Camp Connections: The Emma’s

Case Study

Project Overview

Client: American Kidney Fund

Event: The Hope Affair Gala 2025

Timeline: June – October 2025

Deliverables: Short Documentary Video

Role: Producer/Director/Editor

The Camp Connections documentary tells the story of two remarkable young women — both named Emma — who found friendship and solidarity through their shared experience living with cystinosis, an ultra-rare disease. Created for the American Kidney Fund's 2025 Hope Affair in Washington, DC, this short documentary celebrates resilience, connection, and the power of community support programs like AKF's Camp Connections.

The Challenge

The American Kidney Fund needed a compelling video for their annual Hope Affair gala that would showcase the real impact of their Camp Connections program while resonating emotionally with donors. The challenge was to create an authentic, heartfelt documentary that would:

  • Tell a deeply personal story about living with cystic fibrosis without being didactic or overly medical

  • Capture the genuine friendship between two young women in different states

  • Demonstrate the tangible value of AKF's support programs

  • Build to an emotional reveal moment appropriate for a gala audience

  • Coordinate remote production across multiple locations (Indiana and California)

The Approach

Story Development

I developed a narrative structure that prioritized character and connection over condition. The story arc was carefully designed to:

  • Open with introductions to each Emma individually, establishing their unique personalities and interests

  • Introduce the shared challenge of living with cystic fibrosis with authenticity and empathy

  • Show how they found a connection through Camp Connections despite never meeting in person

  • Build to a joyful surprise reveal—both were invited to the Hope Affair in DC where they would finally meet

  • Close with a powerful visual of the two friends together on stage

Production Planning

The production required meticulous coordination across time zones and locations. Working with the project team, I created:

  • A detailed master production schedule coordinating simultaneous filming in Indiana and California

  • Individual shoot schedules for each Emma, including bedroom scenes, daily routines, medical routines, and interviews

  • A carefully scripted Zoom call revealing the DC surprise to both participants simultaneously

  • Shot lists capturing intimate moments, family dynamics, and authentic exchanges between the Emmas

  • Master interview question lists are designed to elicit genuine, emotional responses

Visual and Tonal Strategy

The visual approach emphasized warmth, intimacy, and hope. Key elements included:

  • Bedroom portraits and personal spaces to establish each Emma's individuality

  • Close-ups of hands and details showing medical equipment in a gentle, matter-of-fact way

  • At-home activities to showcase normalcy and resilience

  • The Zoom call as a centerpiece moment—capturing authentic reactions and excitement

  • Framed photographs and childhood mementos as visual throughlines

The Result

The final documentary successfully achieved all project goals, delivering a powerful and authentic story that resonated deeply with the Hope Affair audience. The video:

  • Showcased real friendship and vulnerability without being heavy-handed

  • Featured both Emmas walking on stage together at the gala—a powerful live moment

  • Demonstrated AKF's tangible impact through personal storytelling

  • Created an emotional arc that moved from isolation to connection to shared joy

  • Provided a compelling donor engagement tool highlighting the importance of programs like Camp Connections

Key Takeaways

This project reinforced several important lessons about documentary storytelling and nonprofit video production:

  • Character-first storytelling: Leading with who Emma and Emma are as people, rather than their diagnosis, created emotional connection and authenticity.

  • Strategic narrative structure: Building to the DC reveal created a natural emotional peak perfectly suited for a live gala setting.

  • Remote coordination: Detailed production schedules and clear communication enabled seamless multi-location filming.

  • Intimate cinematography: Close attention to small details brought depth and humanity to the story.

  • Balancing impact with sensitivity: Showing medical realities without centering the narrative on illness maintained dignity and hope.


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Case Study prepared by Sean Peoples