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PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS

Overview

VIC’s professional projects are educational documentaries that provide in depth analysis and resources for change. VIC relies on groups of community advisors to help identify and prioritize issues that need addressing in the community. Once partnering organizations and individuals with expertise in these areas are established, VIC works closely with them to further research the issues, develop solutions, define content, write grant proposals, seek funding, create educational materials, and produce and disseminate the media tools.  The projects are funded through private, county, state and federal grants, university support, donations, and in-kind contributions. The VIC Program Director is the principle investigator on the project, and Producer/Director of these video projects. California State University San Marcos, VIC’s programmatic home, is the fiscal sponsor.

VIC products are distributed for free or at low cost worldwide through DVD distribution and the web. They are utilized by social service organizations, community centers, health providers, juvenile justice services, law enforcement, schools, faith-based organizations, individuals and families.

VIC Producer/Director, Professor Kristine Diekman, has over 30 years of production experience. Her approach to the projects is to draw on and learn from the lived experience of those people whom the projects serve. Her interview approach involves what she calls, “deep listening”, and bringing participants into the dialogue of the film early and often. Providing relevant, recognizable images to those who need help in their path towards change, will give them the motivation to see possibilities beyond those they see every day. From the pre-production process, to the production in the field, to the editing decisions, Diekman is guided by these practices.

"Diekman' s and VIC' s videos are not only educational, they are inspiring and motivating to audiences,” explained Barbara Rivas, who coordinates Jessie's Program, an intense mentorship program that helps reduce recidivism among high-risk teens in Juvenile Hall. "I have shown A Way Out to the girls in Juvenile Hall and their response was 'finally there is a video that says it like it really is.'"