https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rBwB1yjv-8XPee1XqBgqCw90AtJoEM0O/view?usp=sharing

Logline :

Integrating the arts more into our lives enriches each of us, and because engaging in the arts brings individuals together, it fosters community.

Art + Community + Education

→ It affects us ALL!

→ What happens when this is taken away ??

→ How do students thrive on having a platform (like banana factory) to express themselves?

I had a really hard time cutting down my interview. At first, the rough cut was around 5 to 6 minutes and it really took me awhile to get it down to around 2 to 3 minutes. I always find it hard to cut certain moments of an interview because I always think that whatever the interviewee is saying is interesting. I also know the interviewee personally so it made even harder to cut down because I really felt that everything she was saying was interesting. Also thinking back to the exercise we had done at the beginning of the semester with the statements and whether those certain things were ethical or not, I struggled with the idea that if I cut certain parts of what Azing was saying then maybe I was changing what she was saying or changing what her point of view was or even what her story was.

Here is our rough cut of our Documentary! We are happy with the direction it is taking but there is still editing to do.

We have to smooth out some of the cuts and add in music that we are currently making in garage band but we’re eager to hear other’s feedback.

(we are also planning on adding to the end!)

Title: I Need Help

Logline: The number of deaths from Opioid Overdose is greatly on the rise and affecting EVERYONE. Is Opioid Addiction a choice, a disease, or does the distinction even matter?

Image:

During this weekend, I experienced my first night recording. Before I got the recording set up, I got some advice from my peers on how to do so, such as increasing my aperture, making the camera shutter speed slower to receive more light, and keeping the ISO at a decent level that doesn’t show grainy video. Unfortunately, the camcorder I got from Lehigh’s media center doesn’t have an iso setting, nor an aperture and shutter speed setting. But I made it work after watching some Youtube videos regarding the camera, such as figuring out that the gain setting works similar to an iso setting. Even if the video doesn’t work for the documentary video, this was a good learning experience that helped me do better in the future.

As Natalie and I begin thinking about our documentary short film coming to an end soon, we have been working harder than ever to get everything we want accomplished. One obstacle we have been facing is the lack of response from potential interviewees. We discussed this frustration Monday night and it is definitely an obstacle that is hard to cross over. We had an interview planned for Tuesday and when we arrived and got everything set up, we realized we had a defective microphone so we had to embrace the embarrassment of asking to reschedule for today. Good news, we went today and the interview was great and incredibly useful to our overall story. Then we went to the Easton Public Market and did quick interviews with some of the employees. We tried interviewing as many as we could, but many appeared to be camera shy and were not comfortable with being on camera or being interviewed. We did get some business cards from potential people interested in a more formal interview and are hoping those work out so we can have a wide variety of speakers in our film.

I absolutely loved Taksler’s film. Immediately after the credits ended, I turned to the people around me and started raving about how much the film moved me. Some of them did the same; it was a wonderful experience to share. I was so glad I had others around me who had just seen what I had seen. On my way back up to campus I texted my family group chat, telling all of them they just had to watch it. I still find my thoughts are often focused on Youssef’s battle.

Political satire itself is a nonnviolent act, and yet Youssef was met with violence; he told jokes, while others spoke of his death threats. Satire where Youssef worked requires much more courage than the same does in other countries. This bravery is seen not only in Youssef but in his coworkers, his team. I admired them so much throughout the film- they came together to try something new and wild and revolutionary.

The power of the emotion that I felt through this film experience is a testament not only to Youssef and his crew but also to Taksler’s storytelling ability. She conveyed the subjects’ will and sadness and thoughtfulness so clearly, I felt as though I was there experiencing these things with them. I was empathetic the entire time- when they were celebrating, I was celebrating. When they suffered a loss, I felt as though I did as well. Being able to elicit empathy from the audience is something I can only aspire to do in my own small projects now.