About this project

About us:
The Quotidian is an ongoing video documentary series about how everyday people are finding new ways to create change in their communities. We tell stories about social innovators who think outside of the box and show us that everyday people can really make a difference in our world.

These original short video documentaries (with an average length of 5-15 minutes) focus on people doing good for their communities as well as the subjects that are affected by their work. Stories range from an individual taking personal initiative to improve the well-being of homeless people in his neighborhood to a local business that donates a percentage of sales to charity, for example.

Right now, we are working on three films:

- a story on an organization that arranges free surgeries for those with no insurance and low incomes;

- a first-hand exploration and analysis of the experiences of migrants crossing the border from Mexico;

- a collaborative documentary on an organization that takes over laundromats to teach children art in inner-city neighborhoods with few other opportunities for arts education.

In addition to exploring the work of a particular individual or organization, our videos also demonstrate how we can all participate in doing a world of good. Whenever possible, we also aim to tell stories that are in the development stage – whether it's someone starting an innovative social program or a nonprofit pushing for widespread community action. We feel that focusing on the development phase of a particular action enables us to not only tell a potentially more captivating story, but a more inspirational one for the budding social entrepreneurs and volunteers of tomorrow.

The individuals and organizations we highlight are able to use our produced pieces for their own publicity and fundraising purposes. Everything is produced under Creative Commons Share-Alike license (including the music) so there is great flexibility, and organizations have been successful in using our films effectively to help meet their goals.

To see the films we've produced, go to:

http://thequotidian.org/video/

What we need:
Our greatest need right now is an upgrade to HD video equipment so we can continue to produce our work at the highest professional standards. This will include purchase of a broadcast-quality HD video camera, memory cards, batteries, shotgun and lavalier mic kits, lighting, tripods and stands. Any additional money beyond what is being initially sought will go towards developing new productions and expanding our reach.