Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin O’Rorke.
Hi Caitlin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I studied Audiovisual Design at university, and since then I’ve been interested in creating video content. Over time I have mixed freelance work (directing, camera operator and editing) and full-time jobs in companies such as ESDi, Fox Networks Group (now Disney) and Abacus-Som.
Currently, I am freelancing and I focus mainly on the creation of short documentaries and digital video content. Fields where I feel everything suits me, with the lifestyle I want to have and with my values, connected with nature, with the outdoors, with a country lifestyle, with the protection of our planet, and with the stories of people who inspire me and from whom I learn.
I think what has helped me get to where I am today has been curiosity, persistence and trust in exploring areas that at first I didn’t think could be a good fit for me. Honestly, over time I have realized that the coolest thing that exists is to feel in your element, to feel connected with the kind of projects you are involved in and with the people who share that connection, I think that’s what is really beautiful in this profession.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been easy, nor is it, nor will it be! Especially if I speak as a freelancer. I’ve had times when I didn’t have any projects and sometimes I’ve even had to ask for help to make ends meet, but then, suddenly, you have 3 projects at once and then you feel overwhelmed. I have always used the times with no projects to update my portfolio, to develop personal projects, to network, and suddenly a project comes out of a coffee meeting or a visit to your former office. You never know, my tip is to be open but never heavy, just let people know – in person – that you are available for new projects and take the time to develop what you would like to do next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would like to share a couple of projects I have developed in the last year. The first is a series of short documentaries created for “Arrels. El món que torna”. It is a series of six 8-10 minute videos in Catalan (Spanish and English subtitles available) that tell stories of people from all over Catalonia who live country lifestyles, closely connected to the traditions of the territory. Each of the protagonists opens the door of their home, their world, to inspire us and make us revalue life away from the big cities, far from the rush and very connected with the planet and with oneself.
We have stories about a horse sanctuary (https://youtu.be/JpASqK9XQPQ), about a young farmer girl (https://youtu.be/T9cMA0XQiSw) and about fishermen from the Costa Brava (https://youtu.be/uJ7BqghUUfA).
For all the stories, my role was to find the protagonists of each story, listening carefully to what they could share in order to generate a change, a positive impact on the viewers. For each film, my colleague, Jordi Bosch, and I traveled with two cameras to capture each of the stories over two days, with a prepared interview, the result of previous hours of talks I had with each person.
When I get to the editing room with all the footage, I relive everything and that’s when the magic begins and what I consider the most challenging part of all when I write the final script to edit for hours, creating a speech that goes in line with everything I’ve experienced and enhancing the message that each final client requires.
From this project, I got what has been the most exciting opportunity of my life so far, to create a digital series for National Geographic Spain’s YouTube channel, with the title “Otro Planeta Es Posible”.
Building on the experience gained from the execution of the Arrels project, I embarked with Pere Oliva, my partner and co-founder of our creative agency named Rufaca (https://www.instagram.com/rufaca/). With two cameras and a drone, we travelled with our camper van all over Spain, in search of stories of young people who are working for a change for the good of the planet or who inspire us to go out into nature and revalue our environment.
With a video format of 8-10 minutes, we get to know the stories of an oceanographer (https://youtu.be/6jIA2UucFBg), a muralist (https://youtu.be/H7MN196jQFQ), a van lifer (https://youtu.be/4HJ7D8wUUZ8) and a water photographer (https://youtu.be/YnZw6q4zZDU).
As with the previous project, my role was directing, camera, script and editing. As you can see, both projects have a minimal team, always looking for the maximum authenticity of each experience.
With both projects, we have had a lot of luck, or more likely, a lot of intuition. Each of the people have opened the doors to their world and their everyday life. Unfortunately, it is quite impossible to capture everything we have experienced on a personal level with these people, strangers at first, but with whom you part with the feeling of having created a bond that will last through time, even if we never see each other again. Special people, with much to tell and share, with much to give and precious sensitivities. Eternally grateful for each and every opportunity.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am very interested in continuing to tell stories, to find new ways to share them, to keep learning about the magic of storytelling that generates a positive impact, not only for the people who watch the videos but also for the people who share their stories with us, and for the brands behind these initiatives, projects or lifestyles. So I am open to new requests and proposals.
I would also like to keep expanding my network of professionals to share, learn and collaborate in this fascinating profession.
You can contact me through email at [email protected] and check my website (https://caitlinororke.com) with all the short-documentaries and other works such as adverts, campaigns, event coverage and even music videos.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caitlinororke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlinororke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlinororkefilmmaker/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinororke/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/caitlinororke
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CaitlinORorke
Image Credits
Jordi Bosch, Alícia Rey, Caitlin O’Rorke, Pere Oliva
