2024 VIDEO STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
Williamsburg & Whitley County, Kentucky
OCT 22 - 26, 2024
Immerse yourself. The experience is waiting for you.
Photo by Michael Swensen
If you are looking to jump-start your visual journalism career, or if you need to rejuvenate your passion for storytelling, spend a week with us in the Bluegrass State for a week of immersive learning, inspiration, and community interaction at the 49th annual Mountain Workshops.
Registration opens
Payment begins July 1, 2025
April 15
Registration
Seat confirmed upon payment
SOLD OUT
Registration deadline
Last day to apply/pay
Sept. 15
VIDEO STORYTELLING WORKSHOP 2024
Are your video productions stuck in a rut? After all your hard work and days of production, do your stories seem flat, lifeless and lack meaning? If you are comfortable with the technology but are looking for the workshop that will help you uncover, capture and edit a compelling narrative arc, then look no further.

With a coach-to-student ratio average of 1:4, the Mountain Workshops Video Storytelling Workshop can teach you how to bring the story back into storytelling. You will establish a close relationship with your subject, get up early and stay out late, stretch yourself creatively beyond your previous limits and ultimately have a career and life-changing experience.

Mountain is all about building relationships and using meaningful moments to tell a story. If you want to reach a new level in your documentary work, your coaches – some of the best visual professionals in the nation – will give you a motivating push in the right direction.

To complement your days and nights of shooting, editing and collaborative production, each evening there are inspiring presentations by the coaches from all forms of visual journalism. Any downtime you may find will be spent soaking up the knowledge of your passionate coaches and maybe catching a little sleep.

Chris janjic, Independent Cinematographer

" This isn't just a skills workshop. It's a shot in the arm of motivation and inspiration for visual storytellers of any experience level."
MAYBE THE VIDEO WORKSHOP IS NOT FOR YOU?
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER OPTIONS!
WHAT WE DO
Each October, a group of visual journalists set up shop in a different community in Kentucky to document life and culture in a unique way. Raw and live, it’s all about the people and their stories, not the institutions. It’s called the Mountain Workshops, and dozens of students and professionals from around the country swoop in for a week every year to garner new skills and fresh inspiration.

It’s a crash course in visual journalism.

Participants can choose from one of three options for the week. Photojournalism, Video Storytelling or Picture Editing. Three workshops held in one location, in one week, with a constant flow of new ideas and one-on-one guidance by the top professionals in their fields, all add up to an intense five days of high-octane education in visual communication and storytelling.
1
What you create
  • A two-to-three-minute short-form video documentary that will be published in the Mountain Workshops website and displayed in the traveling gallery
  • Moments of learning that rapidly propel your skills forward.
  • A network of friends, colleagues and connections that will remain a part of your life throughout your career.
2
Who should attend
  • Pre-professional or early professional visual storytellers looking to increase their knowledge in the art of storytelling.
  • Any visual journalist or commercial videographer in need of inspiration or a week away to experience visual immersion to rejuvenate their passion.
  • College students interested in documenting communities and the people who live in them.
A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE 2023 MOUNTAIN
Video by Gabi Broekema
HEADQUARTERS LOCATION
Williamsburg Tourism & Convention Center
650 S. 10th St.
Williamsburg, KY 40769
HOUSING
You are required to provide your own lodging and dinning arrangements during the Workshops.

There are two hotels within walking distance from the Workshops headquarters. The faculty and staff are being lodged at the Super 8 by Wyndham. Next door is the Holiday Inn Express. Just across I-75 is Hampton Inn.

Once you have been accepted AND paid to attend the workshop of your choosing, you will be invited by your registration email to join a PRIVATE Facebook group for all the 2024 participants. It is in this social space that many of our workshop attendees coordinate hotel and transportation arrangements. We will post on Facebook any private housing options as they become available from the community.
TRAVEL
You will need to have a vehicle for the workshops.

The Photojournalism and Video workshops requires each participant to work individually at various locations each day and it is mandatory to have your own transportation during the week as well as get yourself to and from your airport if you are flying in for the workshop.

The nearest airport is Knoxville, Tenn. (TYS) and is 82 miles from our headquarters. It is always worth looking at other airport options to perhaps find better prices or connections but it can come with double the driving distance. You can consider Cincinnati, Ohio (CVG) at 178 miles from our headquarters. Another option would be Nashville, Tenn. (BNA) at 185 miles away, Lexington, Ky. (LEX) at 109 miles or Chattanooga, Tenn. (CHA) at 170 miles away.

If you are in the Picture Editing workshop AND you book a room at the Holiday Inn Express or Super 8 by Wyndham in Williamsburg you will be able to walk to and from your hotel to our headquarters. If you stay at the Hampton Inn, walking will be dangerous and not advised due to the lack of sidewalks and the busy-ness of this major intersection. The participants in Picture Editing do not travel for their assignments but will need to provide their own transportation for all other activities as well as airport ground transportation.
DINING OPTIONS
There are three fast-food establishments and two restaurants within walking distance of our headquarters. Dining options can be limited due to the nature of some our workshops locations. Your tuition does not cover any meal options.
2024 TENTATIVE VIDEO STORYTELLING SCHEDULE
All times are Local.

TUESDAY | OCT. 22

7:45 - 8:45 AM
7:45 - 8:45 AM
Workshop Registration
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
Vendor's Open
Visit our national, regional and local sponsors.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Video Workshop Introductions
Tim Broekema, MWS Production Director
Production overview and individual coach assignments.
9:30 AM
9:30 AM
Meet Your Coaches
SMALL GROUP SESSION
9:45 AM
9:45 AM
What is Story Arc?
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
The 8 steps of narrative structure.
10:15 AM
10:15 AM
Visuals for Video Storytelling
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
The fundamentals of video storytelling
11:15 AM
11:15 AM
The Power of Audio
TBD  | 3rd FLOOR VIDEO ROOM A
Video storytelling and the art of audio.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Lunch
Visit one of the local downtown restaurants or spend more time with the vendors.
12:30 PM
12:30 PM
Welcome and Community Comments
James Kenney, MWS Director
Join the photo and picture editing workshop participants for our grand opening of the 2024 Mountain Workshops. Photo and video participants will draw their subjects name out of the hat.
1:30 PM
1:30 PM
Cut the Deal
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
Ethics and working with sensitive subjects/subject matter.
2:15 PM
2:15 PM
On location
IN THE FIELD
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY, Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series "What Makes A Story?" #1
TBD
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
Evening Lecture Series "What Makes A Story?" #2
TBD
9:15 PM
9:15 PM
Evening Lecture Series "What Makes A Story?" #3
TBD
10:00 PM
10:00 PM
Interviewing Techniques
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
Empathy and finding ways into the hardest parts of someone’s journey & visual styles and technical approach.
11:00 PM
11:00 PM
Workshops Building Closes

WEDNESDAY | OCT. 23

Sunrise!
Sunrise!
Fieldwork
Shooting schedules are built by interaction with you, your subject and your coach's guidance.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
On your own.
12:30 PM
12:30 PM
Methods for Story Organization
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
Transcribing, storyboarding, radio cut, story pitch.
1:15 PM
1:15 PM
Methods for Folder Structure
TIM BROEKEMA, Mountain Workshops production director | VIDEO ROOM
Premiere documents are created and organizational structure to assets developed.
1:30 PM
1:30 PM
Story Pitch and Finding the Real Story
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
Sometimes the perceived story is not really the story at all, hidden gems.
2:15 PM
2:15 PM
Fieldwork
In the field with subject.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening Welcome and Announcements
JAMES KENNEY, Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Finding the story within the story." #4
TBD
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Finding the story within the story." #5
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
The 30-second Pitch
VIDEO ROOM
What is the story, why should I care, explore conflict, tension and challenge.
12:00 AM
12:00 AM
Workshops Building Closes

THURSDAY | OCT. 24

Sunrise!
Sunrise!
Fieldwork
Shooting schedules are built by interaction with you, your subject and your coach's guidance.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
On your own.
Afternoon
Afternoon
Mandatory Check-in
Assets drop and coach visit for review and advising.
Afternoon
Afternoon
Fieldwork
In the field with subject.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY, Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Making the Story Visually Unique." #6
TBD
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Making the Story Visually Unique." #7
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
Production
VIDEO ROOM
Radio cut presentation with one-on-one coach participation and feedback.
12:00 AM
12:00 AM
Workshops Building Closes

FRIDAY | OCT. 25

Sunrise!
Sunrise!
Fieldwork
Last chance for content gathering with subject.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
On your own.
12:30 PM
12:30 PM
Production Time
At the lab beginning your story production.
3:00 PM
3:00 PM
The Rhythm of the Edit
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
How to guide an audience to make connections.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY, Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series " Why Do We Do What We Do?" #8
TBD
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
Evening Lecture Series " Why Do We Do What We Do?" #9
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
First Edit
VIDEO ROOM
Rough cut ready for one-on-one with coach and peer review, critique, discussion.
1:00 AM
1:00 AM
Workshops Building Closes

SATURDAY | OCT. 26

8:00 AM
8:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
The Final Touches
Audio sweetening and color grading.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Ceremonial Closing of Content Gathering
Some fun with your new friends, group photo.
12:45 PM
12:45 PM
Lunch
On your own.
3:30 PM
3:30 PM
Deadline
Final project due, quality control check.
3:30 PM
3:30 PM
What's Next
TBD | VIDEO ROOM
Wrap up and what's next for your career. A round-table with your moderated by Emily Kassie.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Welcomes and Announcements
JAMES KENNEY, Mountain Workshops Director
6:30 PM
6:30 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Where Do We Go From Here?"#10
TBD
7:15 PM
7:15 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Where Do We Go From Here?" #11
TBD
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
Pizza Party
AUDITORIUM LOBBY
Sponsored
9:15 PM
9:15 PM
Presentation Viewing
AUDITORIUM
Sit back and enjoy - dare we say revel, in your success as you present your work and get a chance to see all the photo stories, videos and page design produced this week.
11:30 PM
11:30 PM
Closing Comments
AUDITORIUM
Canon, Sony and Tamron door prize winners announced. Closing overview video you do not want to miss!
12:00 AM
12:00 AM
Workshops Concludes
Ready to Apply?

The application process opens April 1 and will continue until all seats for each workshop sells out or by September 15, whichever comes first. Our payment window opens July 1. Acceptance into each workshop will be based on various factors, including your portfolio, resumé and additional information you may supply.


Interested participants must fill out the online application to start the process to be considered for the Mountain Workshops. Once accepted, you will be notified by your registration email (be sure to monitor your SPAM folder) and instructed on how to pay to reserve your spot. This workshop can sell out. Your seat is not confirmed until you pay. Registration and acceptance alone does not guarantee a seat.