I thought what the chapter had to say about research was interesting and important. I think it is a step we never put enough importance, especially for documentaries. We often think of what would be the best shot and such but if a lot of research is put before then the interviewer will most likely ask the most interesting questions and then get the most interesting answers which will always be compelling to the audience, whether the background is the best it could be or not. I often find myself thinking of shots even before being done with the research and it was good to read about to be reminded to not forget this crucial step.

I also like when the chapter mentions “don’t be afraid to ask basic questions.” I think that is important because sometimes we want to come up with the most interesting questions right off the bat but maybe asking simple questions at the beginning will first make the interviewee more comfortable and more likely to lead them to interesting comments and stories.

I really enjoyed watching the different episodes of “the F-word.” I like that it is divided in around 10 minutes episodes and that it is linear, not just focusing on one aspect of the adoption process per episode. We clearly understand that it is a struggle for the couple to adopt a child from foster care and I found it very powerful because we never see them give up and if anything as time goes by they are even more committed to having a child; they are always willing to negotiate and adapt to the situations they are facing. Even though we see a struggle in adopting, I think it is still great for the documentary to include happy stories as well, of the couple visiting other couples who have gone through the same process and it ended in positive outcomes. It plays the role of giving them hope in some way, that what they are going through is worth it. The most powerful/interesting scenes in my opinion is when we really get insights on what the two women think about all the different stepbacks and positive outcomes that are thrown out to them, when they talk about what they’re most excited for and what they fear the most. The videos touch on the idea that was mentioned in the essay “Mirrors without memories”: showing a truth about a subject we might not know about. It really felt like that when watching the episodes. We might think we know a little bit about the process of adopting but actually following a couple’s story is much more powerful and it is though that way that we really learn about a truth we actually knew nothing about. Overall, the episodes not only let us follow a story of a couple but also educates us.

I always appreciate these types of documentaries because it allows viewers to look into the lives of people that we may not know about. I really loved this docuseries. Many documentaries when they cover this topic are very serious, but this one was able to combine the seriousness of adoption and make it comedic as well. I think they did a great job making each of the episodes short and to the point. Each of the episodes had something happening in them that made it very interesting to watch. As I viewed them, I felt very immersed in their lives and was very curious as to what their next steps were in the adoption process. They made these videos very fun to watch, especially when they added their heads on cartoons and tried to make fun of themselves. I am really excited for Nicole to Skype our class because I want to hear why her and Kristan decided to make their journey a documentary.

Our original idea focused on the theft store as the main “subject” but our new idea seems more stronger. After talking to Kevin Easterling, he informed us that the reach of the community based wifi project expands beyond the thrift store and that that is not the main aspect.      

Broadly, our film will follow the topic/issue of affordable and accessible broadband in the Lehigh Valley. Through interviews with Kevin Easterling, other Rider Pool fellows, Allentown community members, and possibly a sociologist, we will investigate the  significance of the  revolutionary concept of the “community wireless network” and how/why it is unique to Allentown’s “digital desert communities”. For B-roll, we are thinking of filming Center City Thrift, which serves as one of the hubs for the community access to wifi. Maybe this could be our film’s hook. We are also thinking of getting b-roll of his meeting with the Collective Impact Fellowship which is a program through the Rider Pool Foundation. We are still revising our initial idea, but the film will still nuance the theme of community through Easterling’s project of community based wifi.We might need to think of another film title besides “Center City Thrift”.

“A thrift store in Allentown shifts the paradigm of the roles local businesses play in their community by providing a community based wifi program”. -Ayanna, Annie, and Reggie

This is one sentence with tension that my group came up with last week. Since then, our topic has changed slightly (new post coming soon with changes)

I really enjoyed Robert Seidman’s talk “Tales of a Generlaist” because he used clips from his films to exemplify what he has accomplished in his career as a screenwriter. He argued that being a generalist is beneficial to your career because you can make yourself more marketable. Of all the clips he showed I especially liked the introduction to “Riding the Rails” by Michael Uys because the narration of the subjects characterizes them until we are able to actually see their faces.

A few things that I took note of in the talk that were most striking to me were the following:

-is the narration/language appropriate/fitting?

-a story is carried by the music

-what’s the hook of the story?

-the meter is always running

His question, “what’s the hook of the story” is significant to us right now as we begin to film our final documentaries.

I’m not sure what, or who rather, I was expecting Robert Seidman to be, but he definitely surprised me with his unique personality and straightforward sense of humor. Siedman shared several interesting stories, especially those from his work on the Hasidic Jewish community, in which he had to separate his personal beliefs from those of his subjects in order to properly capture their lives. It is important as a documentarian to put aside our opinions on certain matters so that we can truly document our subject, and not only show one side of them or one side of their lives. I liked that he showed specific clips of his work that spoke to his teachings and then explained the stories and his thought processes behind them. He took immense pride in his work, which I admired, and was eager to share his experiences and advice on the documentary filmmaking process along with the experiences that come with it.

I also enjoyed hearing about the different areas of work Seidman has done, starting as an author and then making his way into screenwriting for documentaries. His confidence and skill seemed to drive his career choices, and it was exciting to see someone who was able to make a career out of his writing skills.

I really enjoyed Robert Seidman’s talk. It was very interesting to learn about his career and what he has accomplished in his life. I believe the most interesting film of his that the audience viewed was his film titled “A Life Apart: Hasidism in America”. The clip that was shown was extremely interesting, and made me want to watch the documentary entirely. It was even more captivating when Seidman told the audience that he was an atheist, and how he had trouble getting along with everyone else working on the documentary because their religious beliefs did not match.

I also found it interesting that Seidman was able to take on so many projects at one time. It was really nice to hear that he loved his liberal arts experience at Williams, too. I love Lafayette, but it was nice to hear from someone much wiser than I that one of his best decisions was pursuing a liberal arts degree. He had many smart things to say to us young documentarians, and I really appreciated his visit.

Interview subject: Eric Fouh, Computer Science and Engineering Professor

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do and how I wanted to go about it. One of the main reasons why I was struggling was because I was thinking about faculty and administration that I have interacted with since I’ve been here. For some people who came to mind, after research and thinking, made me realize maybe that would be the best idea. Then, considering my desire to attain a minor in computer science, I decided to choose Professor Fouh because I would like to see the other side of him.

Everyone, along with myself, has only seen the professor side when he lectures and answers our questions. But I’d like to know a little more about him and how he ended up where he is today. I want to know more about his background and how he came to be a professor in computer science. Computer science has always been intriguing to me, even though I find it extremely frustrating. I want to know how he sort of thinks and goes about problem solving, and what he does when he hits a road block.

Actually, I did some online searching to see what I could find about my professor. Turns out, through Linked In, I was able to get some more information. He went to school in France for undergrad, and then went to Virginia Tech, I believe, for graduate school. I am not sure where he was born and raised but it seems like he has come global/cultural experience. I am sure he has an interesting background that would be cool to check out.

I am going to meet with him sometime this week. I am not sure where but, like professor suggested, I don’t want to go in his office. I feel as though he might have a favorite place on campus. Or even just a place where he ventures frequently. In fact, last year, I heard a story about someone I know that went to his office hours for help. They were just chatting about the assignment and somehow then they go to speaking about the gym. Considering the professor is in good shape, maybe he’ll want to chat in the athletic center. This is all still to be determined but I am excited to see how this goes.

Interview Pitch/Planning/Visualization

For the “Watchable Interview Assignment”, I plan on interviewing Jordan Page, a student/performer who is passionate about fashion, style, and makeup. Jordan is unique and commands the attention of a room with just his presence. I will get b-roll shots of Jordan doing his makeup and choosing his outfit in his room. I also plan on filming Jordan walking around, possibly on campus or in Allentown. I hope that the interview film will highlight Jordan as rising influencer

Interview Questions (not in order)

-when and why did you become interested in makeup and fashion?

-who/what inspires you stylistically?

-how do you identify and how has your identity impacted the way you are expected to present yourself?

-what does makeup/doing your makeup represent/symbolize to you?

-do you feel represented in the makeup industry? how can this change?

-describe your relationship with makeup.

-do you think you influence others? in what ways?

-why is make-up important to you? what role does it play in your life?