My name is Cam, creator of Cam’s Brain, and I’m producing an independent documentary series called Through My Lens.
The purpose of Through My Lens is to go directly into communities, sit down with the people who live there, and give them an opportunity to tell their own stories.
My current documentary takes me through Moncrief in Jacksonville, Florida.
When people hear Moncrief, the conversation often immediately turns toward crime, violence, poverty, and statistics. Those realities are part of the story, and I don't intend to ignore them, but they aren't the entire story.
I've been interviewing residents, community leaders, business owners, families, and people with firsthand experiences connected to the area.
My goal isn't to tell you what to think.
I want the people I interview to tell their stories, and I want you to hear them.
What I Need Help With
I've been funding this documentary myself, but every interview and every episode comes with real production expenses.
Right now, I need help with the basic tools and expenses that allow me to continue producing the series.
I need a dedicated camera to continue improving the quality of the interviews and documentary footage.
I need SD cards and storage because these interviews generate a tremendous amount of footage. I want to preserve the original interviews instead of constantly deleting footage to make room for the next story.
Good audio is just as important as good video. Funding will help with microphones, wireless audio equipment, batteries, and other equipment needed to clearly record the people who trust me enough to share their stories.
Fuel is another major expense. I'm driving throughout Jacksonville to meet people where they are, conduct interviews, visit locations, follow leads, and document these communities firsthand.
There are also ongoing editing and production expenses. Software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and other Adobe programs are essential to editing, organizing, producing, and delivering each episode. These subscriptions are another expense that I currently carry myself.
I'm not asking for a massive production crew.
I'm trying to have the basic resources necessary to keep showing up, sitting down with people, recording their stories, and turning those interviews into documentaries that people can actually watch.
Where Your Donation Goes
Donations will help cover a dedicated camera and filming equipment, SD cards and storage drives, microphones and audio equipment, batteries and accessories, fuel and transportation to interviews, Adobe Premiere Pro and other editing software subscriptions, and other essential production expenses.
As support grows, additional funding will allow me to conduct more interviews, travel farther, improve the quality of the documentaries, preserve more of the footage I collect, and eventually take Through My Lens into other communities.
This Is Bigger Than Moncrief
Moncrief is one chapter.
My vision is for Through My Lens to become an ongoing documentary series covering communities and people whose stories deserve more than a headline or a 30 second clip.
Some stories will be positive.
Some will be difficult.
Some people I interview may completely disagree with one another.
That's part of documenting real life.
I'm not approaching these communities with a predetermined conclusion. I'm coming with a camera, questions, and a willingness to listen.
When you donate, you're helping put fuel in the vehicle that gets me to the next interview. You're helping put an SD card in the camera that records it. You're helping provide the microphone that captures someone's voice. You're helping provide the editing software that turns hours of footage into a finished documentary.
Most importantly, you're helping me continue giving people an opportunity to tell their own stories.
If you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser and sharing the documentaries helps tremendously.
Thank you to everyone who has trusted me enough to sit in front of my camera and tell their story, and thank you to everyone helping me continue this journey.
One interview at a time. One community at a time.
Through My Lens.
Cam
Cam’s Brain