The Midori Story
A rarely updated look at what I'm up to
(Nothing written here constitutes a confession to a crime)
December 29, 2021
My Timeless Friendship with Joe Svehlak
When the Ottoman Empire began conscripting Christians to its Army in 1909, a flood of Syrians left their home for New York City, filling up Manhattan’s already burgeoning Syrian quarter. Joe Svehlak would be born 29 years later and this author 76 years later, but the storied Syrian settlement in Manhattan would bring us together in 2019.
Joe, a New York City tour guide, had spent nearly two decades petitioning the Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate two buildings on either side of St. George’s Syrian Catholic Church as protected historical sites. Joe and the grassroots organizers he worked with had generated enough energy around this cause that it caught the attention of two award-winning producers, Liz Kineke and Jennie Kamin. They brought me in to film this story for CBS about Little Syria, where Joe led us around the sites.
Spotted in the field
December 12, 2021
While shooting this story for Pix 11 News, I ran into Susan Thorson. She is a talented multimedia producer and alumni of the video editing course I taught remotely at City College in Fall, 2020. The story she produced in that class earned her a Mark of Excellence award from the Society of Professional Journalists.
How I Passed My FAA Part 107 Exam Without Paying for a Course
January 22, 2021
I didn’t want to fork over $300 or $500 to take a course in basic aviation principles for my commercial drone operators license, so I decided I would do it on my own. I thought to do this years ago but just never got around to it...
High Time for a Drone License
January 4, 2021
I’ve gotten by for years operating drones for news and documentaries without a commercial drone license. I think 2021 is my year to accept my professional responsibility, and here’s how I’m doing it.
A video diary of the Acropolis
July 25, 2018
We spent this day exploring the Acropolis and other ruins of the ancient city of Athens.
Our Layover in Paris
July 21, 2018
We missed a connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle Airport and had to stay in Paris for 15 hours. Here's a video I shot and edited of the stuff we did while awaiting our flight to Greece. The music is from a free live concert by Brazilian hip hop group Capicua.