Berkshire Theater Group: What It Means to Be Human

A short documentary-style video that tells the story of how Berkshire Theater Group survived during COVID-19 and how theater brought the community together during a time of uncertainty, isolation, and loss.

Role

Video Producer & Editor

Year

2022

Length

2:30

Project Type

Short Documentary

/Nonprofit Video

OVERVIEW

The goal of the project was to create an emotionally compelling video that showed how BTG's production of Godspell gave hope, provided jobs for artists, and offered a sense of connection when the world was shut down. The film celebrates resilience, acceptance, and the power of live performance.

Theater can revitalize a community. It helps us process, heal, and move forward together.

Kate Maguire

Artistic Director & CEO, BTG

THE CHALLENGE

During COVID-19, theaters across the country faced shutdowns, job losses, public health restrictions, and uncertainty about whether live performance could safely continue. BTG needed a video that would:

Communicate the stakes of the pandemic

Highlight the courage of artists and staff

Show the impact of returning to live performance

Inspire the community and encourage continued support

MY ROLE & CONTRIBUTION

As Video Producer and Editor, my role was to shape the project into a clear, emotional, and cohesive story. I focused on turning interview footage, performance material, community moments, and supporting visuals into a narrative that moved from uncertainty to resilience to hope.

Shaped the story arc around BTG’s survival during COVID and the community impact of theater.
Selected and organized interview moments that reflected fear, uncertainty, hope, and perseverance.
Edited performance footage, theater b-roll, audience reactions, and community visuals into a cohesive short-form story.
Balanced emotional pacing so the video felt reflective, human, and hopeful rather than purely promotional.
Used b-roll and performance moments to visually support the themes of community, creativity, and recovery.
Structured the video to build toward a clear message about why supporting the arts matters.
Helped create a final piece that supported BTG’s mission, audience engagement, and community-centered storytelling.

STORY APPROACH

1. THE CRISIS

The story begins with the uncertainty of COVID-19 and the fear surrounding the future of theater.

2. THE HUMAN RESPONSE

We hear from artists, leaders, and community members about what was lost, what was at stake, and why theater mattered.

3. THE RETURN OF THEATER

BTG’s Godspell production becomes a symbol of resilient creativity, with performances, preparations, and audience anticipation.

4. COMMUNITY & HOPE

The story ends with togetherness, applause, and the reminder that theater brings people hope and connection.

PROCESS

1. STORY PLANNING

Wrote and pitched a treatment to the BTG team and then defined the core message and main themes of the story, which were survival, community, creativity, hope, and the role of theater during crisis. The treatment positioned the film as a story about what it means to be human during a period of chaos and uncertainty

2. PRODUCING

Identified the core emotional message of the video and shaped the story around BTG’s ability to bring people together through live performance. The producing approach focused on making the story feel personal, not institutional.

3. ORGANIZING

Logged and organized interviews, b-roll, performance footage, and audio for Berkshire Theater Group’s documentary-style video, helping structure raw production assets into a clear editing workflow that supported story development, pacing, and final delivery.

4. EDITING

Built the video around a beginning, middle, and end: pandemic uncertainty, BTG’s response, and the emotional return of community through theater. Selected interview moments and visual sequences that supported the central message.

5. REFINING

Adjusted pacing, transitions, and visual flow so the video felt reflective and hopeful. The edit needed to allow emotional moments to breathe while still keeping the story moving.

6. FINAL DELIVERY

Prepared the final video as a mission-driven storytelling piece that could help communicate BTG’s artistic purpose, community value, and need for continued support.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT (STILLS FROM THE VIDEO)

KEY DELIVERABLES

Produced and edited short 2 minute documentary-style video
Developed narrative structure around COVID survival and community resilience
Selected interview soundbites and performance moments
Edited b-roll, theater footage, audience visuals, and community scenes
Created emotional pacing from uncertainty to hope
Supported nonprofit storytelling and donor/community engagement goals
Delivered final video with a clear mission-based call to action

IMPACT

This video helped frame Berkshire Theater Group’s COVID-era story as more than an arts organization surviving a difficult moment. It positioned BTG as a community anchor that created connection, gave artists a platform, and reminded audiences why live performance matters.

The project helped:

Communicate BTG’s resilience during the pandemic
Highlight the emotional and cultural value of live theater
Show how the arts can bring people together during crisis
Support nonprofit storytelling around mission, community, and donor engagement
Demonstrate how video can turn organizational history into a compelling human story