W&L Presents Annual Friends of the Library Symposium

By Erica Turman
April 23, 2018

Washington and Lee University presents the annual Friends of the Library Symposium as part of Alumni Weekend on April 28 at 1:30 p.m. in Northen Auditorium.

This year’s speakers are Rob Cooper ’68 and Pam Pacelli Cooper. Their talk is titled: “Storytelling in the Digital Age,” and it is free and open to the public.

While working together on a life-tribute video, Pam realized that recently available digital technology would make it feasible for them to start a company, Verissima Productions. The focus was on capturing and preserving the stories of individuals, families, businesses and historical events at levels of quality that would have formerly required a prohibitively large investment in camera and editing equipment.

Their presentation will focus on what Rob has seen over 40 years of technical evolution. While technology has changed over the years, the essential elements of good storytelling haven’t. The couple will also discuses how Verissima uses digital technology to tell in-depth stories with high production values at reasonable rates.

Throughout his career, Rob has been a producer and director for television, documentaries, corporate and educational film and video productions. Digital technology has made it possible for him to do his own shooting and editing again.

A therapist in private practice, Pam has extensive interviewing and narrative skills. She is also an oral historian and certified genealogical researcher.