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5 - FINDING STORIES

The best stories don’t usually present themselves to you in front of your camera. You have to go looking for them, and that requires some planning.

» Before you go, use your existing networks to find people in the country you’re visiting. A quick post on social media might uncover friends of friends who live there. These people are an invaluable source of local knowledge, leading you to places and people you’d never find otherwise.

» See if there are any online newspapers from the country to learn about the current topics of debate, as well as upcoming events and interesting people.

» Pack an old unlocked phone and buy a cheap pay-as-you-go SIM card when you’re there. In many areas internet access is still scarce, but mobile phones are increasingly ubiquitous. Having a local number will make it easy to arrange filming people and events, and will help you keep in touch with useful contacts on the ground.

» Most importantly, talk to strangers. Talk to everyone you meet, find out about their life, their family and their dreams. If not them, perhaps they know others with interesting stories. Then be brave, and ask if you can film them.
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