Roll of the Blog/Music

I am wrestling with the roll of this blog. As it is at the bottom of my business card, it seems that it should be purely informative, letting people learn a bit about the project. Yet it began as a way for people to track my movements as a filmmaker, and I think it will serve this function even after the Manchester Project is done.

That being said, I've just finished my first piece of freelance video work. You can see it here.

The other thing about this blog is that I don't want to give away too many surprises about the film. With only two followers, however, I don't think the risk is too great. That being said, I have been working with two young Burundi boys on "The Refugee Rap," which deal with escaping the war and coming to America, the challenges both here and back home, and the good things that have happened as a result of them coming to Manchester. I was also introduced to a 19 year-old who has made a few songs on the same topic, and he wants me to make a video for him. I agreed, asking in return that I be able to use his music. I wasn't sure where the music would come from a few weeks ago, but now I think that I have some great stuff.

Active Participation

I don't know if there are recognised methods or models for documentary film making, but I am definitely running the "Active Participation" model. I've put in many hours in classrooms and after-school programs, and this past weekend I went to a service and community time at the Buddhist temple. I was thrilled by the warm welcome I received from all, as they invited my brother and I to eat their food and listen to their music, and invited us back for meditation on Sundays. It was quite the experience, and it's impossible to simply sit back and film.

Perspective

This Times article has me thinking about the angle taken by most documentary film makers. Documentaries, while normally presented as balanced, tend to lean far to the left. Maybe I think this because I watch what interests me, and so am more likely to watch the more liberal interpretations. But righties should be out there presenting their views through this medium. The documentary as propoganda, however, a technique used by all parties, is risky. It seems to me that people don't think as hard while watching documentaries as they should. A documentary should open your eyes, challenge you, and prompt further research. Most topic can't be covered in ninety minutes or fewer. Mine definitely won't be the entire picture, nor will it have "the answers." It is up to the viewer to understand what they are watching, and to understand the issue from multiple angles.

The Power of Asking

Today, people from two stores and one temple have agreed to meet with me or be interviewed for the film. This was quite accidental, as I set out to get an interview and some B-roll. The interview was moved, and it's too cold to be walking around, so I decided to go to the temple and ask if I could include it in the film. I was invited to the service on Sunday, where there will be a bunch of people to talk with. This prompted me to finally go into the African Market and ask the owner of the European store if I could include their businesses. I received positive responses from both. Things are moving.

Shooting

Long time no blog.

With January upon us, shooting has officially started. So far one subject has been interviewed on film, and an entire tape's worth of B-Roll was shot in an Elementary English language Learners Classroom. Without giving too much away, the tape includes some very powerful memories from the Bhutanese. I am still getting a feel for the camera, lighting, audio, etc., which I expect to improve as I go. With this project, content comes first, and so far the content is good. A few new interviews, both taped and non-taped, have been lined up. January promises to be an exciting month.