The Ken Burns of Liberty (PLUS: Contribute to my e-book!)
Back in the spring of 2007, during my semester at Liberty, I noticed that a Liberty student (alias: “BlastCoaster87,” real name: Devin Olson) was producing an awesome monthly series of YouTube videos about the happenings on campus. Even more than Liberty’s official promotional DVDs, Devin’s simple, well-produced shorts portrayed Liberty’s campus life in all its goofy, ultra-religious glory, with a soundtrack of schmaltzy Christian music to boot. I never met Devin at Liberty, but after returning to Brown, I’d watch one of his videos every morning before sitting down to write, to jog my memory and put myself back in the Liberty mindset. I think I’m responsible for half the views by now.
A couple people have told me that I should have filmed a documentary about my time at Liberty. For obvious reasons, that probably wouldn’t have worked (”Kevin, why is that camera crew following you?” “Um, they’re… friends of mine.”). But if I had filmed one, it would have looked a lot like Devin’s videos. See them for yourself at his YouTube channel, or just watch the clip below.
This one is from August 2007, right after I left Liberty, and it’s the first video Devin made after Jerry Falwell’s death. (Hence the extended tribute, and the shot of Falwell’s widow Macel being introduced in convocation.)
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BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Contribute to my e-book!
In addition to its hardcover release, THE UNLIKELY DISCIPLE will also be released on March 26 as an e-book for Kindles and Sony Readers and all manner of devices I can’t afford. My publisher has given me the option of including a few bonus features for e-book readers, sort of like the extras that come on DVDs.
I’m taking suggestions from you guys, my blog readers, for content you’d like to see included with the e-version of my book. So far, I’ve thought of adding a deleted chapter, a short list of funny advice for incoming Liberty students, and an article I wrote for Liberty’s campus newspaper about Jerry Falwell.
What else would make a good addition? The e-book format allows us to go beyond the traditional confines of an ink-and-pulp book, so think big! I need all suggestions by next Monday, February 2nd.
2 years later: Devin Olsen is still making those videos! He lives on my hall.
BTW - You’re book caught my attention today in the new campus book store and I ran through the first chapter almost without blinking.
Unfortunately it was $25 (a hefty price for an underdog piece) and I was seriously pressed for time, but I plan on swooping it up sometime tomorrow. Seems worth the price … you’re a good writer, and I am curious to discover what you may have found during your brief stay here.
After I finish it (give or take a week), I’ll probably write an extensive review on my blog.
That way you will have some real feedback from an actual Liberty student, and not just our representatives, who are many times required to approach these sort of things with strict biases.
— Chris Scott
April 29, 2009, 1:16 am