Final project: Epic fail.

At some point, it happens to everyone: Lost audio. On April 3^rd, I spent nearly three hours interviewing my subject and her parents. All parties were engaged, comfortable, opening up. Eventually, the interview shifted into a very organic conversation between daughter and parents, sharing feelings, divulging secrets — a true family breakthrough. I checked, double-checked, triple-checked the audio recorder and kept a dutiful eye locked on levels. Sadly, that helps little when you accidentally save the audio to the recorder instead of the card, then dutifully return the recorder — stripped clean — to the photo window.

On the positive side, I finally settled on structure for the final project. Each chapter will be based on one day in the Gamblers Anonymous book “A Day at a Time,” each day will be selected based on pivotal moments in my subject’s recovery (to be decided this week).

I also went to a few GA meetings, met people, embraced the community. I met my subject’s state funded councilor, sadly just in passing and not for an interview but hopefully that meeting is next.

This week: Re-interviewing my subject and her family. That’s slated for Saturday in a video studio (real lights, real camera, real equipment, oh my!). I also want to settle on the days used for structure and plan interview questions that lend well to those topics. Again, I’ll also chase my subject with a camera. Need — more — frames.