Some of the most gratifying work done by the EAF team of photographers, editors and artists has been the projects that affect the lives of thousands of people in a powerful way.
EAF has been able to help many Virginia organizations fight poverty, family violence, and breast cancer and help families face drug addiction, mental health issues and aging with compelling videos and public service messages.
They include:
Youth, Sports & Fine Arts Academy
Richmond Redevelopment & Housing AuthorityThe RRHA is always looking for innovative ways to pull young public housing residents away from negative influences and directing them toward fulfilling their own abilities.
The EAF Team with Dave Park on camera and Jeff McGall recording sound followed a large group of young people through a myriad of athletic and academic endeavors designed to challenge them, body, mind and soul.
This was one of the most impressive groups of young people we have ever encountered in all the years we’ve been producing these types of projects.
Health Careers
VCU Medical Center
Across the Health Careers landscape there are wide-spread shortages of professionals in every area of the Health Care industry. At the same time many bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have little or no access to career opportunities.
So VCU Medical Center is bringing dozens of young people onto the VCU Medical Center campus and exposing them to a plethora of career opportunities in health care.
Joe Kuttenkuler of VCU News Services asked me to write and direct the video that he edited, which is designed to bring resources into the program while also reaching out to families in hopes they would enroll their kids in these programs.
The Health Careers program is available in a variety of forms to young people from 8 years old through college freshmen.
EAF Produces TV Show for NBC-12
EAF Custom Communication is producing a 30 minute documentary style program for NBC-12 showcasing the progressive work being done by Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
“ Building Vibrant Communities”, will air 5 times on NBC-12:
The program will surprise many viewers with the breadth of work being done by RRHA in developing growing quality communities, adding many first time homebuyers to the Richmond city tax base, and aiding in developing important city structures, like the soon to be redeveloped Miller & Rhoads Building on Broad St.
Friends Association for Children
Five years ago EAF had the privilege of producing the Development and Recruiting video for Friends Association for Children Child Care Development Center. Friends serves mostly children from low income backgrounds and has, for more than 100 years, has created an oasis of education for children who have many obstacles in their way.
Eric worked alongside Marylin Nicol, Director of Development for FRIENDS and Julie M. Sulik the organization’s Communications Coordinator to make the video. Dave Park shot the wonderful images of children learning in an engaging environment where the children are challenged in the most loving of manners. Eric wrote and edited the piece.
As it was the previous time it was an honor to work for John Punell who has run FRIENDS for more than 35 years. John Purnell may not be famous but he is a real treasure in Richmond; someone who has improved this city more than anyone can imagine.
Partnership for People with Disabilities
EAF had the extraordinary honor of producing the Development video for Partnership for People with Disabilities. This wonderful organization is a fierce advocate for people with every type of disability imaginable from birth to death and across the entire Commonwealth.
The video shows the Partnership’s work from pre-school inclusion programs, to its public advocacy for the right to access good education, work opportunities and health care, to the aid and assistance they give families who have children with disabilities.
The Partnership is made up of experts who touch all bases in the field, many of whom also have children with disabilities. All this comes together in a highly effective organization. The Partnership video premiered at Richmond’s Historic Byrd Theater, May 24th, with an audience of more than 150 people, including all the folks who appeared in the video.
Association for the Support of Children with Cancer (ASK)
EAF produced an 11 minute video is designed to raise awareness and funds for this extraordinary organization. ASK helps families who have children with cancer at VCU Medical Center with everything from financial assistance, family gatherings, support groups, cancer research, nurse practitioners, and waiting rooms for kids that are fun.
The video is a 'sound bite' video with no narration and is alive with beautiful pictures courtesy of Alfred Shapiro and Gene Rhodes.
Richmond Police Domestic Violence Prevention PSAs
Eric Futterman was awarded the Capital Region Emmy as Best Director for a powerful 16 mm film public information campaign directed toward both victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Breast Cancer Prevention
Eric worked with the Virginia Health Quality Center to produce a very dignified thirty second spot encouraging African American women over fifty to have yearly mammograms. The spot, called Sisters for Mammograms, targeted women in the Hampton Roads market and resulted in a ten percent increase in women getting mammograms over a one year period. The spot was shot on video and converted to film look to give a strong 16mm film appearance.
The Sisters for Mammograms campaign was nominated for an Emmy in the Chesapeake Region for Best Public Service Message.
Friends Association for Children
FRIENDS is a more than 100 year old child care development center that serves children and families from low income communities.
In 2001 EAF produced FRIENDS first ever development and awareness video. Five years and thousands of money-raising plays afterward, FRIENDS came back to EAF to update the video.
The first video debuted on a big screen at the downtown Omni hotel with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder in attendance along with several hundred representatives of Richmond's top corporations were in attendance.
The ten minute video showcases the tremendous work being done by Friends Association for Children by giving pre-schools kids strong developmental education while also working with parents to help them become better mom's and dads.
Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority
HOPE VI
HOPE VI is helping public housing residents move into new, higher quality publicly subsidized homes after completing life preparation courses from job training to drug and pregnancy counseling and more.
Working with the RRHA EAF produced three PSAs and a seven minute advocacy video, both of which featured women whose lives have changed thanks to the HOPE VI federal grant to Richmond's Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
The HOPE VI Campaign was awarded the Medallion the highest honor given by Richmond Public Relations Association for Best Audio/Visual Campaign in Virginia.
Norfolk Community Services Board
EAF Custom Communication produced a powerful project that exposes the wonderful work Norfolk Community Services Board does to help people in its community who have all manner of disabilities; mental retardation, schizophrenia, drug addiction and in the case of the little girl below, left to die on a riverbank in China, take control of their own lives.
The four stories depicted in this 12 minute video project reveal what a well-run government agency can do to ensure people in any given community can move from being unproductive to becoming working taxpayers with bright futures.
The video will be used to lobby government for resources and help people in the community understand the level of commitment Norfolk Community Services Board Counselors have to their clients and their communities.
Virginia Nurses Association and NBC-12
EAF Teamed with NBC-12 to produce a series of thirty second spots showcasing the variety of nursing jobs available to people who may be interested in the profession.
These spots attracted wide corporate and association sponsorship and were seen by hundreds of thousands of people in Central Virginia.
Senior Center of Richmond
EAF produced this heartwarming video showcasing the Senior Center on Monument Ave and in Southside. It's a great place, full of vitality, friendship and the hearty spirit of independent seniors.
The video was produced with a "sound bite" script strung together as narration. Alfred Shapiro shot the piece with Jeff McGall handling sound. Alfred's extensive experience shooting both news and production gives him the ability to light a room beautifully, while remaining spontaneous enough to capture special moments.
Spending time with the folks at the Richmond Senior Center was an enriching experience. The video was designed to raise funds and awareness for the Senior Center and entice independent living seniors to join.
Chesterfield County Police
Funeral for a Friend-Consequences of Gun Violence
This video was designed to teach middle school students in Chesterfield County that gun violence is the worst kind of way to settle disputes. This dramatic video, told as actors playing young students push each other to a violent resolution while interviews with families who have been victimized by both criminal and accidental gunshots.
While guns can be enjoyed for recreational use in marksmanship and hunting and can sometimes by used for protection, Chesterfield Police wanted to make sure young people understood what could happen when a gun is used improperly.
Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Family Self Sufficiency
When the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority wanted to inspire residents to take part in their Family Self Sufficiency program and work toward earning a down payment for a new home, they once again turned to EAF Custom Communication to produce a video that features two residents who have changed their lives through the Family Self Sufficiency Program.
