By: Erin O’Dea

After she was laid off three and a half years ago, Laurie B. Adams found she finally had the time and energy to pursue the silversmithing career she always wanted. Now, as a Gainesville, Fla. resident, Adams sells her jewelry in an artist co-op. “I have something to look forward to,” she says of her new life.

There is more to belly dancing than just woman in revealing, bejeweled costumes shaking their hips. In fact, it is an art form rich in culture with an enchanting history of how it originated. Ashley Grapes, of Gainesville, Fla., addresses the common cultural stigmatism associated with belly dancing and transparently shares how it has affected her life and made her a more confident woman who is comfortable being in her own skin.

Janna Pelle,22, has played piano her whole life. Initially, she started as a way to exercise her hands, but now it has turned into a skill that she takes on stage in Gainesville. It has brought her confidence, friends and made her parents proud.

Janna Pelle,22, is about to start a new musical journey in New York, but with her transition she leaves behind the very people that made her the singer/songwriter she is today. She has been playing since she was six, motivated by a disorder with her hands and all of the positives music has brought her, she is ready for her next step.

I’m not sure what happened with this upload, but disregard the video past 3 minutes. I will try to figure out the problem after I meet with Professor Zerba on Tuesday.

This Wednesday, you will take a short quiz over the first three readings.

• Sheila Curran Bernard’s Documentary storytelling: making stronger and more dramatic nonfiction films, pp. 15-31, Chapter 2: “Story Basics”
• Vivien Morgan’s  Practicing videojournalism, pp. 107-136, Chapter 6: “Filming for new and old media”
• Al Tompkins’s Aim for the heart: Write, shoot, report and produce for TV and multimedia, pp. 77-96, Chapter 6: “The Art of the Interview.”

The second half of class you will learn how to use the course gear. Please wear comfortable clothes. You also will be issued your go kit.

When: Tuesday, Jan., 17 at 9 a.m. via email to professor

Please email story pitches for two different profile video possibilities. Include the following:

• Name your character in your pitch (so no, “I want to do a story about a singer”).
• Please write 5-6 sentences about person. Introduce us.
• Answer the “So what? What is this a story?” in your pitches. Balancing school and this amazing talent is not a fresh, new story. Tell us this person’s interesting story.
• Suggest at least 6 to 8 types of shots you will take.
• Who will be the second source you interview?