Workshop Participants
Kristina Budelis
Interviewer, Photographer, Cinematographer
Kristina Budelis is a photographer, writer, and filmmaker based in New York. A recent graduate of Barnard College, she interned in the photography and multimedia departments of The New Yorker as an undergraduate. She now works there as a multimedia producer, creating videos and audio slideshows from start to finish. She occasionally photographs and blogs for newyorker.com.
She holds a B.A. in English and Film Studies from Barnard College of Columbia University, and has also studied at the Maine Media Workshops and at NYU Tisch Film School’s outpost in Paris, France.
Kristina participated in the July 2011 MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop. She had the following to say about her experience:
Before the workshop, I was looking forward to hearing the MediaStorm producers talk about multimedia -- about both the nature and strength of the medium, and also their storytelling techniques. And they delivered, often with inspiring clarity, occasionally with thoughtful uncertainty. After the first day, I was able to better understand and articulate the power of multimedia, and how to harness it. But as soon as we began shooting, we were all focused on telling our subject's story. Storytelling, though, was gracefully linked with discussions of technique and process, and that's the best thing about this workshop. During the week, you are product-motivated but with so many MediaStorm producers working alongside the talented participants, you're bound to learn a lot as you (especially with teammates and teachers who will all stay up until 3AM, sipping coffee and arguing about storyline.) Working with such talented and dedicated individuals was without a doubt the best part of the workshop. It was truly a joy to collaborate with Brian, Rick, Eric, Leandro, and my teammates Piotr and Jeff.
In the end, I learned a lot, but, more importantly, I am immensely proud of our story. I can't wait to show it to friends and colleagues, and I am eager to apply the techniques I learned to future visual storytelling endeavors.
A family is determined to give their disabled son a whole and vital life. In the midst of a great burden, one small child – with a seemingly endless supply of love – is the blessing that holds a family together.