Turning Point Youth Centre has released a promotional video highlighting various aspects of the program (Ness Films/Turning Point Youth Centre)

By Elliott Knopp

Turning Promo

Turning Point Youth Centre releases locally produced promotional video

Mar 31, 2021 | 1:07 PM

A promotional video highlighting the Turning Point Youth Centre has finished production and is now available on YouTube.

Nearly a week ago, a five-minute video centered around the local youth program was released online. The video takes viewers on a brief tour of the facility while featuring testimonials from kids currently participating in programming and activities. Since its release, the video has been viewed nearly 600 times on YouTube.

Executive Director Belinda Martin stated the need for the production, saying the youth centre did not have any promotional material to show to people when discussing the program. Martin believes the video will effectively portray the program and how it has impacted the kids’ lives.

“I wanted to give them snapshots of what our facility looks like and how it looks when youth are having fun here. I wanted a video that would make the viewer feel like they had been to the youth centre, even though they have never been there,” Martin said.

While a professional project like this would typically come with a hefty price tag, the production came at no cost to the program. Local videographer Jordan Ness took on the task of completely producing the video on his own. Ness stated he recently purchased new video recording equipment when the opportunity with the youth centre presented itself.

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“The youth centre is connected to our church, and I had a bunch of new camera gear and I was looking for an opportunity to test it out and practice. I thought that would be a good place to start and the right thing to do,” Ness said.

Over the last five years, Ness had worked as a freelance videographer for several marketing agencies in Montreal. Ness returned to Meadow Lake this year citing COVID-19-related concerns. He mentioned when he originally made the decision to come back, he was unsure that there would be enough work here.

With this newest project in the books, Ness reflected on his experience with the youth centre, saying working with the kids, developing an understanding of the program and its impact was overwhelmingly pleasant.

“It was amazing,” Ness said. “I really enjoy being around youth that age because it reminds me of when I was that age. There’s this enthusiasm and excitement that they have that is contagious. It’s great to get to know these kids, they’re all nice and it was a very enjoyable environment to be in.”

Martin mentioned the youth involved in the video also had a positive experience. She explained there were some kids who were absent throughout the recording phase of the production, and upon their return were disappointed that they had missed out. Overall, she feels everyone involved is satisfied with the end result.

“I couldn’t stop smiling. After [the youth] recorded their parts, and before I saw the video, my face hurt from smiling so much. He captured our youth, their personalities and he did such a fabulous job. I think it’s really cool for people to hear the youth’s perspective. You can have adults say the youth centre is awesome, but if the youth don’t think it’s awesome, then what’s the point,” she commented.

The Turning Point Youth Centre’s promotional video is available on the TPYC website. More work from Jordan Ness can be found on his production company’s (Ness Films) website.

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Elliott.Knopp@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp