SPECIAL PROJECT: Documentary Series ISO Federal Employees
We're ISO Federal employees in the DMV who would like to talk about how normal and boring their jobs are for a short (1-3 minute) documentary series! If you're Federally funded (or recently laid off or furloughed), in the DMV, have a job you like, and are willing to talk on camera, we want to hear from you. Bonus points for nerdiness and/or having basic hobbies and interests!
What's this about?
We want America to know the truth: that DC is a real place people live and that the Federal government is mostly public-service minded nerds who aren't out to get anyone. We are looking to create a series of short, somewhat funny, documentary-style profiles on individuals who work in Federal service, somewhat in the spirit of Stephen Colbert's "Better Know a District." The goal is to humanize the Federal government and highlight the absurdity of vilifying our public servants.These will be posted and shared online.
What will I be doing?
If you think you might be a fit, please e-mail Dana Fleitman at [email protected] with your name, LinkedIn profile or comparable summary of your career, and a quick (2-3 sentence) description of your work ASAP -- no later than COB Monday, February 10th. We're hoping to schedule filming soon!
CAUSE-TAILORED COMEDY PRODUCTION
Our comedy production includes tailored comedy showcases, our podcast, topical open mic incubators, comedic engagement for social justice oriented conferences, and more! All of our comedy production is carefully curated to increase awareness and engagement surrounding causes in a time of need. For our showcases (our bread and butter), this begins with selecting a meaningful (typically humanitarian or environmental) cause that often aligns with current events on the local and/or national level, and then determining how to best tailor the show and promotional materials to increase awareness around it. For example, in the wake of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, we organized several comedy shows in collaboration with organizations based in the DMV area who serve to provide support for incoming Afghan refugees, featuring comedians who could relate to the immigrant and refugee experience, as well as information on how to volunteer and support recent Afghan refugees. These shows were followed by a podcast episode with a representative from one of the beneficiary organizations, as well as an Afghan refugee they supported, and did a deeper dive into the issue and what the audience can do to support, while using comedy as the sugar to help the medicine go down.
COMEDY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS
We recognize that civic engagement is most effective through direct interaction with communities most affected by the social justice issues we address through our work. While comedy is a driving vehicle for raising awareness, it also helps provide a forum to impacted communities directly. That's why we started our Stand Up Comedy Incubator for Women and Non-Binary Folx, and are working to expand these types of programs.
We are scoping opportunities to work directly with communities to develop comedy shows and workshops that are centered at the specific needs of the community. If you feel that your community and/or grassroots organization could benefit through a comedy and civil engagement workshop, please contact us at [email protected].
We're ISO Federal employees in the DMV who would like to talk about how normal and boring their jobs are for a short (1-3 minute) documentary series! If you're Federally funded (or recently laid off or furloughed), in the DMV, have a job you like, and are willing to talk on camera, we want to hear from you. Bonus points for nerdiness and/or having basic hobbies and interests!
What's this about?
We want America to know the truth: that DC is a real place people live and that the Federal government is mostly public-service minded nerds who aren't out to get anyone. We are looking to create a series of short, somewhat funny, documentary-style profiles on individuals who work in Federal service, somewhat in the spirit of Stephen Colbert's "Better Know a District." The goal is to humanize the Federal government and highlight the absurdity of vilifying our public servants.These will be posted and shared online.
What will I be doing?
- Meeting in DC for a couple hours for an interview, then finding another time to shoot some B Roll footage of you.
- Topics will include what your job is, what you like about it, how you got there, and a little bit about your daily life. This is a "get to know me" -- you will not be asked to speak on behalf of the government agency or give any political opinion. We can include a disclaimer that the opinions are your own.
- We are hoping for people who are earnest and excited about public service -- you do not need to be entertaining or to tell jokes. In fact, the more basic you are, the more we love you for this!
- Chosen interviewees should plan on a few hours of filming -- 1 session for the interview, another for B Roll. We will work with your schedule and film on weekends.
- This is a labor of love and we are unable to offer compensation at this time (our professional filmmaker and producer are also volunteering)
If you think you might be a fit, please e-mail Dana Fleitman at [email protected] with your name, LinkedIn profile or comparable summary of your career, and a quick (2-3 sentence) description of your work ASAP -- no later than COB Monday, February 10th. We're hoping to schedule filming soon!
CAUSE-TAILORED COMEDY PRODUCTION
Our comedy production includes tailored comedy showcases, our podcast, topical open mic incubators, comedic engagement for social justice oriented conferences, and more! All of our comedy production is carefully curated to increase awareness and engagement surrounding causes in a time of need. For our showcases (our bread and butter), this begins with selecting a meaningful (typically humanitarian or environmental) cause that often aligns with current events on the local and/or national level, and then determining how to best tailor the show and promotional materials to increase awareness around it. For example, in the wake of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, we organized several comedy shows in collaboration with organizations based in the DMV area who serve to provide support for incoming Afghan refugees, featuring comedians who could relate to the immigrant and refugee experience, as well as information on how to volunteer and support recent Afghan refugees. These shows were followed by a podcast episode with a representative from one of the beneficiary organizations, as well as an Afghan refugee they supported, and did a deeper dive into the issue and what the audience can do to support, while using comedy as the sugar to help the medicine go down.
COMEDY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS
We recognize that civic engagement is most effective through direct interaction with communities most affected by the social justice issues we address through our work. While comedy is a driving vehicle for raising awareness, it also helps provide a forum to impacted communities directly. That's why we started our Stand Up Comedy Incubator for Women and Non-Binary Folx, and are working to expand these types of programs.
We are scoping opportunities to work directly with communities to develop comedy shows and workshops that are centered at the specific needs of the community. If you feel that your community and/or grassroots organization could benefit through a comedy and civil engagement workshop, please contact us at [email protected].