would like to hear more voices than the narrator. If you don't have anyone else, then maybe just some breathing room from his voice, you've got plenty of footage that can speak for itself. But overall great work. I think these sort of pieces are important to remind us of all the good news in the world. I also think it should be required in american colleges to at least visit another country. Changes your life!

DIG THE OPENING MUSIC

There's a whole chunk of sound beginning with "professional engineers" and just before "how lucky we are in the US" that could be taken out to address the length issues...and probably some breathing room in other areas where you might be able to shore this down.

I really do like the positive vibe of this piece and the idea that we should all help one another in this global community we live in. Very nice message.

I haven't read too many previous comments, but I do echo the idea of more voices. I'm sorry if you address that comment elsewhere, but I was hoping to hear more from other engineers w/o borders...and more from the people themselves. I think that's key from a piece like this. I know the narrator addresses it, but the only skepticism I have about projects like this is whether the people who are the recipients of these new systems and this wonderful good will actually want what they're receiving. It would be nice to hear from more of those folks about that.

I do believe this would be great on TV. I like the way you put this together and how it flows on the whole. I think it deserves a GL.

great pod. i really like the music and it was a great story. great production all around. a bit lengthy but it might not be the fact that it's nearly 7 minutes. it could just be a problem w/ the flow of the story. but GL from me! beautiful shots.

also, on the subject of camera's, the D30 is great, it's a cameraman's camera. it's a beast to carry around though. if you're looking for something a little smaller, i find the sony lineup to be really disappointing. i shoot w/ a canon xl but i've heard rave reviews from emmy award winning shooters about the panasonic hvx. it shoots hd straight to disc, so you might want to look in to that.

check out my latest pod, who is joe nice, and let me know what you think.

TJ Walkup of www.omnificproductions.com says: Wow what a great pod! It is inspiring to see media working for projects like this. Engineers without Borders is a great project. This is what our military should be doing and what every young man college age should be able to explore. Projects like this make me feel hopeful for the future of our world, that our race will continue with forward thinking and real person to person influence upon our great blue ball. Keep it up. If I ever have a large some of money to give away you will see a chunky check from me!

Solid reporting and great videography. Cheers on the GL.

You've had a great opportunity not only to do good but to travel to an interesting part of the world. Thanks for recording and sharing this with us. GL

Thanks to everyone for thier feedback and encouragement. I used much of it as a guide while in the process of getting Southern Cross closer to a finished piece.

i thoroughly enjoyed this pod. it's everything a pod should be: engaging, informative and rich with imagery. not to mention put together with great technical skill and conviction. both the soundtrack and narrative are equally captivating. best of all is the sense of optmism conveyed by the piece. this pod is about stewardship and empathy in action. if only more of these stories could filter their way into primetime. wait, i guess that's why i usually tune into Current around that time.

Awsome pod and great job you guys do GL!!!

Great peice. Inspiring. A world where we are all helping each other be more human and more intelligent about living on the earth. Got any links for the designs of the water tank, showers, or composting toilets? Useful ideas.

It is such a powerful and wonderfully told story, but I did feel a bit cheated by not seeing the work in progress. That said, as a to be continued piece, I assume we will see that and more later on. Based on that assumption and some really excellent camera work, I'm happy to GL it. This belongs on TV!

Wow, what a touching story. I am always intrigued when people from the U.S. are willing to donate their time and energy towards helping people rather than cutting a check, or sending money out without any knowledge of the end result. The filming techniques are top notch, it flows like a DSC documentary with the shots of scenics and the artistic angles and views of the wildlife, spiders, and children playing soccer in the twilight - just beautiful. GREENLIGHTED! This belongs on TV. Take a look at our pods when you get a chance. Thanks! -zen

Lee Anne. This is a work in progress. I am getting footage of the students as they make their designs here on campus and will be following them back to Bolivia in the spring. From that will come a full documentary. The piece you see here is being used at presentations to raise funds and recruit students to Engineers Without Borders. UMR is deeply committed to EWB and it is a win, win situation. Students get to work on their engineering skills while helping people in poorer regions of the world improve their lives. For me this is the gig you dream about!

Another great pod Tom. I'm a fan of your storytelling and exotic locations with a message. I say bravo to us old hippies and thanks to Current TV for allowing us to reinvent ourselves at any age. Keep on keeping on, as will I. getreel

Like the personal-level of the pod. It takes courage to present engineers and composting toilets as subject matter. But it shows that answers to people's problems aren't always complicated. Simple things like clean water basic sanitation can transform lives. Good combination of shots, interesting footage. Enjoyed it!

Thank you showing people helping people. So many Americans don't always realize anything outside thier own little world. It really is a much bigger world out there!

Awesome! Hope to see it in TV soon. GL and hope to see more coming from you.

Great footage, great message, great length, great piece that needs to be on tv. GL!
I do have one request, though! That would be to get a few more comments from the people being helped. Maybe develop a character from the local communities so that we can relate more to them, and make them less like objects? It'd be a nice counterpoint to the "these people" comments from the EWB student, which is fine, except that we don't have "these people" comments from the locals to counterweight it, and I think it'd go that one level deeper to an already effective piece.

wow some beautiful shots in there, good story as well but i kinda agree that it there could be more people talking, its too dominated by one or two people's voices. GL for sure tho...

if you have time, check out my pods.

beutifulL shots! I never knew what abroad programs for Civil Engineer could actually accomplish untill I saw this video.

That really takes me back. When I lived in Jakarta Indonesia I helped raise money and build a public "mandi" (fresh water system for bathing, washing, drinking) for a large campung. Fresh water can make the difference between living and dying.
Good piece... definitely a GL!

Take a look at my piece if you get a chance...thanx.

Wonderful story, good flow to the overall production. Nice job.

yeah.. I saw this the other day and I was blown away... Im really like this piece, it is very professional. These are the kinds of films that need to be aired more.. on current of course, and everywhere.. Yeah it is funny to see some dudes dressed up in mascot suits beating each other up in a rink, but this is way more important and trully stimulating. I can relate.. want to do a fun film next but watching yours makes me want to stick to the important issues.. want to make one together sometime?

Great Story. Hopefully my GL gets you over the top. Good Luck.

A great pod, with a story worthy for TV, congrats man! -zen

I enjoyed your pod and the humanity it portrays. I'd GL, but its already going to TV.

Check out my POD: Adventures in Diving with D.J. Csaszar

Just look for the Tiger Shark!

I greenlit this awhile ago. Congrats on well deserved TVness. Come see my latest Shadow Boxer when you have a minute link