Michael Sean Kaminsky / writer & filmmaker

What happens
when we press record?

Many years ago, I began asking that question, with a new camcorder and a tiny Manhattan apartment. I already kept a written journal. Turning the camera on myself seemed like a natural experiment—until I realized how nervous I felt, alone in the room.

As I started talking, the nerves gave way to curiosity. The camera focused my attention. I liked the spontaneity of speaking before I knew exactly what I was going to say.

I noticed something similar in my documentary work: a camera’s presence could change an encounter, creating an opening for something unexpected. Those experiences became the starting point for Naked Lens and its eight-week workshop.

Video Regeneration is a place to keep exploring that possibility. A journal entry can lead to a story, a playful experiment, a memory to pass on, or a new way to connect with someone. Some recordings stay private. Others find an audience.

The camera is the tool. What interests me is the human experience it makes room for.