|
The Story Behind the Video Workshop
In 2001 I began journaling as a way to reflect on my life and world events. I wanted something special to write in and remembered that an artist friend had once shown me a funky book he made. Not knowing where to start, I signed up for a two-day book making class at a paper and crafts store. The instructor was pulled in many directions at once because people worked at different paces. The final book was plain and cheap looking. What a disappointment. I had a hunch I could come up with something much better.
I made a list of features that an ideal book would have and set out to create it. Through research and experimentation I tried substituting simple tools and methods wherever the traditional techniques seemed unnecessary or complicated. My first leather-bound book had mistakes but was worlds better than the one we made in class. Over the years I have refined my process by making books for family and friends. It's incredibly rewarding to give a gift that moves people. I figured that other people would enjoy the experience of book binding too. Why not share it? That's how the idea for the Video Workshop was born.
Who is The Book Binding Guy?
My name is Frankie Ridolfi. Friends call me a Renaissance man because of my diverse passions and hobbies. I especially love projects that combine art and science—to figure out how do something and share that knowledge with others. Here's my creative journey at a glance:
In high school I won awards for painting, cartooning, and creative problem solving. At Carleton College I studied geology and archaeology. I designed independent studies to build a telescope by hand-grinding the optics, and did astrophotography at the campus observatory. Somehow, I even convinced a chemistry professor to let me experiment with creating fireworks! Outside of class I did an internship at NASA in planetary science, was an artist on an archaeological dig in Greece, and studied ancient climate change and the extinction of the dinosaurs in Italy. To pay for school I worked as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator.
After college I joined the National Observatories in Tucson, AZ where I coordinated outreach and ran public stargazing programs. Later, I worked with the media relations team at NASA in Silicon Valley to promote an airborne mission to observe a meteor storm. During the Dot-Com boom I became the Director of web product development for an e-Learning start-up in Boston. Over 12 million interactive courses have been taken by employees in major corporations so far. In 2006 I completed a filmmaking certificate at Boston University, and in 2007 I participated in a "mini MBA" program offered jointly by Bentley College of Business and Massachusetts College of Art. Most recently I achieved some personal goals: to become a pilot, volunteer in New Orleans, begin filming a documentary about my Mom's quest to become a Catholic priest and to start my own business. I wanted to combine my skills to produce something that genuinely enriches people's lives—and that's where the Video Workshop came in.
|
|
|
