Filmmaker & content creator with 10+ years non-profit experience as a campaigner and educator.
Helping you see a visual change in your campaign engagement through documentaries and story-driven video content for NGOs, grassroots groups, unions, and artists.
Director + Campaigner
Emma Buchanan
Photo: Hugo Sentinelli
Humans love stories.
NGOs, grassroots groups, and unions need to tell compelling, human-centred narratives about complex issues.
Watch this short video to see what my videos and approach can offer you.
With a degree in film & video production and over a decade of experience in activism, I help you tell accurate and highly watchable stories.
I have training and experience in campaigning and public education on the one hand, and scriptwriting, directing, camera operating, and editing on the other. I’ve studied the tactics used by content creators and “influencers” to build an audience, and understand how to apply them appropriately for issue-based and personal narratives.
Often, we need to be bold and use humour and satire to our advantage, whereas others topics call for a genuine appeal to the emotions.
Either way, summaries and video essays aren’t enough - your videos need a strong narrative arc, just like fictional content. My approach to your content will have your desired audience not only clicking, but watching from start to finish and taking action.
How do we use the tactics and style of the very industries we are working against to directly counter their messaging?
Collaboration w/ Environmental Defence titled “Clean Pathways to Future” - a debunk of a Pathways Alliance ad, intended to create healthy skepticism for misleading oil and gas marketing.
How do we use comedy to raise awareness for serious topics?
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment's “Fossil Fuel Ads Make Us Sick” campaign video demonstrating the misleading marketing techniques of the “natural” gas industry.
How do we appeal to your audience’s emotions and inspire them to take action?
A campaign video & town hall summary for The Council of Canadian’s “Pharmacare Now” campaign.
Testimonials
“Working with Visual Change Video has been a delight. Emma delivered on our expectations and then some, on everything from filming on location, working with scripts, suggesting ideas and content, to editing and production. Emma holds the nuances of storytelling and engaging media for campaigns so well, and she is clear and professional in navigating budgets, timelines and workflows. We can’t recommend VCV enough for your next video project.”
-Stephen Thomas, Clean Energy Manager, David Suzuki Foundation
“Not only is Emma highly proficient at her craft, she is also an amazingly intuitive creator and a kind, equitable human being. Her work truly reflects what modern day ENGOs need to mobilize the public as catalysts for environmental and social change. We are thrilled to have VCV as a part of our network."
-Honour Stahl, Executive Director, Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)
“Emma has been a joy to work with. The work she has created has been some of our most popular, driving engagement and support. Her work is always compelling, creative, and perfectly hits the mark. Emma is clear and quick in her communications, very collaborative, and highly flexible. We can't say enough good things about our experience with Emma, and highly recommend her to everyone.”
-Erin Baird, Campaigner, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)