Written, directed, shot + edited, title and thumbnail design
In February 2023, I took on the role of video contractor for Global Christian Relief (previously known as Open Doors USA), an American non-profit which supports persecuted Christians around the world.
My role at GCR spans everything from traveling to shoot video and photo in countries where we work, to turning our footage into engaging content for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, to YouTube strategy, titles and thumbnails… and even appearing on camera myself. I have always felt extremely blessed to have this opportunity.
Below are some of the highlights from my work with GCR.
short form vertical reels
In terms of sheer number of videos, and certainly in terms of pure viewership, short form vertical content is our top content format. Below are a few reels which I have shot and edited for GCR. Click the GIF to take you to one of the video’s postings.
long form stories
While our long-form videos rarely in fact exceed five minutes, these landscape format videos are a big part of what we pride ourselves on at GCR as a storyteller. These explain either a form of ministry, or the story of an individual who has faced persecution.
Note: Not all my top long forms are currently public due to changes in security measures after publishing or content scheduling.
Shot and edited + title and thumbnail design
Edited (shot by Tony Johnson) + title and thumbnail design
Presented, shot and edited + title and thumbnail design
Edited (shot by Tony Johnson) + title and thumbnail design
photography
More and more on recent trips with GCR, we have been focusing on the importance of photography. I have greatly treasured the resulting opportunity to capture photos of Christians around the world. Below you can find a few shots from one of our recent trips.
vlogging
While something we are still testing out, given my background in YouTube, the concept for our vlogging series, GCR Diaries, was an idea I raised based on how incredibly interesting the shooting trips themselves were. It would be a more immersive way to bring a Western viewer on the journey into the cultures of those Christians we were meeting, from the perspective of someone with a culture closer to theirs (in this case, me).
adverts
While I focus mainly on our organic content, I sometimes also contribute to content for our paid advertising. This is an ad which I made using footage from a number of different countries (some shot by myself but primarily shot by Tony Johnson). The motion design and voiceover are both my own. Title and thumbnail by Tony Johnson.