Give Cancer the Bird! Video for the Cause

I have had the pleasure of working with this awesome organization and event since last Aug/Sept of 2008. I hope you enjoy watching the video as much as I enjoyed making it and working with these wonderful people. Here it is... Check it out!





Planet Cancer, an advocacy and support community serving young adults with cancer, will be having their annual fundraising event, Flamingo-a-Go-Go, on May 2 in the courtyard atrium of the Monarch Luxury Living Apartments on 5th Street in downtown Austin. This event is expected to draw over 800 attendees, making it the largest fundraiser to date for the organization. Their signature plastic pink flamingos, pink boas, and pink flamingo-tini drinks will be tickling everyone pink.

Flamingo-a-Go-Go is a one-of-a-kind party and Planet Cancer’s only fundraising event for the year. Planet Cancer serves young adults with cancer between the ages of 18 and 40. This is the only cancer demographic that has not seen improvements in survival rates since 1975. Planet Cancer offers three program areas to support young adults with cancer: online support through its Web site (http://www.planetcancer.org/); face-to-face support through its exemplary weekend retreat programs; and advocacy and awareness efforts around the country.

"Flamingo-a-Go-Go is a perfect expression of Planet Cancer's irreverence and spirit," says executive director Heidi Adams. "It's an UN-gala—fun and quirky, and our own contribution to keeping Austin weird while raising awareness about young adults with cancer."

Local music icon Kasey Crowley, herself a young adult survivor of cancer, will perform live at the event, and DJ Manny will provide live entertainment. Catering will be provided by several local eateries, including Whole Foods and Moonshine. A silent auction will be held with an array of items, including a trip to the San Diego Zoo, complete with airfare and hotel accommodations; and a weekend at a Lake Travis lake house retreat.

The guest list this year includes Eric Shanteau, an Olympic Swimmer who learned he had testicular cancer just before the 2008 Olympics but, under doctor supervision, delayed treatment to participate in the games. On March 11, the rehabilitated Shanteau broke the pool record in the 200-meter breaststroke at the Austin Grand Prix. Other guests include, Tyler Sieswerda, nightly news anchor at KVUE Austin, and Paul Carrozza, founder of RunTex. This year’s party is sponsored by SKYY Spirits and Mix 94.7. Other corporate and media sponsors include Hulsey IP, Austin Ventures and News 8 Austin. The full list of sponsors can be viewed on the Flamingo-a-Go-Go Web site (www.FlamingoAGoGo.com).

More details - including sponsor packages and online ticket sales - are available at www.FlamingoAGoGo.com, and the most current updates on the event can be found on Facebook at www.causes.com/flamingoagogo. You can also follow the Flamingo on Twitter at #flamingoagogo.

About Planet Cancer: Planet Cancer is a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas, that provides a one-of-a-kind community for young adults between the ages of 18 and 40 with cancer. It is a national leader in advocacy for this forgotten demographic. Founded by Heidi Adams after her own diagnosis with bone cancer at age 26, Adams experienced firsthand the void in support and resources for young adults. Planet Cancer is a founding member of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF)-sponsored LiveSTRONG Young Adult Alliance, a national coalition of organizations working to improve survival rates and quality of life for young adults with cancer.


Credits for photos, music, and audio special effects are listed here and on the video. This is everything I used, but not everything made it into the final cut for class. I am still working on a longer version for the event, so this version may be edited at some point. I'll try to keep it as true to original form as possible!

Just a short note here: This video was made using Animoto. An awesome tool, but there are a few quirks. You can't see a preview of how it is going to turn out and you cannot control the timing of the picture placement. This was the 2nd program I tried and it turned out great, but the lack of control and editing can be frustrating! Good luck.