Video Production
I’ve developed a reputation for strong storytelling with the videos I’ve written and produced. These include dozens of projects on diverse subjects, from exoplanets to radioisotope power. I can research, write, and edit scripts; develop storyboards and shot lists; source visuals; produce animations; and record and edit voiceover.
I’m proud of the work I’ve accomplished for NASA – in particular the contributions my efforts made to our team winning the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Interactive Program,” in 2018, for Cassini’s Grand Finale.
From scripting, to storyboarding, to editing…
My video content creation experience extends across the production spectrum:
Researching, writing, editing, and fact checking scripts.
Storyboarding camera shots and animations.
Creating original graphics, sky charts, space animations (using Space Engine), photos, and time lapse videos.
Sourcing images and videos from online collections (Creative Commons and paid license).
Recording and editing voiceover audio tracks – either my own voice or hired talent – and delivering them ready for an editor’s use.
Standout Projects
Cassini’s Grand Finale
I conceived, wrote, and produced this moving, CG-animated short film to detail the final voyage of NASA's Cassini spacecraft at Saturn. The key objectives were to provide world-class visuals to engage public and media interest in the mission finale, and to shape the narrative about the heroic end for a popular NASA spacecraft.
This was a collaboration with director/animator Erik Wernquist and my JPL colleague Stephen Epstein. The work provided the core visuals for the Cassini end-of-mission campaign, and made an essential contribution to NASA's first Emmy win the following year.
Europa Clipper Vault Plate Reveal
I led the development of this inspirational message plaque to be sent aboard NASA's flagship mission to Europa, including this video to reveal it to the world. The video premiered at SXSW 2024, in the opening talk, hosted by the head of NASA planetary science and U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon.
This video was edited by the talented Jenna Boss.
What’s Up
(NASA skywatching series)
Since 2019 I’ve led production on NASA’s longest running video series, “What’s Up.” (The series debuted in 2007.)
We make a 4-minute video each month that is shared across NASA social media platforms, and receives millions of views.
This work makes great use of my astronomy education and my theatre background. I research, write, voice, edit the VO, and source all the visuals for these videos each month. I also create storyboards, mock up graphics, and render animations, and I help manage the distribution on NASA social media channels.
STORY 2020 Talk
Wrote and produced this piece, including finding the desert filming location and sourcing some of the visuals.
I was slated to speak on the main stage at this conference in Nashville when COVID hit. The organizers pivoted to virtual, and I conceived a video presentation to be played at the opening of the event. I don’t need to remind you that things were looking pretty dark and grim in 2020. The theme of STORY that year was “announcing the coming of the light,” and I did my best to weave my expertise into an inspiring talk that might share hope that the light would indeed return.
When the conference returned in person in 2023, I was walking into the venue when one of the ushers pulled me aside. Eyes watering up, he told me my talk had been a real help for him and his children during that rough time. They played it many times, and it helped the kids feel more secure. I was floored. That’s the power of serving your audience. Of putting them first. You never know how your work might make a difference for someone.
Additional Project Examples
Exoplanet Video Series
Wrote and produced a three-video series of animated explainers to cover key messaging objectives for the NASA Exoplanet Program. Contracted with an external animator and cast the delightful voice talent internally (my JPL colleague Rachel Etheredge).
The Wonder of Saturn
This was intended as a dramatic sizzle reel to play on our live commentary broadcast, shortly after the Cassini team called end of mission over the comlink. So it had to feel epic. The music carries most of the emotion, but editor Arthur Hurley did a great job with the cuts, and I’m proud of the end line I came up with: “To truly understand the Saturn system, we had to go there.“ It was a proud moment to see this playing on the screens in mission control as they team hugged and smiled through tears following the spacecraft’s passing.
Spitzer and NASA’s Great Observatories
At the conclusion of the Spitzer Space Telescope mission, the team wanted a video that would help place the observatory in context with the other so called “great observatories,” which include Hubble. I came up with the idea to frame it as a mythic, superhero quest, and animate it in comic book style. It turned out alright, but a year or so later, inspired by this video, the NASA astro comms team made an updated version that finally lived up to the visual potential of the original.
Radioisotope Generator Animations
This one’s a bit older, but I mostly holds up. When I was the outreach lead for the NASA Radioisotope Power Systems Program, I felt we needed a set of pull-apart animations to help us talk about how the technology worked. I drafted a colleague with decent animation skills, and the two of us produced a set of three of these animations for different RPS components. For reference, this is the generator that powers the current generation of NASA Mars rovers.
Pathfinders Storytelling Series
My JPL colleague Stephen Epstein and I created and produced a long-form TV series, called “Pathfinders,” which unfortunately was not released. The show concept was “This American Life” meets TED talks, meets “The Moth.” Each episode had a central theme, and three different storytellers would each give a 10-15 minute talk in which they told a story linked to that theme. The idea was for them to share their personal, human experience as part of the space program; even though the situations they recount would be extraordinary, any human being could identify the emotions they relayed in their experiences.
We developed talks with nine speakers, and filmed all of the talks with a live audience.
See more examples of my video work here.