The story for this video centers around the Pi Kappa Phi IMA Softball team, who this year made a run in the playoffs and have proven everyone that they are a very good softball team. However, apart from the fact that they are good and are hoping to win games, the main reason each player on the Pi Kappa Phi team is out there playing is so that they can grow friendships with their very own fraternity brothers. It sends the message that IMA sports, especially for fraternities, is not all about the competition, but moreso the friendships that are made while playing. And even though these guys are not too competetive so as to leave friendships on the side, they are good enough that they actually have a real shot at winning the IMA championship.
My goals were mainly to get a good picture of a typical softball game for these guys. I wanted the story to center around them while they were on the field, so I took my camera out with me to one of the playoff games and did some filming of their warm-ups, actual playing, and sideline conversations. My main challege, however, was that I myself am on the team, so I wasn’t really able to get any shots of anyone out in the field (I was pitching whenever we took the field). It would have been nice to get some shots of grounders going to the shortstop, or a throw to first, etc., but I don’t feel as though it detracts from the story not having those clips in there.
I think I met my goals really well. The story is structured the way I imagined it to be, almost being an inside story of the team as they are making their run in the playoffs, kind of like you would see ESPN do with a sports team making a run in the playoffs. I feel as though the movie captures what IMA softball is like and the story paints a good picture as to how good the team is, but at the same time there is an element to it that goes inside with some of the players and shows some of the emotion that goes into playing a sport with good friends. If I was to do this over again, I think I would remove myself completely from the competition and focus on filming the entire time; I think that way I would be able to get some more clips to choose from. It isn’t a huge deal to me but I think it would have been helpful.
