Double-Feature Video Of The Week: Elevating the Recruiting Video to an Art Form



This week's double-feature is thanks to your submissions, and showcases two equally well executed, yet totally different approaches to the recruiting video. In fact, I hesitate to use the term recruiting video, lest it cheapen the efforts of the filmmakers here—from the variety of shots, to the careful editing, to the clear narrative that each video follows, these films are fine pieces of work. In the above video, Chris Mare introduces us to Sagamore Rowing Association in a piece that gives an impression of the variety of boat classes, the skill and technique involved, and the natural beauty of rowing and sculling, all without a single spoken word.



Our second feature comes from Julien Rodier and the University of Vermont, where we are shown the full arc of a season of training in seven minutes, thoughtfully narrated and capped off with a great line: "We have our own lives, our own aspirations, our own goals. But when we get in that boat, we are one—one life, one aspiration, one goal. We are more than just a team. We are a crew."

While, in both cases, the rowing itself isn't as polished as at the top-flight varsity programs, the values that are celebrated—hard work, teamwork, dedication, selflessness—are universal, and, in many ways, define our sport. Hats off, gents.

Have a submission for 'Video Of The Week?' Shoot us an email at rowingrelated [at] gmail [dot] com, send us your suggestions via Twitter, or get in touch via our Facebook or Google+ pages.

-RR

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