Event Video Production
Men Having Babies 2022 Conference
Read Full Transcript of This Video
Transcript: Men Having Babies 2022 Conference
**Sherman Taylor, Chairman of the Board, MHB:** Good Morning, my name is Sherman Taylor. I'm the chairman of the board of Men Having Babies.
This is a special and very unique forum and gathering that we have. There's not anything like this anywhere else.
I remember when I first started out my journey and we were not part of the organization. I was not aware of Men Having Babies and we were learning it through Google.
So please take advantage of the opportunity. That's one thing that I would like to do differently. I wish I had been more aware of the organization's existence.
**Ron Poole-Dayan, MHB Executive Director** You'll start with the session about planning a surrogacy journey really just our information. You'll learn later about the resources we provide. Those of you who are not members yet, you will learn about what you can achieve through that.
We'll tell you what we think our good tips about what to ask the professionals when you meet them for the first time.
**Lisa Schuster, Director of Programming, MHB:** This is such a truly beautiful and uplifting experience for all of those involved, not just for you and in becoming dads to the process, but your surrogate as well and her family.
**Brad Spencer, Same Love Surrogacy:** So the most frequently Asked question is the overall cost for surrogacy journey, what's involved in the surrogacy journey, and each step of the process.
**Attendee:** I think starting this journey having done a little bit of research online, tt's totally different being here in person and meeting people face to face. It's much better face to face.
**Attendee:** Going to this conference and being able to meet all those people hand in hand was super helpful, very helpful.
**Alex Maron, Hatch Egg Donation & Surrogacy:** I think overall you have really good options. I mean going with an egg donor through an agency is amazing. You have a good agency to rely on they can connect you to all the right professionals to get you through every single step of the way. That's the point right, of having an agent?
**Debbie Villafañe, Fairfax Egg Bank:** With genetic history, you know, always use a reputable clinic, a reputable agency, a reputable bank, whichever route you take because you're going to get the best information from these clinics. They really do a great job and all these agencies of vetting the donors.
**Elliot Kronenfeld, Ph.D., LICSW, CST-S, Therapist:** My advice is two part: one, is if your partnered make sure you and your partner on the same page about where you're headed in this journey, and the second is to have a clear vision of what you want your family to look like when it's complete, not during this journey, but when your family is complete, what does it look like because that will inform a lot of the decisions you make earlier.
**Susanna Park, MD, San Diego Fertility Center:** All the clinics here, they're excellent. They will get you from point A to point Z, but what makes your decision most important is which Clinic do you feel chemistry with?
About This Video
Men Having Babies is a nonprofit that helps gay men navigate surrogacy — the process, the cost, the agencies, and the medical decisions involved. Sherman Taylor, chairman of the board, opens the 2022 conference by naming what makes it unique: "There's not anything like this anywhere else." Attendees describe arriving having done research online, only to find that the in-person experience changed their understanding entirely — "it's totally different being here in person and meeting people face to face." The conference covers surrogacy planning, egg donation, agency selection, clinic selection, and financial planning, with representatives from reputable agencies, clinics, and egg banks all available for direct conversation. The central advice from experienced attendees: "Make sure you and your partner are on the same page about where you're headed, and have a clear vision of what you want your family to look like when it's complete." For <span class="strong">event video production</span>, this kind of conference — personal, high-stakes, and community-driven — is best served by letting the voices of participants tell the story of why showing up in person matters.
How do you produce a recap video for a nonprofit healthcare or family-building conference?
Lead with what makes the event irreplaceable. For Men Having Babies, that's the in-person access to experienced families, reputable agencies, and medical professionals in one room — combined with a community of people going through the same thing. A video that describes the panels and presentations misses the point. The video that works starts with what someone couldn't have gotten from Google, and ends with the clarity that came from being there.
What should a community conference video include for first-time attendees?
A direct address to the person who hasn't come yet. Sherman Taylor's opening — 'please take advantage of the opportunity' and 'I wish I had been more aware of the organization's existence' — is a direct argument to someone who's trying to navigate surrogacy alone. The video should feel like it's speaking to that person: here's what you'll learn, here's who you'll meet, here's what changes when you show up. That framing turns a recap into a recruitment tool for future events.
How do you film a conference that involves sensitive or personal subject matter?
Get explicit consent, film selectively, and follow the organizer's lead. A surrogacy conference involves medical decisions, financial details, and personal journeys. Not every conversation is appropriate for video. The organizer knows their community and can identify which moments and which participants are comfortable being filmed. Work with the organizer to pre-identify interviewees and clear the content before publication. The result should feel trustworthy, not intrusive.
How long should a nonprofit conference recap video be?
Two to three minutes for a full recap, with a 60-90 second version available for social and outreach. The full version should include the conference organizer, one or two first-time attendees describing what changed for them, and one experienced participant giving advice. The shorter version should be tight enough to watch while someone is deciding whether to register for the next event. Both should end with a clear next step: the conference website or registration link.
