Since 1963, Semester at Sea (SAS) and the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) have offered university-aged students multi-country study abroad programs unlike any other global educational travel experience.
For four months, twice a year, a passenger cruise ship harboring over 500 students, 60 faculty and staff and almost 200 crew members sets sail to nearly a dozen different countries.
While at sea students take classes, procrastinate assignments and cram for exams, and while in-country they explore, discover, question and consider all they encounter.
Each semester, beginning in the '90s, SAS has hired one individual to tell the story of that voyage through film.
Early on this meant one, hours-long documentary filmed on Betacams and delivered months after disembarkation.
Now however, the role has evolved to prioritize high-quality, engaging, ever-green digital video content and in the Fall of 2022, I was hired as the videographer for the 131st voyage of Semester at Sea.
Pre-production and creative prep occured in the weeks leading up to embarkation, with the knowledge that changes were inevitable.
High priority pieces were a 2-3 minute brand sizzle, and the biannual "End of Voyage" recap video.
Sporatic internet access and ever-changing timezones made for a wonderfully active, engaging and creative work environment, to which I'll happily be returning for the Fall 23' semester.
