As I was wrapping up my work on the Guyana Healthcare collaboration films, a new health-related project landed on my desk. Courtney, a human-centered design specialist in the IU School of Medicine, reached out asking if I would be interested in producing a series of educational healthcare videos for a research initiative led by Dr. Lauren Nephew.
The project, titled “Overcoming Disparities in Curative Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma,” required videos to help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options for liver cancer. I said yes immediately.
Shortly after, I met with Dr. Nephew to discuss the project in more detail. We decided to start with patient interviews, choosing a home setting rather than a clinical one to put subjects at ease and create a warmer, more relatable feel.
Filming Patient Stories at Home
September 28, 2024
I hired two of my current students, Taylor Rueff and Canaan Sellers, to help on the shoot. To create a direct connection with the audience, we positioned patients to look straight into the camera — a deliberate choice to make viewers feel personally addressed rather than like observers.
Our solution was simple but effective: a teleprompter with an iPad, connected to Dr. Nephew on Zoom in another room. This setup allowed interviewees to maintain eye contact with the lens while seeing Dr. Nephew, helping them forget about the camera and speak more naturally.
Interviewing the Medical Team at IU Hospital
October 24, 2024
The second shoot took place at IU Hospital. With Taylor and former video student Cordel, we interviewed Dr. Jon Holden, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist, followed by Dr. Chandrashekhar Kabul, the liver surgeon and Chief of Liver & Intestine Transplant Surgery at IU Health. The main challenge that day was the incessantly ringing elevators just on the other side of the door — a common hazard when shooting in a working hospital.
Wrapping Principal Photography with Dr. Nephew
October 28, 2024
The final day of filming brought us back to the hospital on a Saturday morning. We had already scouted the location on the previous shoot, and Dr. Nephew was wonderfully prepared. The shoot went smoothly.
Why Educational Healthcare Videos Matter
Throughout this project, I’ve been struck by the potential impact of these videos. They’re not just informational — they’re tools that can reduce anxiety, build trust, and help patients make more informed decisions about their care. As we move into post-production, I’m looking forward to seeing how these videos make a real difference for patients navigating a liver cancer diagnosis.
