The gift of family during a global pandemic

In March 2020 everything changed for the lives of many, as the World Health Organization declared COVID 19 as a global pandemic.

In this atrocity, many individuals were threatened as it led to dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presented an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. 

By June 2020, as many as 7.7 million workers had lost their jobs and there were at least 31 million COVID 19 cases reported. As the virus grew, many countries were quarantined including mine. 

On March 17th Guatemala City's' president, Alejandro Giammattei, announced that Guatemala was closing its borders as well as its industries. As a result, my family and I stayed home
in order to protect us from the coronavirus. 

Although the global pandemic affected the lives of many (including mine), I was able to take something positive from it as I was able to share unforgettable moments with my family. 

In this assignment, we were required to create an original short video for: The One Positive Thing about the Pandemic experience. 

As a result, I was able to gather all of the footage I took with my family during the pandemic and put them together while practicing my video editing skills. This helped me in order to create a visual product that successfully conveyed the message and emotions I felt during these times.

In order for the audience to get my message and enjoy the video I utilized various components in video editing. First of all, I started my video by demonstrating pictures of my family while also including a voice over explaining why my family and I didn't share much time together before the pandemic. 

In the video I  narrated the following script: " Our family is busy. My father works and my brothers go to school. After that they do homework and after school activities. Because of this we barely had time to share moments together". 

Then I demonstrated how everything changed due to the pandemic by utilizing actual video and footage. Here I depicted the activities and family time we spent together.

Furthermore, it is also crucial to mention that the use of A and B rolls served as a useful tool in my video. For instance, the photos of my family and the interviews of my two bothers serve as B rolls as it was extra footage used in order to enrich the story about a positive experience in the pandemic. Additionally, the videos of my family serve as the A roll as they were the key to demonstrating the primary footage in my video.

While editing it, I learned the impact and importance music can have on videos and films as in this case it generated important emotions.

In my video, the song Happiest Year by Jaymes Young was playing in the background and I believe that it enhanced my film as it created a special atmosphere as well as a positive heart warming feeling. 

Overall, the song by Jaymes Young served in order to bring crucial emotions to my video as it also generated a sense of nostalgia and love.I was satisfied with the final results as I was able to reflect on and strengthen not only the appreciation for the relationships in my lives but it helped me enhance my video editing skills. 

Creating this video touched my heart and made me feel grateful as I was able to see everything that I lived though actual footage. Because of this, I learned that because of the pandemic, I was able to share unforgettable moments with my family that will stay in my heart forever.