Volunteer Videographer — Idealist Days Campaign

What might happen if, once a month — on 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, and so on — we encouraged each other to do one thing to make our corner of the world a little better?

That's the question behind Idealist Days, and we're building a small video team to help answer it. We're looking for a volunteer videographer to go out into the field, capture the people behind these acts of good, and bring their stories back for the world to see.

The role

• Project based, ~12hrs a month, ongoing with a 3-month minimum commitment
• NYC-based strongly preferred — most shoots will happen in and around the city
• Travel is core to this role: you'll be on location at interviews, events, and Idealist Days actions as they happen
• Start immediately; full team assembled and shipping by end of June
• You'll get creative direction from the Senior Producer and work with a small crew

What you'll do

• Shoot interviews with people doing meaningful work in their communities
• Capture b-roll, events, and on-the-ground footage from Idealist Days actions
• Help conduct interviews when needed — comfort talking with people on camera is a plus
• Travel to shoot locations across NYC, with occasional paid travel further afield
• Collaborate closely with the editing team to make sure footage translates into strong final pieces

What we're looking for

• Intermediate camera operator with a strong eye for composition and natural light
• Solid handling of audio capture in the field (wireless mini mics, lavs, ambient sound)
• Comfortable shooting interview-style and documentary-style content
• Own camera and audio kit a plus, but not required
• Editing experience a bonus
• Most importantly: someone who actually cares about the stories. We're telling the stories of people making the world a better place. We want to assemble a team that really cares about that.

What you get

• Direct mentorship throughout the project
• Use of Idealist HQ in NYC as a workspace
• Polished portfolio pieces and credit
• Access to Idealist's network of nonprofits and changemakers

About the producer

I'm Matthew Chavez, Senior Producer at Idealist. You might know my participatory public art projects: Subway Therapy, an award winning participatory art installation, and Listening Lab, the nonprofit I co-founded around connection, listening, and community storytelling. My work has always been about helping people feel seen and heard. This campaign is the next chapter, and I'm looking for collaborators who want to build it with me.