Solar Video--My Attempt to Emulate Bill Nye the Science Guy

Bill Nye the Science Guy

On a recent holiday drive from Savannah to DC with my mom, we were talking about my blog. We talk a lot about the blog. My mom has great faith in me and wants my blog to be a big production. She's a drama teacher. She told me that the videos I had posted thus far were bland. I guess my panoramic shots of solar aren't quite worthy of mainstream attention.

We brainstormed for a while and she suggested I do a video where I explain something about solar and make it a bit more relatable to people who don't necessarily have a solar passion. Something like what Bill Nye the Science Guy was able to do with science.

Fast-forward two weeks. On Jan. 16, I wandered around my neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant in search of some commonplace, "relatable" solar. For just over an hour, I filmed at four different locations, including a solar trash compactor, solar gas line monitor, and solar parking meter, and solar-powered Bikeshare station. I chose these installations because they are ubiquitous in DC, anyone can see them while walking, and I was well-versed (having blogged about all four).

But this wasn't just any shoot. I'm very lucky to have a friend who's a videographer, Potencial Puro. He helped me film my Nov. 15 interview with Jonathan Morgenstein. He has all of the appropriate equipment: a camera with a fish-eye lens, shotgun mic, and tripod. It produces a much higher quality video than my cellphone.

Check out the video!

One thing you might notice is that there are a lot of passers-by. One of the difficult things about filming is that you have to keep a straight face and focus on your material, even when people are bumping into you or purposefully trying to throw off your game. I've got a whole new level of respect for in-the-field news reporters.

I was also horribly under-dressed and freezing by the end of it. You'll see that I don't look too warm in the video and see a bit more of my complaining in the outtakes.

Despite the difficulties, it was a fun shoot and I plan to do something similar in the near future. I hope you enjoy it!