e-Learning Projects

This was a long and involved process with many revisions and scheduling conflicts. In order to create this module, I used my own Nikon D7200 using a 50mm prime lens with a Ninja V external monitor and recorder and my Rode shotgun microphone with Zoom H4N recorder. I used Final Cut Pro X to edit the footage, Final Draft to write the script, Excel to organize the shot list and Articulate Storyline to create the module. We use Brainier as our LMS. 

The concept of Everything Speaks was determined late in 2022 and became one of our components of Bone Dry University at our Planning Retreat on January 19, 2023. I was given responsibility to create an online module to help introduce and explain the concept of Everything Speaks. The whole concept is to be aware of everything in your work because it all will say something about you, our company, our product to our customers whether you intend it to or not. So, to introduce the concept to our employees, I created this online module.

The process began with a Design Document, much like a storyboard that explained what each slide will display and the accompanying audio that will be heard by the learner. This design document was turned in on January 26, 2023 and reviewed. Revisions were made and returned on January 31 and it was approved on February 1st. 

Next, I wrote a screenplay based on the Design Document. This was completed on February 14th. From the screenplay, I created a Shot List to help me break down all the filming of different actors at a variety of locations in the script. The module was very video heavy and needed all original material. We cast the characters needed with people who work here in the Indianapolis Branch and we were lucky to have a house we could use as the remote location.

To make the process as clear as possible to my non-professional cast who were not used to being in film, I color-coded the lines in the script and the shot list and made each character a consistent color. I also sorted the shot list to create a schedule to accommodate my co-workers' busy schedules. My plan was to pick up most of the incidental videos early here at the Indianapolis Branch location. I then planned a day and a half to shoot at the house at the remote location. I was able to shoot the character Kim who was playing a Customer Service Representative in her own office on March 14th. Over the next few days, I shot a variety of B roll and incidental videos here in the warehouse. The main shoot was scheduled for April 6 and 7, 2023. 

The first day of filming went very well. The actors showed up on time, but not very prepared. Line memorization was proving to be a challenge. The other obstacle I did not count on was the road noise. In addition, the weather was much chillier than expected. We had seen warmer weather earlier in the week. So, to everyone's relief, I quickly changed my plans and we shot the scenes with Mr. and Mrs. Smith inside on the couch. We would shoot the scenes with the salesperson at the dining room table now. The noise was much better and my actress was not cold anymore. 

My trick with filming actors who have difficulty with the script is to shoot the close-ups first. We go through line by line and try to get as many long takes as we can with reactions and continuity. Then switch to the other character's close up going through the whole scene each time. With repetition comes familiarity  so by the time I am ready to shoot the two-shot, they are more confident and comfortable with the dialogue. 

The salesperson, Gus arrived a little late due to some confusion with reading the call sheet, but once he goth there, I was able to shoot his scenes with the couple. Once we had those completed, I let the couple go then shot Gus's parts that were only him on camera.  

The other actor called that day was not able to make it, so we rescheduled him for the next day. When we couldn't find a crew to come in and act like they were putting on a roof, we rescheduled the whole half-day of shooting to the next Saturday, April 15. We were able to find a small group of volunteers to come in and replace a portion of the garage roof since the pitch of the roof on the house was much steeper and the shingles would not match. The garage was a safer bet. My other actor playing the Production Manager was able to make it and I picked up all the footage that I needed. 

I completed the module on April 17, just two days after filming completed. I had been working on it progressively as I was able to insert the videos I had been editing. Suggestions for revisions encouraged minor changes and I was able to complete the project by April 20, 2023. The final version was uploaded on May 2, but will be distributed later as part of a larger campaign called the Bone Dry Experience. 

This was a long process also dealing with travel, scheduling conflicts, and weather. The process started a little different this time with my boss requesting a one-page treatment which I completed in February. Received with much enthusiasm, I went to work on the Design Document which I completed a week and a half later. Interviews were scheduled for the end of March. That interview was quickly rescheduled for two weeks later due to the bad weather. In the meantime, I had been in negotiations tracking down a horse and owner that would allow our owner to either walk or ride and actual horse. Through a friend of a friend of a coworker, we tracked down a horse named Buck and his owner, Lauren who would let Gene ride. Even though she volunteered to meet us somewhere, I thought it best for the horse to be in familiar scenery. I scouted the location the day before the shoot and with the field behind their property, they location would work great. 

Filming the company owner on a horse took place in the middle of April near Advance, Indiana. After that I was able to film the interview with our General Manager the next day. I followed that up with our Repairs manager two days later. I began the editing process in Final Cut Pro X and creating the module through Articulate Storyline. 

Finding a time and place to interview a Regional Manager was difficult, but through some arranging and re-arranging, we settled on filming in Louisville during the last week of April. Using the same equipment of mine, I was able to film each interview in either their truck, the Branch Manager's truck or on a tripod in their office. 

Last to arrive was the footage of our owner talking about his take on Ride Fence. That was sent to us from Sarasota at the end of April. The owner did not want to try to talk and ride a horse for the first time, so he was recorded by another cinematographer in Florida. I had to send along speaking points that would help the continuity, but our owner is a natural on camera. The footage blended seamlessly with what I was already filming so I believe the module ended perfectly. The module was uploaded to our LMS by the beginning of May.

The voice over narration may sound a little different since it wasn't my voice this time. It was actually a computer. I used my free trial at ElevenLabs (https://beta.elevenlabs.io/voice-lab) to create the voice over. I simply typed up the narration from the script I had created and found a voice that worked very well with what I was trying to evoke. I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I slowed it down a little in the final video and was very pleased. 

In order to reinforce the concept of Synergy, I used the combinations of foods that deliver much more together than they would by themselves. Research was done on finding five different combinations that benefit health more effectively when combined. 

A passion of mine is eating great barbecue. This trend started after I won a pellet-grill smoker in an Instagram contest. During the pandemic, I started smoking on this grill a lot. In my quest/obsession with good barbecue, I started traveling to sample the best. It started in Texas with the capital of BBQ: Lockhart. I then made my way to Kansas City on a different vacation to explore barbecue further. On my travels, I was able to hit a couple more near St. Louis and one in Memphis.  

Based on an eLearning Heroes Challenge from Articulate, I created this interactive map in Articulate Storyline to aggregate my reviews, photos, and even video reactions to eating all this amazing barbecue. Each restaurant and its review is organized by region and has photos that I've taken. I grew confident in my reviews in Kansas City and started recording my reactions on video. Enjoy!