Blog Archives

Real People Media Brings Back "Voice Box Sessions" in 2017.

3/30/2017

Real People Media is excited to bring back our singer/songwriter performance series called the Voice Box Sessions. First established in 2013, the Voice Box Sessions allows emerging And established singer/songwriters and musicians to perform in a warm and supportive venue. The series is professionally recorded and presented on our youtube channel. The program assists performers by creating professional content which they can use to promote themselves to music venues and festivals. Following the one-hour performance by our featured performer, RPM opens the stage to poets, storytellers, singer/songwriters and musicians. Voice Box Sessions are open to the public by donation. Voice Box Sessions will be held at the Cycling Salamander Gallery located 7 miles south of Charlevoix on U.S. 31 South. 2017 Voice Box Session Dates are: July 2, July 16, July 30, and August 13.

We invite performers of all ages to fill out a performer application under Programs, Voice Box Sessions. Open mic participants need not fill out an application but they should come 15 minutes early to sign up for the open mic.

For those of you who love to make music but are not interested in performing, you can come join our summer jam sessions at the Cycling Salamander on Tuesday nights from 7-9pm. Jams begin on June 20!

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Stories and Songs along Michigan's Heritage Highway M-119

3/21/2017

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Often referred to as "The Tunnel of Trees," M-119 is considered by many to be one of Michigan's most beautiful drives. Starting at Bay View in Petoskey, the road winds through Harbor Springs and up the coast for 28 miles until it ends in the peaceful little community of Cross Village. The idea to do a audio tour of this heritage highway came to me from a friend who had taken an audio tour in Hawaii called The Road to Hana. The idea congealed for a couple of years before the project got underway. The result is an 80-minute tour which includes stories and songs from the people who work, live and play along this beautiful stretch of road. This project is a few years old so we do not recommend that you rely on it for business information, but the stories and the history are timeless.

Real People Media wants to share this wonderful road with you by offering the tour as a free audio download or on your computer. Enjoy this beautiful drive in early May when the woods are full of trillium and the ponds are alive with the sound of spring peepers. If you like the program, please consider making a donation to Real People Media. Real People Media recorded all the interviews and narration, edited the program and completed all graphic design work with no compensation. We did this because we value the stories and history of this scenic highway and feel it is important to record and share this with the community. However, this is not without cost. We spent nearly $8,000 on this production. Your donation allows us to produce future works and to help others share their stories. We invite you to share your thoughts about the project below or in a private email message. For more information about the project, visit our Success Stories at the tab above.

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Susan Odgers to Present at TEDxTraverse City 2017

3/9/2017

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Congratulations to Real People Media Board President Susan Odgers for being one of the four finalists selected to present at the 2017 TEDxTraverse City! Susan and 18 other individuals (who were selected from a pool of 80 applicants!) gave a three-minute presentation for Pitch Night at the Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City. This year's theme is "......There's something more." Finalists were selected based on audience reaction (voting via ballot) and panel review.

Susan and the other finalists will present a six-minute presentation at TEDxTraverse City on May 17, 2017. Tickets go on sale April 12 (and sell out almost immediately) Congratulations to all the finalists (below) and we hope you'll join us in celebrating the art of storytelling in May!

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RPM's Introduction to Audio Editing Class

3/9/2017

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Are you curious about starting a podcast, or would you like to learn to create better audio tracks for your videos? Sign up for our Introduction to Audio Editing Workshop presented by Sean Twomey. This 3-hour crash course will teach you the basics of audio production––beginning with interviewing techniques that capture clean audio and ending with learning to edit interview segments into a seamless, flowing narrative. Workshop participants will learn to edit audio using the Hindenburg Journalist Digital Audio Workstation. This software is quickly becoming a industry standard for broadcast radio and podcast production. Hindenburg Systems offers a free 30-day software trial, so this workshop is a cost effective way to dive into audio production and see what you can create. Real People Media receives no compensation for promoting Hindenburg Journalist. We teach it because we use it ourselves.

The workshop will be held in Charlevoix on Thursday, March 23rd, from 6–9pm. The cost is $45. You can sign up online Here.

Instructor, Sean Twomey, has an MFA in writing and Poetics and taught the writing of fiction and nonfiction prose to university students for 7 years while pursuing his PhD. An avid podcast and radio junkie, he was a participant in Transom's first Traveling Workshop on audio storytelling sponsored by Interlochen Public Radio.

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Facts Are Facts but Storytelling Can Change Minds

3/5/2017

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Twice this past week I have heard people quote studies which suggest that when a person entrenched in a personal ideology is presented with facts contradicting his/her beliefs, they rarely change their minds but in fact usually become more steadfast in their belief.

For the past 15 years in my video production classes I've "preached" that "facts don't change people. Ironically, In the past six months I have found myself trying to do just that, use facts to change people's minds. I have been putting together what I believed to be well-crafted arguments (full of facts) in response to someone's single sentence diatribe. Surely, when people have all the facts and are educated on the issues, they will "see the light." Studies demonstrate that this is not the case. I have found that this is not the case. You can conduct your own study. Let me know if your findings are different.

But do people change their minds? Yes! They do. I have. And I personally know people who have changed their minds on issues which were highly important to them. Not just minor changes, but they completely changed their world view. For example a radical Jewish American Zionist (self described) who now is a avid proponent of Palestinian rights and against Jewish occupation. Skeptical? What changed his mind and the minds of others?

Stories. Do not underestimate the power of the personal narrative!

I was having a conversation with an acquaintance when she shifted the conversation toward filmmaking and some of my past projects. "That film you did completely changed my viewpoint and understanding of that issue," she confided. I was taken aback. I had no idea that my film would have had any impact on this woman. I had always perceived this woman to be very educated and open to other people and cultures, so quit honestly, I didn't even have her in the category of someone who would have really benefitted from my film.

The film she was speaking of is not full of statistics and charts, rather it is a series of stories told by many different people regarding a social and political situation. There are a few gut-wrenching stories but many narratives simply speak to people's day-to-day struggles. What I have learned over the years, and especially during the making of that film, is that people relate to peoples' simple day-to-day struggles. They relate to lost dreams and opportunities and not to the unimaginable overwhelming (at least for most Americans) pain of war. We think that people will become involved when they witness the horror of war or great environmental devastation. But they don't. They shut down. What people react to and what they can empathize with are the small moments and the "small" stories.

As a filmmaker, I am a bridge between the people who I interview and the audience who views the film. I attempt to make connections between both peoples. It requires understanding and making a connection with both parties, which I'm not always able to make. Sometimes I don't Want to make it. That is usually when my own bias or ego gets in the way. There is also the question of what morsel of information will reach your audience. Sometimes it has been the most trivial thing in a film that will resonate with a person, but it may not resonate at all with me. For a filmmaker this makes the editing room terrifying. What will I cut out of this film that may potentially help another person understand this issue?

For one college age woman, it was a Louis Vuitton handbag (or rather an imitation of a Louis Vuitton handbag) In one of my films, I had recorded a Palestinian mother (in traditional Islamic dress) and her young son getting a hair cut at the barber parlor. I included the moment to show that Palestinian families are much like ours and that life at times is just "normal" What I didn't notice during editing was the mother was holding a Louis Vuitton (knockoff) hand bag. This didn't go unnoticed by the young American student watching the film who said, "I never imagined that they would be into fashion." What she was conveying is that she didn't think "they" would be like me. This moment humanized Palestinians for her. It was such a simple moment, coming very early on in the film, but it made an impact. The power of storytelling.

I never really know whether sharing these stories will make a difference. I'm hopeful, but I don't really know.

In 2003, I was hired to record stories for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians - Waaganakising Odawa. It was the first time in the tribes' history that their stories had been recorded and shared via video. Together we completed four programs on the tribes history and culture. One program was broadcast throughout Michigan via PBS affiliate stations. Another program "Journey to Sovereignty," chronicles the tribe's reaffirmation with the United States Government which led to their sovereign status. The film was shared locally among educators and local law enforcement. Six years of work was summed up in the statement by Tribal Chairman, Frank Ettawageshik. "This video has been the biggest aid in restoring relations between the local police department and the tribe." Storytelling changes minds.

When policeman listed to stories told by tribal members, they began to understand the effects of historical trauma on the community. They began to share the tribal members pain as well as their joy. Storytelling builds bridges.

Some may say that storytelling is just a form of propaganda. I submit that storytelling (people sharing their personal narratives) is not propaganda. Propaganda instills fear. Propaganda promotes divisions and exclusions. Storytelling on the other hand promotes empathy and understanding. Storytelling connects us to something inside ourselves which helps us connect with the other person.

I believe that by sharing personal narratives we can help people make the necessary connections to create meaning dialogue and make informed decisions. Everyone needs a voice. Everyone needs to be heard in a democracy. But more than being just "heard" people must make a connection. Sharing personal narratives builds these bridges.

If you'd like to read more about the study mentioned above. Visit this link. "How Facts Backfire" from the Boston Globe.

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TEDxTraverseCity 2017 - Pitch Night

3/3/2017

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Last night I had the pleasure to attend TEDxTraverse City "Pitch Night" at the Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City. Twenty participants shared wisdom and ideas in three-minute bursts on the theme of ".....There's Something More." Topics ranged from urban planning, racism, health care, education, interpersonal relationships, reaching one's potential, and more. A virtual around the town in twenty voices! One of the participants was RPM President, Susan Odgers (left) who focused on the importance of neighbors. You can watch her presentation and those of the other participants Here. Attendees had the opportunity to vote for their four favorite speakers. Personally, that wasn't easy. The presentations were all so good! Next week we'll find out who will be among the four presenters at TEDxTraverseCity2017 which will take place on May 17. Save the Date!

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Governance Learning Circle - NorthSky Nonprofit Network

3/1/2017

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Running a nonprofit is not all glitz and glamour! I'm sure you thought otherwise, right? Yesterday I attended the third session of the Governance Learning Circle presented by NorthSky Nonprofit Network of Traverse City, MI. I sat around the table with a dozen other Directors and Executive Directors of nonprofits operating in the Petoskey area. Our facilitator and instructor, Pam Evans guided us in discussions on board governance including: creating a board, board member duties, and financial responsibilities. Running a nonprofit organization requires a lot of work and determination, not only for paid staff, but for board members and the volunteers.

I would like to say that 100% of all donations go toward our programming, but I can't. The reality is that a lot of administrative work goes into a running any organization (or business) As the Executive Director of RPM, my job responsibilities include filing reports for our board members, our donors, and granting agencies. This administrative work ensures that your donations are being properly managed. It is part of the nonprofit process, but I admit it is not glamourous.

Since our nonprofit determination in 2010, Real People Media has operated on a very small budget, but we have accomplished many great things! We have collaborated with many other nonprofits, schools (Sault Ste. Marie, Charlevoix and East Jordan) and libraries in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties to help them share their stories. To learn more about these activities visit our "Success Stories." We have accomplished much over the years on a shoe-string budget, imagine what a well-funded RPM could do!

In the next month, the board and I will be sharing with you RPM's exciting plans for the future. I hope you will share this excitement and support us on this fulfilling journey!

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Real People Media Brings Back "Voice Box Sessions" in 2017.

Stories and Songs along Michigan's Heritage Highway M-119

Susan Odgers to Present at TEDxTraverse City 2017

RPM's Introduction to Audio Editing Class

Facts Are Facts but Storytelling Can Change Minds

TEDxTraverseCity 2017 - Pitch Night

Governance Learning Circle - NorthSky Nonprofit Network

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Real People Media Brings Back "Voice Box Sessions" in 2017.

﻿Stories and Songs along Michigan's Heritage Highway M-119

﻿Susan Odgers to Present at TEDxTraverse City 2017

RPM's ﻿Introduction to Audio Editing Class

﻿Facts Are Facts but Storytelling Can Change Minds

TEDxTraverseCity 2017 - Pitch Night

Governance Learning Circle - NorthSky Nonprofit Network

Author

Archives

Categories

Location

Contact Us

Stories and Songs along Michigan's Heritage Highway M-119

Susan Odgers to Present at TEDxTraverse City 2017

RPM's Introduction to Audio Editing Class

Facts Are Facts but Storytelling Can Change Minds