Thanks again to all of you for a fabulous semester!! Please do keep in touch. And for those whose videos aren't yet posted, upload them ASAP so we can all help to spread the word.
Fades for Grades
Fades for Grades + PTones
Senior Gift
Francisco House
Getting Dirty with Green Grounds
Enjoy...
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Blog 6: Fades for Grades
Aren't they just lovely??? (Photo Creds to Spencer)
I don't really know where to start. I don't know how a semester can go by so fast, yet so slow at the same time. It truly seems just like yesterday when Briana, Nikki, Mel, Spencer and I went to Crenshaw to meet the boys at Fades for Grades for the first time. Overall, my experience with Fades for Grades was... AMAZING.Although we had an awkward beginning (like most first face-to-face meetings), the boys accepted us so quickly and opened up to us faster than we imagined. The boys had a lot to say about life, education, brotherhood, etc. While working with them we discovered how although we have differences, we also have many similarities. We are all students wanting to be something, someone better.
Seeing the boys visit USC yesterday made me realize how happy I was to be given an opportunity where USC can be involved with the community. When they said that they didn't realize that they impacted us, the filmmakers, I was so shocked. I guess both parties didn't really think about influencing the other in some way. I will never forget the warm welcomes and the enthusiasm those boys had and I hope that they don't forget about us! It makes me sad to think that because the semester is coming to an end, that our relationship with the boys are coming to an end. I definitely hope not. For me, I'm excited to find out the future of these boys because I see so much potential in all of them!
Some tidbits for future classes:
1) Although the workload may be a lot, it was definitely worth it. Even though I was taking a load of classes this semester along with work and being in charge of other organizations, I would do it all over again. All that hard work truly paid off in the end (got a little emotional while watching all the documentaries last night... know what I mean?)
2) If you don't have video editing experience and have some space in your schedule for an IML class, do it! Although you may not be a professional video editor by the end of the semester, IML gives you the basic tools and techniques for you to develop on.
3) Don't be discouraged if the people at your site don't open up to you so quickly. They just met you! Establishing a sense of trust between you and your community partners is important. Once you establish that, putting together the documentary becomes an easier process as you are left with a lot of awesome footage.
4) Before going to your site... think of some activities! Thankfully, Briana had a lot of good activities up her sleeve :) Here are some activities we did:
- One was having all of the boys line up with their eyes closed. We would then say something like, "Step forward if you like pizza." After, the boys who stepped forward would open their eyes to see who was similar to them. The questions went from easy to hard. A more difficult question would be like, "Step forward if you have been called names at school because of your race, ethnicity or class"
- We also played the number game, where a whole group of us would get together and each person, someone different each time, would have to count off from numbers 1 - 20. No one person can go two times in a row and there can be no pattern. If two people say one number at the same time, they would have to start over. Example: Briana, "One"... Janice, "Two"... Spencer, "Three"... Mel and Nikki, "Four"... because Mel and Nikki said the same number together, we have to start over. This game encouraged everyone to develop different ways of communicating other than through talking.
- We brought in a couple of cameras, so that the boys can interview one another. This way, we were able to see what the boys really wanted to talk about and what issues were going on in their mind. By leaving it open-ended, they were able to help us think of ideas that they would be most interested in.
- Briana, Spencer and Nikki were able to play Taboo with the boys. Apparently all of them, including Rick, had a really fun time with it because it encouraged all the boys to think creatively.
- I feel like there were more activities... But, I can't think of anymore at the moment...
All righty.. this is getting pretty lengthy... I just hope everyone had the same unforgettable experience as I did. This is the first and only writing class I have ever enjoyed.
Thank you to my lovely group and Rick and the boysss!
Last Post!
As a second-semester senior, I went into Writing 340 with the plan to write a couple papers, do my best, and graduate having learned to write a little bit better. I really didn’t expect much, and I was pretty shocked when we had our first class. Knowing how busy my semester was, I contemplated finding a new course that wouldn’t require as much of my time.
The semester was definitely a struggle. Since I didn’t take Writing 140 at USC, I’m still struggling to break myself of a lot of bad writing habits. It was difficult getting up early every Wednesday morning (the day I originally planned to use for sleeping in), to go to a school where I often felt I was an outsider forcing myself in. I had no idea how to create a documentary, and none of the IML classes fit into my schedule.
Fifteen weeks later, I’ve not only gained a couple new friends, but I’ve also been so impressed by what everyone in this class has produced. Even though tomorrow is my last day of classes ever, I’ve been motivated to put 100% into my work until the very end. Tonight’s screening was inspirational and it left me with a culminating feeling of fulfillment. Even though we had different groups working on unrelated projects, I feel like we all produced something together. It was great having a class that was so honest and engaged, and I’m so glad it was one of my last classes at USC.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Documentary Screening
What a successful screening we had today! The Fades 4 Grades boys came to the IML lab to look at the documentary that we created, and it was a really great experience for us all. They appreciated how they were portrayed in the video and we were able to take all of the footage and interviews of them and turn it into something they could understand. The main criticism that they gave us was that they would have liked more footage of everyone talking about how they felt about the community and about their teachers in the documentary.
What touched me the most about the whole experience was hearing the boys' reactions to to documentary. They all agreed that the documentary will help teach people both in Crenshaw and outside Crenshaw who they are as a group, and as individuals. One made a comment that he hopes people will see through this video that there are young guys out there who want to go to college and make something of themselves, and that it will help them get rid of preconceived stereotypes about teens from inner-city communities. My group and I definitely felt like we'd accomplished something as a result, and we formed a bond with both the boys and with Rick.
Final Visit with Fades for Grades
I'd have to say that I really had a great time interacting with the Fades 4 Grades boys. I don't think they realized how much of an impact they left on myself and the rest of my group. I definitely saw a huge change in the attitudes and behavior of the boys from the first day till our last meeting; they were way more open to discussing different issues with us and tried to get to know us more as people instead of "scary college kids with cameras". I'd say that all of us looked forward to going to Crenshaw and developed a connection with the boys on a personal level, especially once they started opening up to us. They boys all seemed pretty excited to see the final documentary at the IML lab. I know that they didn't know what to expect, but I know they'll be happy that they contributed to our project.
Blog #6
I want the members in WRIT340 Writing in the Community how great of an experience working at a school was. The privilege wasn't just working with the young men, but in the environment. It was so much fun to go every Monday to Crenshaw to just hang out and get to know them. They have such interesting backgrounds and stories to tell. I loved working with kids before, but this really intensified my love for helping the younger generation. I have never worked with kids so close to my age where when you talk, you are always on the same page. We all had so much in common with distractions of the opposite sex to being Facebook addicts. As the next generation, we grew up with the same technologies.
It was a pleasure to work with all the young men because I was able to see changes in the guys. The first day we went there, they were very shy without any eye contact if they did say anything. Today, when we discussed our documentary, the boys have really grown. They were freely critiquing our work and elaborating in their sentences eloquently. My favorite part is when we took a group picture, one of the 9th graders put his arm around my neck. That is when I felt how close we have gotten and how much I am going to miss them. The experience we were able to share with the young men affect us as much as it may have affected them. We both were able to takeaway a better understanding of each others lifestyles.
This class as well as the program was definitely the highlight of my semester, maybe even Junior year at USC.
It was a pleasure to work with all the young men because I was able to see changes in the guys. The first day we went there, they were very shy without any eye contact if they did say anything. Today, when we discussed our documentary, the boys have really grown. They were freely critiquing our work and elaborating in their sentences eloquently. My favorite part is when we took a group picture, one of the 9th graders put his arm around my neck. That is when I felt how close we have gotten and how much I am going to miss them. The experience we were able to share with the young men affect us as much as it may have affected them. We both were able to takeaway a better understanding of each others lifestyles.
This class as well as the program was definitely the highlight of my semester, maybe even Junior year at USC.
And a side note... perhaps it's not quite as thrilling as the rest, but there's a personal side for me in this journey. I recently found out that Florence, one of the key members and founders of Green Grounds, has developed a cancer. Yet she still putts around with a smile from ear to ear and shows up to every Dig-in with as much energy as ever. In that, I'm reminded of my own mother, who was an avid gardener and was diagnosed with brain cancer back in 2007. I see two very similar ladies and stories here, though I do hope Florence's journey does not end as my mother's did. And though the note strikes with a tone of sadness for me, it also brings back some fond memories. It was always a wonder to me how my mother, who underwent more than several rounds of chemo and radiation, still found it in her to go out into her garden almost everyday to take care of her flowers and herbs and trees. Florence, too, has already undergone some treatment for her own case and is still out and about and gardening as ever. It's an interesting juxtaposition, the idea of growing and cultivating life while facing the odds of battling sickness. I am not sure if Florence's sickness is terminal as my mother's was. But for me it is still a reminder of that time. And now, it makes the process of this film even more incredible and worth exploring further. Surely this kind of thing must be worth something for these ladies, even in times of sickness, to be so excited about it.
Given what I said below, I should probably actually tell you about how some of this stuff went!
The whole process was nothing short of fantastic, really. I could not believe how open and amiable and engaging each person that we met through Green Grounds was in real life. It was exciting to see all of these beautiful people together for a great cause. It's a seemingly simple cause, I suppose, but an incredible one even on a small scale. The Green Grounds members have such a vision not only for the local neighborhoods, but for the greater Los Angeles area, and for the way we live in general. And they're willing to share that, not only through interviews and conversation, but also in going out and doing it themselves. That's what they're all about. Live-action change. Of course, it may be unlikely that Green Grounds alone will be able to change the way we think about food and sustainability and nature, but in and of itself, I'd say the effort is quite remarkable. And even apart from the outward enthusiasm of the people involved, it speaks for itself.... silently. "Just the beauty of the garden draws [people] in", as Ron says. I think that alone is worth delving into.
The whole process was nothing short of fantastic, really. I could not believe how open and amiable and engaging each person that we met through Green Grounds was in real life. It was exciting to see all of these beautiful people together for a great cause. It's a seemingly simple cause, I suppose, but an incredible one even on a small scale. The Green Grounds members have such a vision not only for the local neighborhoods, but for the greater Los Angeles area, and for the way we live in general. And they're willing to share that, not only through interviews and conversation, but also in going out and doing it themselves. That's what they're all about. Live-action change. Of course, it may be unlikely that Green Grounds alone will be able to change the way we think about food and sustainability and nature, but in and of itself, I'd say the effort is quite remarkable. And even apart from the outward enthusiasm of the people involved, it speaks for itself.... silently. "Just the beauty of the garden draws [people] in", as Ron says. I think that alone is worth delving into.
To be honest, I wasn't sure how this project would turn out from the beginning. I went into it hardly knowing how the experience would pan out and what effect it might have on me personally and in general. Or whether there really should have been one in the first place. Sure, it sounds fantastic to go out and build gardens everywhere and promote healthy living, sustainability, practicality, and even beauty. But ultimately, knowing that this particular grassroots kind of movement is incredibly small and localized, I was not sure of how we were going to vamp it up and make it really stand out. And even beyond that, what the heck it had to do with me and what I could really offer. Really, at first, this whole assignment (especially coming from a "writing" class) seemed just like any other assignment. Another project that didn’t seem (from a student’s point of view) to have much of a point, another project to get the grade… at least this time we were allowed a different medium of communication: film, story-telling, real human connection. Quite honestly, I think that is what made the difference for me. I
am not suggesting that writing a 20-page research paper has no value at all, but at least for me, it is not my most effective method of communication or understanding. The tangible, hands-on nature of creating a film and working with people, to me, is not only incredibly enjoyable, but it also jumps out much more than words line after line in a paper. It becomes personal, because you get to deal with the people you’re working with. And I think that even gives you some authority. Sure, you can do the research and site a multitude of academic sources online to give any paper a little credit. You can do research for a film too! I think that can add a lot of value and depth toward just about any argument in any format. But with film, in particular, you get a sort-of live action, in-the-issue-now kind of feeling that you don’t get in a paper. This, I think is why papers and publications in the real world are often associated with conferences where the work can be showcased and discussed and celebrated. It allows for a real live human being to bring their work to life. Papers alone often lack that human voice. In a film, that already happens right on the screen. Obviously, not every kind of research or argument or idea can be presented in video form. That is why there are so many options of portraying them in the first place. But I must say that I’m glad, in this case, to be using film.
Given that, I must say it’s been quite a lot of fun getting this project together! Indeed, Green
Grounds is a small group in a greater Los Angeles setting. But, as it turns out, they absolutely do have a voice and a story worth telling. I am glad that I was given the opportunity and the tools to explore that more thoroughly, and I hope we did the cause some justice!
am not suggesting that writing a 20-page research paper has no value at all, but at least for me, it is not my most effective method of communication or understanding. The tangible, hands-on nature of creating a film and working with people, to me, is not only incredibly enjoyable, but it also jumps out much more than words line after line in a paper. It becomes personal, because you get to deal with the people you’re working with. And I think that even gives you some authority. Sure, you can do the research and site a multitude of academic sources online to give any paper a little credit. You can do research for a film too! I think that can add a lot of value and depth toward just about any argument in any format. But with film, in particular, you get a sort-of live action, in-the-issue-now kind of feeling that you don’t get in a paper. This, I think is why papers and publications in the real world are often associated with conferences where the work can be showcased and discussed and celebrated. It allows for a real live human being to bring their work to life. Papers alone often lack that human voice. In a film, that already happens right on the screen. Obviously, not every kind of research or argument or idea can be presented in video form. That is why there are so many options of portraying them in the first place. But I must say that I’m glad, in this case, to be using film.
Given that, I must say it’s been quite a lot of fun getting this project together! Indeed, Green
Grounds is a small group in a greater Los Angeles setting. But, as it turns out, they absolutely do have a voice and a story worth telling. I am glad that I was given the opportunity and the tools to explore that more thoroughly, and I hope we did the cause some justice!
West Adams
West Adams has a been a good experience. I wanted to be a teacher and I now realize how hard it is to control a classroom full of students. It seems that the students opened up when they were in small groups and were real to them. The students are very smart and can read you very well. So as Abel said, go in there with a plan because the time that you have is limited with them and it is necessary to make the most of it. of course this may compromise the ability of letting something organic come out. But with a good plan you can direct the students in a general direction.
I have learned that dividing work among many people is difficult. You have to divide the work in the beginning and know who has what skills. When people do not have the skills to do something the burden falls upon those that kind of know what they are doing and that is unfair.
I do not feel that the students truly appreciated what we were doing/ directly think that we did them any good except have an hour of class where they dont do anything except talk. But indirectly i think we had a very good effect on them because for the people that spoke up and did talk about why they want to go to college and where they want to go. It helps them internalize the fact that they have a goal and that they are working towards it.
I have learned that dividing work among many people is difficult. You have to divide the work in the beginning and know who has what skills. When people do not have the skills to do something the burden falls upon those that kind of know what they are doing and that is unfair.
I do not feel that the students truly appreciated what we were doing/ directly think that we did them any good except have an hour of class where they dont do anything except talk. But indirectly i think we had a very good effect on them because for the people that spoke up and did talk about why they want to go to college and where they want to go. It helps them internalize the fact that they have a goal and that they are working towards it.
Blog 6
Well, the semester is finally coming to a close and there's so much I can write about our times together thus far. It hit me in class yesterday just how much we have accomplished in the past four months. We've all created documentaries in learning about situations and cultures that are vastly different than our own, and we've become much better writers. The way that professor Murray has arranged our interactions has gotten us all to become pretty close and trustworthy of one another as well, something you wouldn't expect to arise from a writing class. I had the same feeling looking around the room that I did at the end of my CTPR 290 course (a rigorous film production course that sees its students make four films in one semester together); we've gone to war in our rigorous studies and research and have naturally bonded in the process. But perhaps I'm being too sentimental? Hard to tell...
Anyways, our final editing is coming down to the wire. We finished our rough draft a few days ago and have since been touching it up here and there, messing with audio levels and visual transitions. I'm very pleased with our work and so proud of our group in general. With little to no editing experience, a lot of my group mates devoted their full efforts and passions to the project, and it shows on the film. Even Mario Gilando came and visited me yesterday to give his input on its editing and structure (he's the professor of West Adams that we worked with this semester, a truly good person). I'm excited to screen it tonight, as I'm interested in hearing feedback and critique.
So long, WRI 340 class! It was real, hopefully we can all keep in touch...
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Blog 6
This was not at all the experience I was expecting. I knew coming in that I more than likely would end up liking whatever community partner I got teamed up with, but I did not expect this. I did not expect to have my entire outlook on ex-offenders changed. I work for the D.A.’s office here in Los Angeles County, so I came in with a bit of a bias and that bias has now been completely shifted. I never in my wildest dreams thought I could end up being friends with criminals let alone murderers, but it happened. All of these men changed my view of ex-offenders and really got me questioning our criminal reform system and prisons. Its not that I don’t think people who have committed crimes shouldn’t be punished, its that I think there are better ways of reforming people then just throwing them in a cage for years to figure it out themselves. Though I did expect to leave this class with some new perspective, I never thought I would leave with such awareness.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Blog 5
How are the students, clients, and/or staff responding to your efforts? Do you think that your presence is anticipated or appreciated? What is your emotional response to others’ reaction towards you?
One of the great aspects of partnering with West Adams is that Mr. Galindo--the high school teacher--is very supportive of our efforts and he is extremely helpful in everything that we do. Galindo gave us complete support for our project and he put in a lot of effort to get his students engaged in the documentary-making process, often by asking questions and starting a dilogue. It is nice to know that there are teachers that really care about their student's education. Galindo is committed to the education of his students, and he tries hard to give them an interesting/unique experience, as opposed to a more traditional schooling (lecturing, etc). He is also an innovative teacher. Whenever we visited the site he gave us full control of the classroom and was available to help us whenever possible. He even wanted to help us with the film edits!
The students reacted positively to our efforts and our presence. Towards our last sessions with the students many were comfortable with us so they opened up more, and pretty soon we began to form close relationships. I feel like our presence was anticipated and appreciated by the kids and by Mr. Galindo because it allowed them to do something different, to be able to share their thoughts about social issues, and to have fun! Since the students meet with Mr. Galindo for about 2 hours twice a week, I got the sense that the students enjoyed some change.
The last session was a bit sad because I had built relationships with some of the students. I really enjoyed working with the students and learning from them. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy the site visits, but I really did. The fact that the kids anticipated and seemed to enjoy our weekly Wednesday morning visit made it so much more enjoyable to work with them.
One of the great aspects of partnering with West Adams is that Mr. Galindo--the high school teacher--is very supportive of our efforts and he is extremely helpful in everything that we do. Galindo gave us complete support for our project and he put in a lot of effort to get his students engaged in the documentary-making process, often by asking questions and starting a dilogue. It is nice to know that there are teachers that really care about their student's education. Galindo is committed to the education of his students, and he tries hard to give them an interesting/unique experience, as opposed to a more traditional schooling (lecturing, etc). He is also an innovative teacher. Whenever we visited the site he gave us full control of the classroom and was available to help us whenever possible. He even wanted to help us with the film edits!
The students reacted positively to our efforts and our presence. Towards our last sessions with the students many were comfortable with us so they opened up more, and pretty soon we began to form close relationships. I feel like our presence was anticipated and appreciated by the kids and by Mr. Galindo because it allowed them to do something different, to be able to share their thoughts about social issues, and to have fun! Since the students meet with Mr. Galindo for about 2 hours twice a week, I got the sense that the students enjoyed some change.
The last session was a bit sad because I had built relationships with some of the students. I really enjoyed working with the students and learning from them. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy the site visits, but I really did. The fact that the kids anticipated and seemed to enjoy our weekly Wednesday morning visit made it so much more enjoyable to work with them.
Blog 6
Option One: Write about your role as an “activist” with your community partner.
I have been an activist in the community since High School when I founded the P'Tones Records organization. I really didn't know what I was getting involved with until I spent a year doing what I set out to do, create a nationwide after school music program. What you have in your mind about what you are doing or who you are helping is just your imagination until you have experienced it hands on. Just acknowledging and appreciating what Rick does at Fades for Grades is so valuable. In our partnership which allows our group to go in there and teach a curriculum to inspire the youth and motivate them to better themselves and see the options out there often go over our heads.
To know that they are passionate about the project you are bringing them is a great feeling and provides a sense of achievement. It is a great opportunity to work with youth, specifically with these kids who are a unique group looking to push themselves to their highest potential. These kids are all willing to learn and work hard and get involved. They rise to the challenge and you would never guess that their support system at home or in school outside of this program is broken.
You get to know some of these guys on another level and you only wish the best for them. You sit there and wonder how they turned out so strong and confident despite their situations at home. Whether a kid starts out as a C student when they join fades for grades their grades improve because their self-esteem and confidence grows as a part of the program.
We were fortunate enough to bring an already established curriculum, and a interest that most of them had to them. You can see their effort that they apply in their school work in our program and you get something really special. Sometimes you get some kids who are disconnected from the program, and are the troublemakers but the majority of the group will block them out and tell them to stop distracting.
We had an amazing experience with the kids and it was time well spent.
I have been an activist in the community since High School when I founded the P'Tones Records organization. I really didn't know what I was getting involved with until I spent a year doing what I set out to do, create a nationwide after school music program. What you have in your mind about what you are doing or who you are helping is just your imagination until you have experienced it hands on. Just acknowledging and appreciating what Rick does at Fades for Grades is so valuable. In our partnership which allows our group to go in there and teach a curriculum to inspire the youth and motivate them to better themselves and see the options out there often go over our heads.
To know that they are passionate about the project you are bringing them is a great feeling and provides a sense of achievement. It is a great opportunity to work with youth, specifically with these kids who are a unique group looking to push themselves to their highest potential. These kids are all willing to learn and work hard and get involved. They rise to the challenge and you would never guess that their support system at home or in school outside of this program is broken.
You get to know some of these guys on another level and you only wish the best for them. You sit there and wonder how they turned out so strong and confident despite their situations at home. Whether a kid starts out as a C student when they join fades for grades their grades improve because their self-esteem and confidence grows as a part of the program.
We were fortunate enough to bring an already established curriculum, and a interest that most of them had to them. You can see their effort that they apply in their school work in our program and you get something really special. Sometimes you get some kids who are disconnected from the program, and are the troublemakers but the majority of the group will block them out and tell them to stop distracting.
We had an amazing experience with the kids and it was time well spent.
Entry #5
The students were definitely timid at first, but in the past couple of weeks have definitely opened up. The call us by our first names and wish us goodbye and see you soon. These boys have such good manners and I love hanging out with them! Also, when we told the boys what our documentary was going to focus on, they were very excited and many of them volunteered to help and even get interviewed. They understand that a media piece like this can make a difference and they are very passionate in helping in any way they can. The staff and teachers are also very open to our project and want us to hear their opinions as well. It is a nice atmosphere to work in when you want to get deep into a taboo topic. My emotional response to everyone is truly gracious! Everyone is willing to help and it makes our job in documenting everything so much easier.
Blog 5
How are the students, clients, and/or staff responding to your efforts? Do you think that your presence is anticipated or appreciated? What is your emotional response to others’ reaction towards you?
I am writing this blog post after our last site visit to Crenshaw high. Had I written this several weeks earlier my response probably would of been different. When we first entered Crenshaw on day 1 I noticed that the students were ready to get involved. They had done this before, and were looking forward to it despite not knowing who we were. They immediately got into a circle and were ready to get into a discussion... but they had no idea what they were about to get into. On the first day we brought our speakers connected an ipod and started playing some of their favorite music. Some of the kids smiled and were already more comfortable with us. Professor Bower provided us with the Rolling Stone magazine featuring Lil Wayne on the cover which helped kick off our first discussion and lesson. That day they learned what Marketing and Publicity were, and the difference between them. The kids were sold and in for the rest of the semester.
We all casually looked over to the barbers who were cutting hair, but couldn't help but listen to what we were saying. We included them in the conversation and they participated everyday since. The students and staff have been nothing short of terrific in their support of us. We all get the feeling that our presence is appreciated. The students prepare questions, lyrics and ideas about the industry prior to our visits. Whenever we leave they always ask if we are coming back.
All of us have developed a great relationship with the youth and an emotional attachment with some of them. It is great to see the maturation of the project along side the maturation of our relationship with the students. I know when we told them we were getting into the recording studio they were eager to get in and looked forward to it for the entire week.
We had a great experience and partnership with the Fades 4 Grades kids!
I am writing this blog post after our last site visit to Crenshaw high. Had I written this several weeks earlier my response probably would of been different. When we first entered Crenshaw on day 1 I noticed that the students were ready to get involved. They had done this before, and were looking forward to it despite not knowing who we were. They immediately got into a circle and were ready to get into a discussion... but they had no idea what they were about to get into. On the first day we brought our speakers connected an ipod and started playing some of their favorite music. Some of the kids smiled and were already more comfortable with us. Professor Bower provided us with the Rolling Stone magazine featuring Lil Wayne on the cover which helped kick off our first discussion and lesson. That day they learned what Marketing and Publicity were, and the difference between them. The kids were sold and in for the rest of the semester.
We all casually looked over to the barbers who were cutting hair, but couldn't help but listen to what we were saying. We included them in the conversation and they participated everyday since. The students and staff have been nothing short of terrific in their support of us. We all get the feeling that our presence is appreciated. The students prepare questions, lyrics and ideas about the industry prior to our visits. Whenever we leave they always ask if we are coming back.
All of us have developed a great relationship with the youth and an emotional attachment with some of them. It is great to see the maturation of the project along side the maturation of our relationship with the students. I know when we told them we were getting into the recording studio they were eager to get in and looked forward to it for the entire week.
We had a great experience and partnership with the Fades 4 Grades kids!
Entry #4
I have learned alot about the boys. They are very good hearted kids with a lot of talent! Many of them happened to be blood brothers, which is very interesting when trying to create a brotherly atmosphere in the program. Many of them are also involved in sports or other after school academic programs. Even though Mr. McGregor has told us that some of the boys are failing classes, I can't seem to point the weakest links. The all help each other like a family and create a positive atmosphere. I do share a lot in common with them. We all like to laugh! :) Once the boys open up, you are able to joke with them. One boy, Dennis, in particular is always laughing or smiling. He is so cute and is a really good kid. The biggest differences is even though they may put on a happy face on the outside, they may have problems at home or are having trouble in school, whether it is academic or socially. I think Fades for Grades is the only place they can really let loose, free of any expectations besides to succeed. These boys are definitely heading in the right direction and I would love to see where they go in the future!
Blog 4
After a few weeks of working together, what have you learned about each other? Do you share anything in common? What (beyond the obvious) are the biggest differences?
I am not sure if we are supposed to answer the question about my relationship with the group members or the students so I will do both. As far as the group goes, I am in good shape considering my team members are two of my closest friends at school. In certain cases I would say that doing business or being in business with your friends could be bad news but in this situation it couldn't be better. When you approach a challenge like this one where you need to work with a group of new kids and have very little time to not be productive; being with a team you are comfortable with and know is important. We have each others back, we know what each person wants to get out of the youth and thus we can work together to push them to their highest potential.
Both Max and Steve have been very supportive of the P'Tones program since freshman year in College when they first learned about the organization. This was a great way for them to get involved and apply the program at Crenshaw. We are all dedicated to the final outcomes, and putting in the work to get to that point.
I don't think there are huge differences. I think my role or my view of the day-to-day is different because I have been doing this for a while, whereas the other two are newer to the concept especially to working hands on with the kids. They spend more time working with the student individually generally choosing 1-2 groups to work with and oversee; where as I try to help set the pace and tone for all groups and the students individually.
Now when it comes to get kids, we all have great relationships with them. It's funny because I feel like we have each got a different following based on who we work with the most or talk to the most. So its cool to see Steve and Max talk to a select group of kids and me with a different group.
I feel like I know the personalities of each of the kids much much better at this point which makes it easier when I am trying to get the best work out of each of them. We all have different upbringings and backgrounds but when we are in the small group setting working on the specific tangibles such as lyrics for example you get a lot out of the discussion with the youth. Most of the stuff we get into or talk about aren't on film because it takes a certain level of trust from them to be that open. But when you listen to the lyrics-- whether it is about money (that they don't have) or cars (that they don't have) you hear that it is their aspirations. They discuss intimate things via lyrics or creating the art that they normally wouldn't do in any random conversation.
I am not sure if we are supposed to answer the question about my relationship with the group members or the students so I will do both. As far as the group goes, I am in good shape considering my team members are two of my closest friends at school. In certain cases I would say that doing business or being in business with your friends could be bad news but in this situation it couldn't be better. When you approach a challenge like this one where you need to work with a group of new kids and have very little time to not be productive; being with a team you are comfortable with and know is important. We have each others back, we know what each person wants to get out of the youth and thus we can work together to push them to their highest potential.
Both Max and Steve have been very supportive of the P'Tones program since freshman year in College when they first learned about the organization. This was a great way for them to get involved and apply the program at Crenshaw. We are all dedicated to the final outcomes, and putting in the work to get to that point.
I don't think there are huge differences. I think my role or my view of the day-to-day is different because I have been doing this for a while, whereas the other two are newer to the concept especially to working hands on with the kids. They spend more time working with the student individually generally choosing 1-2 groups to work with and oversee; where as I try to help set the pace and tone for all groups and the students individually.
Now when it comes to get kids, we all have great relationships with them. It's funny because I feel like we have each got a different following based on who we work with the most or talk to the most. So its cool to see Steve and Max talk to a select group of kids and me with a different group.
I feel like I know the personalities of each of the kids much much better at this point which makes it easier when I am trying to get the best work out of each of them. We all have different upbringings and backgrounds but when we are in the small group setting working on the specific tangibles such as lyrics for example you get a lot out of the discussion with the youth. Most of the stuff we get into or talk about aren't on film because it takes a certain level of trust from them to be that open. But when you listen to the lyrics-- whether it is about money (that they don't have) or cars (that they don't have) you hear that it is their aspirations. They discuss intimate things via lyrics or creating the art that they normally wouldn't do in any random conversation.
Blog Entry 5
Entry Five:
How are the students, clients, and/or staff responding to your efforts? Do you think that your presence is anticipated or appreciated? What is your emotional response to others’ reaction towards you?
I think the students are responding very well to our efforts. I think they are responsive because they actually enjoy the process. Making music, more specifically, making beats, writing lyrics, sketching album designs and recording in the studio is fun for them. Most of the kids had an interest in music before we started showing up, so we got lucky in that regard. I also think the staff has responded very well to the project. Matthew, the barber who cuts the kids hair for Fades 4 Grades, is an aspiring rapper and has lectured the kids and helped us with the project. He was paramount in helping the kids understand that writing lyrics is less about rhyming words and more about expressing emotions, opinions and creating art.
I think our presence is appreciated more than anticipated. I say this because the kids enjoy having someone push them to finish the creative process. Often times the kids will say they worked on lyrics or the album design, but lost focus after a while and moved on to something else. Wth our group coming for regular visits, the kids are better able to monitor their progress and keep the end goal in mind. We also have insight into the album making process that they are eager to learn about. They enjoy hearing about why lil Wayne's album markets him the way they do, the want to know why kid cudi has an intern monitor his twitter account. They want to know the ins and outs of the music industry and how it can affect their lives. In that regard, I think the students appreciate our visits.
I think because I worked as a camp counselor in previous summers, I am more comfortable with meeting and helping younger kids. Thus, my emotional response to the kids and staffs action towards me was positive and comfortable. Rick does a great job of making us feel comfortable and helping us out when the kids get more rowdy. He helped us gain their respect and attention. After the first two weeks, our group developed a storng bond with the kids and it has only grown stronger since. I am excited for them to get on campus!
How are the students, clients, and/or staff responding to your efforts? Do you think that your presence is anticipated or appreciated? What is your emotional response to others’ reaction towards you?
I think the students are responding very well to our efforts. I think they are responsive because they actually enjoy the process. Making music, more specifically, making beats, writing lyrics, sketching album designs and recording in the studio is fun for them. Most of the kids had an interest in music before we started showing up, so we got lucky in that regard. I also think the staff has responded very well to the project. Matthew, the barber who cuts the kids hair for Fades 4 Grades, is an aspiring rapper and has lectured the kids and helped us with the project. He was paramount in helping the kids understand that writing lyrics is less about rhyming words and more about expressing emotions, opinions and creating art.
I think our presence is appreciated more than anticipated. I say this because the kids enjoy having someone push them to finish the creative process. Often times the kids will say they worked on lyrics or the album design, but lost focus after a while and moved on to something else. Wth our group coming for regular visits, the kids are better able to monitor their progress and keep the end goal in mind. We also have insight into the album making process that they are eager to learn about. They enjoy hearing about why lil Wayne's album markets him the way they do, the want to know why kid cudi has an intern monitor his twitter account. They want to know the ins and outs of the music industry and how it can affect their lives. In that regard, I think the students appreciate our visits.
I think because I worked as a camp counselor in previous summers, I am more comfortable with meeting and helping younger kids. Thus, my emotional response to the kids and staffs action towards me was positive and comfortable. Rick does a great job of making us feel comfortable and helping us out when the kids get more rowdy. He helped us gain their respect and attention. After the first two weeks, our group developed a storng bond with the kids and it has only grown stronger since. I am excited for them to get on campus!
Blog 3
What are the particular issues, tasks or problems you have encountered or anticipate during your site visits?
Going to Crenshaw has been an incredible experience. We have been going there for a couple weeks now and we are starting to develop really good relationships with some of the kids. I've noticed that all the students are getting more and more comfortable with each other. We have noticed that we usually can't get started until 10-15 minutes in, because the students are walking in late and by the time they are settled in we've wasted valuable time considering there is another group we are sharing time with.
I am a big fan of the barbershop setting, but I will say it gets very distracting between the noise and having kids get up halfway through a discussion to get a haircut. Otherwise the barber himself is great because he usually chimes in every now and then.
We start out with a 30minute discussion about an aspect of the music industry. For example this past week we covered: Samples. Samples, are the usage of older songs in the beat. We played some music from some of their favorite producers such as Kanye West who have used samples; they are shocked to know that the beats generally come from older songs...
Later on we break down into groups based on the department of the label they are in. Since the consistency of some of the kids attendance is shaky between sports and work we have trouble incorporating the non-regulars week to week. Usually we have 3-4 departments that stay focused and are pumping out work. However, those are the groups that are 2 people. The other groups who have 5-6 kids in it sometimes lose focus because we can't oversee each group.
I know that the kids learn a lot from week to week, which is great. But it is tough to keep the newcomers in the loop and productive.
Going to Crenshaw has been an incredible experience. We have been going there for a couple weeks now and we are starting to develop really good relationships with some of the kids. I've noticed that all the students are getting more and more comfortable with each other. We have noticed that we usually can't get started until 10-15 minutes in, because the students are walking in late and by the time they are settled in we've wasted valuable time considering there is another group we are sharing time with.
I am a big fan of the barbershop setting, but I will say it gets very distracting between the noise and having kids get up halfway through a discussion to get a haircut. Otherwise the barber himself is great because he usually chimes in every now and then.
We start out with a 30minute discussion about an aspect of the music industry. For example this past week we covered: Samples. Samples, are the usage of older songs in the beat. We played some music from some of their favorite producers such as Kanye West who have used samples; they are shocked to know that the beats generally come from older songs...
Later on we break down into groups based on the department of the label they are in. Since the consistency of some of the kids attendance is shaky between sports and work we have trouble incorporating the non-regulars week to week. Usually we have 3-4 departments that stay focused and are pumping out work. However, those are the groups that are 2 people. The other groups who have 5-6 kids in it sometimes lose focus because we can't oversee each group.
I know that the kids learn a lot from week to week, which is great. But it is tough to keep the newcomers in the loop and productive.
Blog Entry 4 continued....
In terms of working with the kids, my experience has been tremendous. The kids are always willing to give their opions on songs we play them, artists we discuss and the curriculum of the project. The ages of the kids ranges from 13 to 18, yet they all seem to get along really well. The freshmen are just as confident to voice their thoughts as the seniors. When we brake into groups, the kids work well together, they are usually willing collaborators. Denis and Daveon are prime examples of how the kids worked together, within 20 minutes of introducing them to a beat making program, they produced the song that is the centerpiece of our project.
I think our group has developed a bit of a big brother relationship to the kids. We have fun with them and we like to think they have fun with us. We learn from them, as much as they learn from us. Some of their ideas for the song, album cover and label cover are more creative than professionals in the music industry.
Also, working with Rick has gone really well. Rick has been very supportive and even participated in some the lyric writing and performing Parts of the project. I think he is just as excited as the kids to see and hear the final song and documentary.
I think our group has developed a bit of a big brother relationship to the kids. We have fun with them and we like to think they have fun with us. We learn from them, as much as they learn from us. Some of their ideas for the song, album cover and label cover are more creative than professionals in the music industry.
Also, working with Rick has gone really well. Rick has been very supportive and even participated in some the lyric writing and performing Parts of the project. I think he is just as excited as the kids to see and hear the final song and documentary.
Blog Entry 4 (catching up)
Fortunately for me, my group comprises some of my best friends front he beginning of college. We work well together and have not had any problems. One of our group members has a heavy class load and cannot make certain visits, but he contributes in many other ways. I haven't felt over worked or taken advantage of.
My group shares a great deal in common. We are all very passionate about the Ptones program and it's application to Crenshaw High. We are all excited to make the song and hear the end result. We are also all interested in film making, so the documentary will be a fun project for us to work on.
As for differences, I would say we only differ on how firm we are with the kids. I'm generally more lenient with the kids in terms of socializing, where as other members of my group will be more firm and teacher-esq. I don't anticipate any problems to arise from our group and I look forward to the rest of the semester.
My group shares a great deal in common. We are all very passionate about the Ptones program and it's application to Crenshaw High. We are all excited to make the song and hear the end result. We are also all interested in film making, so the documentary will be a fun project for us to work on.
As for differences, I would say we only differ on how firm we are with the kids. I'm generally more lenient with the kids in terms of socializing, where as other members of my group will be more firm and teacher-esq. I don't anticipate any problems to arise from our group and I look forward to the rest of the semester.
Blog Entry 3
What are the particular issues, tasks or problems you have encountered or anticipate during your site visits?
My visits to Crenshaw have been productive. The kids seem to be very engaged and eager to learn more about the music industry and how music and the arts in general can instill important values in life. With that said, it takes 7-10 minutes to get the kids organized and settled for discussion. With the limited time we have, every minute is valuable. Also the barber is giving haircuts while our group meets, which can be a bit of a distraction for the kids as well.
Usually the night before our site visit our group will discuss what tasks we want to accomplish. Our curriculum is very similar to the PTones curriculum, except we looked to emphasize how the arts acts as a positive influence on life. The first two visits we introduced the 5 departments of a music label, what each department does, and then asked the kid which department interested them most and why. After that we broke into groups depending on which department the kids selected.
Usually when we brake into groups, the kids tend to lose focus and start socializing. It takes a lot of effort from my group to stay onto of the kids and make sure they are being productive. This is not to say the kids don't work hard, it's just tough to watch 16 teenagers with 3 adults. However, by the visits end, the kids have usually made great strides and learned a lot.
I look forward to more enjoyable and productive visits
Max E.
My visits to Crenshaw have been productive. The kids seem to be very engaged and eager to learn more about the music industry and how music and the arts in general can instill important values in life. With that said, it takes 7-10 minutes to get the kids organized and settled for discussion. With the limited time we have, every minute is valuable. Also the barber is giving haircuts while our group meets, which can be a bit of a distraction for the kids as well.
Usually the night before our site visit our group will discuss what tasks we want to accomplish. Our curriculum is very similar to the PTones curriculum, except we looked to emphasize how the arts acts as a positive influence on life. The first two visits we introduced the 5 departments of a music label, what each department does, and then asked the kid which department interested them most and why. After that we broke into groups depending on which department the kids selected.
Usually when we brake into groups, the kids tend to lose focus and start socializing. It takes a lot of effort from my group to stay onto of the kids and make sure they are being productive. This is not to say the kids don't work hard, it's just tough to watch 16 teenagers with 3 adults. However, by the visits end, the kids have usually made great strides and learned a lot.
I look forward to more enjoyable and productive visits
Max E.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Connecting to the Members of West Adams
Mario is an amazing partner to work with. He gave us a lot of freedom in the classroom, and it helped to create discussion with his students. He was also really helpful in providing flip cameras so multiple students could record from outside the classroom – unfortunately the footage they provided didn’t end up following our thesis. We are hoping Mario can come to the IML and give his ideas during our editing, but so far our schedules haven’t corresponded. It was great to have an overall explanation of the background of the school and his opinion about being a teacher at West Adams since it was founded. He really cares about his students and has found great ways of getting through to them in class.
Toward the end of our visits to West Adams many of the students were still hesitant to participate. I’m really proud of the footage we got overall, but only a handful of students were really enthusiastic about interviewing. However, considering our first couple meetings seemed like no one wanted to participate, we ended up being successful.
There was a different vibe each week when we walked into the classroom. At first, it was kind of uncomfortable and fostering conversation was difficult. Into the third or fourth week, we didn’t turn as many heads when we walked in the door. After breaking up into groups, it was easier and easier to talk to them and I didn’t feel awkward when there was silence. I just took it to mean that they needed encouragement or that my question needed to be rephrased.
At this point, I know we didn’t make a huge impression on every kid in the class, but I get a little nostalgic when we watch the interviews. During our editing sessions, we keep saying how we miss someone or how someone was so funny or so smart. Watching the documentary sequence come together is really exciting to watch because I feel like I actually made an impression and helped them to show a school that they’re proud of.
Blog 6 -- "Dreams From Your (Fore)Father(s)"
To future Writing In The Community Ambassadors to the Francisco House:
There are so very many things you should know. Here are just a few.
- Decide on Day One (1) on a communication schedule. That is, decide IMMEDIATELY that you will have a group check-in email on Thursday by 5, or something to that effect. The point here is to ensure that all members are active, aware of what's going on, and following up on their responsibilities.
- Within the first two (2) weeks, nail down your intended specific topic (e.g. we chose the job search). This doesn't have to be the ultimately used topic, just the one your questions and shot choices will focus on, unless later decided otherwise. FURTHERMORE: if different people within the group want to pursue different topics -- that's nice, but it will eventually hamstring you all. Go with a majority vote, you'll all be happier in the end. But sure, go ahead, guy who knows better, and can totally do it all himself. Try it. Have a blast shooting the 20 ratio to the 1 used, all by yourself. I know, I know, you're smarter than your predecessors. Good for you. I look forward to your nervous breakdown.
- BEFORE your initial site meeting, decide AS A GROUP what equipment will be used (just flip phones, or nicer equipment as well?). YOU WILL ONLY USE THIS EQUIPMENT FROM THEN ON. ALSO before the initial site meeting, have a two hour seminar in which everyone in the group learns how to use every piece of equipment. RESULTS OF THESE GUIDELINES: you will have a uniform set of file formats and of "looks". All footage and sound will marry well.
- DON'T move the camera constantly; zoom in and out; try and find the coolest looking angle, etc. SET the shot (nicely framed but basic as possible) and then DO NOT MOVE THE CAMERA unless your subject literally leaves frame and doesn't seem like they're gonna head back in. If they lean forward, if they sit up straighter or slouch, if they gestate wildly -- nobody cares. A jerky moving frame is a million times more irritating to an audience than an animated subject.
- DO NOT come to the group meetings. They aren't for you and, much as your mommy says you're a unique snowflake, your presence there is limiting, not engaging. Instead, show up at the tail end of the meeting, ask for an introduction from Sister Mary or Joseph Paul. DO NOT make sweeping mission statements, or discuss how worldly you are, or how you like, get their struggle, man. You don't need to explain yourself beyond the fact that you are making a documentary for a USC class. They know why you're there. Big talk just makes you come off like an asshole.
- DO NOT assume that "just letting people talk" will result in viable footage. INSTEAD: compile at least twenty (20) questions that are at least tangentially related to your chosen subject (remember? The one I told you to choose earlier?), or to something specific to the subject (if they tell you they write poems, ask them about the poems, etc). If you ask someone to just "talk about whatever" they WILL freeze up and have no idea what to do.
- ON THE OTHER HAND, if you start with a question, they have an objective in mind: answer it. DO NOT stop them from talking, EVER. Here's the thing: they'll answer your question, and then they'll keep talking. You'll be surprised how long someone will talk with only the occasional understanding nod as a response. DO NOT interrupt them. When they are done talking, you'll know it, because they'll stop. THEN, ask them a question designed to tease out the most interesting aspects of what they just said -- if the poetry guy says he writes them for his mother, ask him to talk about his mother, etc. IF NOTHING needs to be follow up on, ask the second question of your 20.
- TECH ADVICE: always have someone running tech THAT IS NOT THE PERSON INTERVIEWING. The interviewer should always being engaging with the subject, not looking at a camera screen -- that's tech's job. FURTHERMORE: here is a basic documentary trick. Tech sets up while the interviewer just chats with the subject, casually. Tech, once set up, doesn't say a word -- just gives interviewer a significant look. AND THEN TECH BEGINS RECORDING. DO NOT TELL THIS TO THE SUBJECT. The interviewer then casually and carefully starts asking their questions, and patiently listening to the response, no matter how long winded. They'll be 45 minutes into it before the subject realizes they're being interviewed -- most will be okay with it, just surprised. THE POINT: same as above, if you ANNOUNCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INTERVIEW *TRUMPETS HERALD* people will freeze up. If it's just a preliminary conversation, they're just fine. The less the subject feels pressured, the better your material will be.
- GET B-ROLL EARLY AND OFTEN. Your interviews are great. Really. But what you need EVEN MORE is B-Roll -- the guys talking, cooking, working, sitting, smoking, driving, etc. Whatever you can get, get it. All the words in the world aren't 1/100th as powerful as one simple visual metaphor. There is a reason a documentary is not a news article. It's cause da pictures. Use. Them.
- FINALLY : get ahold of a computer with editing software and the processing power to use it, and also an external hard drive. NO, I DO NOT mean the ones provided by IML -- their hours are bullshit, nobody edits during actual business hours except squares. You're not a square, are you? Of course not. THE BENEFITS: you can edit any time you need to, all project files and media will remain where they are, ordered, rendered, etc. Essentially, your life will be a million times easier. If this computer is somehow portable, so much the better. Addendum: ORGANIZE YOUR FOOTAGE AT THE END OF EVERY SHOOT DATE, NO I DON'T CARE HOW TIRED YOU ARE. You'll be a lot more tired once you're searching for that one shot you KNOW you got on the first day, but somehow lost. (but it's totally NOT lost because you followed my advice so it MUST be on THIS computer somewhere. Clever girl.)
Follow these rules and your life will also rule. Don't follow them, and I couldn't care less, because that's on you, bro. P.S If you can get Ken Burns to lend a hand, that will also be helpful.
There are so very many things you should know. Here are just a few.
- Decide on Day One (1) on a communication schedule. That is, decide IMMEDIATELY that you will have a group check-in email on Thursday by 5, or something to that effect. The point here is to ensure that all members are active, aware of what's going on, and following up on their responsibilities.
- Within the first two (2) weeks, nail down your intended specific topic (e.g. we chose the job search). This doesn't have to be the ultimately used topic, just the one your questions and shot choices will focus on, unless later decided otherwise. FURTHERMORE: if different people within the group want to pursue different topics -- that's nice, but it will eventually hamstring you all. Go with a majority vote, you'll all be happier in the end. But sure, go ahead, guy who knows better, and can totally do it all himself. Try it. Have a blast shooting the 20 ratio to the 1 used, all by yourself. I know, I know, you're smarter than your predecessors. Good for you. I look forward to your nervous breakdown.
- BEFORE your initial site meeting, decide AS A GROUP what equipment will be used (just flip phones, or nicer equipment as well?). YOU WILL ONLY USE THIS EQUIPMENT FROM THEN ON. ALSO before the initial site meeting, have a two hour seminar in which everyone in the group learns how to use every piece of equipment. RESULTS OF THESE GUIDELINES: you will have a uniform set of file formats and of "looks". All footage and sound will marry well.
- DON'T move the camera constantly; zoom in and out; try and find the coolest looking angle, etc. SET the shot (nicely framed but basic as possible) and then DO NOT MOVE THE CAMERA unless your subject literally leaves frame and doesn't seem like they're gonna head back in. If they lean forward, if they sit up straighter or slouch, if they gestate wildly -- nobody cares. A jerky moving frame is a million times more irritating to an audience than an animated subject.
- DO NOT come to the group meetings. They aren't for you and, much as your mommy says you're a unique snowflake, your presence there is limiting, not engaging. Instead, show up at the tail end of the meeting, ask for an introduction from Sister Mary or Joseph Paul. DO NOT make sweeping mission statements, or discuss how worldly you are, or how you like, get their struggle, man. You don't need to explain yourself beyond the fact that you are making a documentary for a USC class. They know why you're there. Big talk just makes you come off like an asshole.
- DO NOT assume that "just letting people talk" will result in viable footage. INSTEAD: compile at least twenty (20) questions that are at least tangentially related to your chosen subject (remember? The one I told you to choose earlier?), or to something specific to the subject (if they tell you they write poems, ask them about the poems, etc). If you ask someone to just "talk about whatever" they WILL freeze up and have no idea what to do.
- ON THE OTHER HAND, if you start with a question, they have an objective in mind: answer it. DO NOT stop them from talking, EVER. Here's the thing: they'll answer your question, and then they'll keep talking. You'll be surprised how long someone will talk with only the occasional understanding nod as a response. DO NOT interrupt them. When they are done talking, you'll know it, because they'll stop. THEN, ask them a question designed to tease out the most interesting aspects of what they just said -- if the poetry guy says he writes them for his mother, ask him to talk about his mother, etc. IF NOTHING needs to be follow up on, ask the second question of your 20.
- TECH ADVICE: always have someone running tech THAT IS NOT THE PERSON INTERVIEWING. The interviewer should always being engaging with the subject, not looking at a camera screen -- that's tech's job. FURTHERMORE: here is a basic documentary trick. Tech sets up while the interviewer just chats with the subject, casually. Tech, once set up, doesn't say a word -- just gives interviewer a significant look. AND THEN TECH BEGINS RECORDING. DO NOT TELL THIS TO THE SUBJECT. The interviewer then casually and carefully starts asking their questions, and patiently listening to the response, no matter how long winded. They'll be 45 minutes into it before the subject realizes they're being interviewed -- most will be okay with it, just surprised. THE POINT: same as above, if you ANNOUNCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INTERVIEW *TRUMPETS HERALD* people will freeze up. If it's just a preliminary conversation, they're just fine. The less the subject feels pressured, the better your material will be.
- GET B-ROLL EARLY AND OFTEN. Your interviews are great. Really. But what you need EVEN MORE is B-Roll -- the guys talking, cooking, working, sitting, smoking, driving, etc. Whatever you can get, get it. All the words in the world aren't 1/100th as powerful as one simple visual metaphor. There is a reason a documentary is not a news article. It's cause da pictures. Use. Them.
- FINALLY : get ahold of a computer with editing software and the processing power to use it, and also an external hard drive. NO, I DO NOT mean the ones provided by IML -- their hours are bullshit, nobody edits during actual business hours except squares. You're not a square, are you? Of course not. THE BENEFITS: you can edit any time you need to, all project files and media will remain where they are, ordered, rendered, etc. Essentially, your life will be a million times easier. If this computer is somehow portable, so much the better. Addendum: ORGANIZE YOUR FOOTAGE AT THE END OF EVERY SHOOT DATE, NO I DON'T CARE HOW TIRED YOU ARE. You'll be a lot more tired once you're searching for that one shot you KNOW you got on the first day, but somehow lost. (but it's totally NOT lost because you followed my advice so it MUST be on THIS computer somewhere. Clever girl.)
Follow these rules and your life will also rule. Don't follow them, and I couldn't care less, because that's on you, bro. P.S If you can get Ken Burns to lend a hand, that will also be helpful.
West Adams (catching up on posts)
Our final meeting was by far the best (yes Abel, I'm totally stealing from your post). By that time we all knew the kids and they felt comfortable with us. The first class they were afraid to speak and those who did raised their hand and were formal. By our last 2 class visits it was much more informal and relaxed. This is why I wish we had spent more time getting to know the kids instead of rushing into the making of the video. I think the donut day helped make them more relaxed, although Stephanie had to take the first donut otherwise I don't think anyone would had grabbed one. But that totally helped make the whole atmosphere of the room calm. That is the most important aspect that I think I would pass along. Is making sure everyone is comfortable with you. After all you (meaning us) are the newcomers and they don't know how to act around us or how to feel about us being there. We needed to establish this trust earlier on and I think we could have made a stronger connection with them and had a better understanding of what the final project would be about.
West Adams (catching up on posts)
So, now that I have talked about the debate. I am kinda stuck on just catching up on my post's. The first few meets with west adams were uncomfortable. We didn't know what we were doing and some of our group was panicked about getting started on our video, afraid that if we didn't we would not have any footage for the final project. Personally, if I were to do this again I would spend the first 2 or 3 meetings getting to know the group so them and us would be 100 sure of what the final project would be about. There was a whole lot of confusion with both us and the kids. And starting to film immediatly, and passing out the flip cams made it more so. I would have liked for us to get to know the kids, become comfortable with them and then the idea for the final project would have felt more natural. It all just felt pushed because we were afraid we wouldnt get footage. Instead we should have gotten to know them so we didnt waste time breaking them into groups that then we wouldnt even bother using in our video.
West Adams
wow, I am very behind on my postings. Well, my posting will not be as complete and well composed as my other team mates from West Adams. Abel put together a very nice list of things that worked and did not work for us. He had some great points in there too that I do not need to repeat. I would like to add that we introduced the concept of debate. First within the smaller divided groups and then to the class as a whole. How it worked initially was I broke the group in half and based on what the topic was I told one group they HAD to be for and the other was against, regardless of their personal beliefs. So, example... 5 kids had to argue that the depiction of the female body in hip-hop music videos was positive and good for young girls, the other 5 kids had to argue that it was negative. I would tell them to look at one another not me, I had nothing to do with the debate, although I would intervene if I felt someone who was shy was trying to speak but no one was listening, or someone had a good point. They all tend to talk over one another in the end, so let it happen. After the debate would reach a satisfying closing point, I would swap the question to something that maybe had come up from within the debate or something new entirely. So now the 5 who had been on the negative side had to be for the positive and vice a versa. Another debate that we had was is music art? Split the group in half and half of the kids have to argue yes and the others no, regardless of how they truly feel. They came up with some very interesting arguments,
Blog 5
How are the students, clients, and/or staff responding to your efforts? Do you think that your presence is anticipated or appreciated? What is your emotional response to others’ reaction towards you?
I think that the men of the home seem to be responding positively to us. They know we are not there to change anything and that really we have nothing to offer other than kind words and some human interaction, but they seem to appreciate that. Every time we walk into the house for a group meeting the men hurry over to come greet us and talk to us. We have each established very different relationships with the men, but for the most part it seems that they all truly like having us there. Never do I feel like I am getting in the way of the on goings of the house or do I feel that perhaps I should just keep to myself. It seems like everyone in the house has mad sincere efforts to make our group and myself feel welcome and wanted. Every time I leave the house I feel like I have just established a deeper bond with new friends and it is a feeling that rarely comes about otherwise.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Blog 5 -- This Isn't About You
The Francisco House residents generally -- due to learned necessity -- play their emotions close to the chest. Therefore reaction to our documentary crew has been, above all else, muted.
That's not to say that we don't have any idea of how they feel about us. Most of the gentlemen seem pretty apathetic about the whole thing -- a mild irritation mixed with an unassailable ability to shut out unpleasant things. As problems go, eager college students rate much lower on the scale than unionized prison guards. For the most part, we are tolerated, with some minor crests into open and friendly relations. Ralph, for example, is uniformly warm; JC couldn't be unfriendly if his life depended on it.
But these are men well used to disappointment and predatory social settings, so most of our interaction is either quiet, distanced acknowledgement, or a more genial experience that nevertheless lets you past that initial mask. Which of course makes it just like every other human interaction in the world.
What I mean is that our presence is neither appreciated or resented, it just is. The guys certainly understand what we're trying to do. Some of them even hope it might somehow affect their situation -- like Ralph, who obviously hopes to hone his public speaking skills in the documentary interviews, and eventually begin trying to brand himself as a writer and niche motivational speaker. These are good guys, but they've been burned far too many times to get truly excited about the mere promise of anything.
As for our emotional response to their attitude -- fairly realistic, is I guess the way I'd put it. Most of our group is excited to engage with those fellows who will talk. I also know that Cathy has found a spiritual connection with a couple of the guys in the house, something truly moving. On the other hand, none of us are in any rush to try and get the more reticent members to open up. We take what they'll give, but we've had no time and no opportunity to prove ourselves worth more than that which they're willing to share. In the end, I think that'll be enough, at least for our purposes, and for theirs. Nobody ever got disappointed by expecting the worst.
That's not to say that we don't have any idea of how they feel about us. Most of the gentlemen seem pretty apathetic about the whole thing -- a mild irritation mixed with an unassailable ability to shut out unpleasant things. As problems go, eager college students rate much lower on the scale than unionized prison guards. For the most part, we are tolerated, with some minor crests into open and friendly relations. Ralph, for example, is uniformly warm; JC couldn't be unfriendly if his life depended on it.
But these are men well used to disappointment and predatory social settings, so most of our interaction is either quiet, distanced acknowledgement, or a more genial experience that nevertheless lets you past that initial mask. Which of course makes it just like every other human interaction in the world.
What I mean is that our presence is neither appreciated or resented, it just is. The guys certainly understand what we're trying to do. Some of them even hope it might somehow affect their situation -- like Ralph, who obviously hopes to hone his public speaking skills in the documentary interviews, and eventually begin trying to brand himself as a writer and niche motivational speaker. These are good guys, but they've been burned far too many times to get truly excited about the mere promise of anything.
As for our emotional response to their attitude -- fairly realistic, is I guess the way I'd put it. Most of our group is excited to engage with those fellows who will talk. I also know that Cathy has found a spiritual connection with a couple of the guys in the house, something truly moving. On the other hand, none of us are in any rush to try and get the more reticent members to open up. We take what they'll give, but we've had no time and no opportunity to prove ourselves worth more than that which they're willing to share. In the end, I think that'll be enough, at least for our purposes, and for theirs. Nobody ever got disappointed by expecting the worst.
Friday, April 22, 2011
My final writing assignment...
I decided to write a letter to the United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan explaining my concerns with the current inequities of the United States educational system. I used the first half of the essay to contextualize why I was passionate about the subject and what initially got me interested in the matter. I felt that his would make my letter more enjoyable as a personal experience, as well as establish trust from Mr. Duncan so that he did not simply assume that I was writing a vitriolic attack on the current system.
As I continued writing, I began sharing with him many of the horrifying statistics I had found within my research. I did not tell him that the research was for an English assignment at college (although I did briefly mention at the end that I graduate from USC in less than one month and will have time to help in the near future, as I felt this may legitimize my stance and knowledge a tad more?), as I did not want him to think that I was pursuing this research out of necessity for passing a class rather than my own passion. It would actually be a lie to say I did this research and letter solely out of the class' requirements, as I had done similar studies and written senator Barbara Boxer prior to this course on my own time and passion, and had planned on doing more exhaustive research later and writing another letter to the education board.
I emailed him a copy as well as wrote a letter to his office. I have already received a response through email claiming that it will be redirected to the "proper client," which is discouraging, for sure. Still, Mrs. Boxer herself wrote me back last time, so perhaps there is still hope. Maybe the "proper client" will appreciate my sentiments and pass it on to Mr. Duncan, we will just have to wait and see.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Our West Adams Team
At West Adams, we have a very diverse group of personalities. Some of us are more outgoing than others, but everyone makes a great contribution to the team. As time goes on, we have learned to be honest with each other in order to be productive. James has been very valuable in filming interviews and does a great job of getting the students to become comfortable in answering questions. Kady is great at creating discussions in the classroom. It’s been fun having discussions with the students and being able to talk about serious topics like stereotypes, teen pregnancy, and women’s rights. Abel, Lonnie and I have become connected to specific students in the class, and have found that it’s helpful in inspiring conversation in the class discussion and in getting the students to volunteer for interviews.
As we’ve spent more time together, we’ve been able to be more honest about the direction that we think the documentary should go. Now that we have all of our footage and have begun editing, we’ve disagreed in many situations but still find that we can come to agreement when we need to. We’ve been doing our best to be in the IML but our contradicting schedules have made it difficult. We’ve agreed to have at least two people editing at a time, so we can make sure to have the opinions and ideas of the team represented. We all have a common goal – we what to honestly represent the students and create something that they can be proud of and relate to.
Tips for the Next West Adams Group
Working with West Adams can be challenging, especially because it is hard to get the students interested in the project. In order to get the most out of them, here are some suggestions and tips.
1. Don't start to film on the first site visit because this seems to make the students uncomfortable.
2. Make sure that you know exactly how to explain the project. Dont make it seem like it is a project to study them or their community, but that it's a collaboration.
3. Always have a plan for the day. Creating a lesson plan will help. One of our plans was to show the students several documentaries, to divide them into groups based on their interest, and to get them to work on a project. We had each group write down lyrics for a song, and some of them performed the song at the end. This was effective because it was fun, organized, and we managed to get a lot from the students.
4. If you give out flip cameras, make sure that you give them a specific task. We did not give them specific guidelines so a lot of the footage was not helpful to us.
5. Try to get everyone to participate. Some students are quieter than others, but they all have wonderful insight.
6. Bring donuts!!... the students work better and talk more when you bring food.
7. Make sure that everyone is there on the first site visit and that everyone is enthusiastic about the project. This makes a difference and the more time you spend talking to the students, the more they will open up and be enthusiastic themselves.
8. Share personal experiences too. I worked with the students that were interested in talking about college, and I often gave them tips and told them about my experiences and what I do.
1. Don't start to film on the first site visit because this seems to make the students uncomfortable.
2. Make sure that you know exactly how to explain the project. Dont make it seem like it is a project to study them or their community, but that it's a collaboration.
3. Always have a plan for the day. Creating a lesson plan will help. One of our plans was to show the students several documentaries, to divide them into groups based on their interest, and to get them to work on a project. We had each group write down lyrics for a song, and some of them performed the song at the end. This was effective because it was fun, organized, and we managed to get a lot from the students.
4. If you give out flip cameras, make sure that you give them a specific task. We did not give them specific guidelines so a lot of the footage was not helpful to us.
5. Try to get everyone to participate. Some students are quieter than others, but they all have wonderful insight.
6. Bring donuts!!... the students work better and talk more when you bring food.
7. Make sure that everyone is there on the first site visit and that everyone is enthusiastic about the project. This makes a difference and the more time you spend talking to the students, the more they will open up and be enthusiastic themselves.
8. Share personal experiences too. I worked with the students that were interested in talking about college, and I often gave them tips and told them about my experiences and what I do.
Blog 4
The community collaboration has been such a good learning experience for me, both in terms of my experience working with my team and my many visits to the site. My group is very diverse. Each of us are majoring in something different, and all have different areas of expertise. Some of us are much more familiar with editing and film production, and some, like myself, are less experienced with this. At first I thought it was going to be very challenging to make a film, but now I feel more confident since I have learned many tricks and skills from my team members. Additionally, I've learned how important communication is for a team. Sometimes we were not in the same page, but when we found an effective way to plan, organize our ideas, and communicate, we were much more efficient.
In terms of the community partner, I think the kids at West Adams really started to open up during our last sessions. They shared so much with me and my team that it only added to our understanding of teh community around USC. During one of the site visits, we started to talk to the kids about the recent e-mail from Kappa Sigma. We read the e-mail to them out loud, and asked for their ideas and their response. When we did this, many of them opened up and expressed how they felt about society and its values. We started a whole discussion of how hip hop videos portray women in certain ways that makes them look like simple object. I found that in a lot of ways I shared the same ideas and feelings as they did. We were not different in the ways that we thought or felt. After talking to them about a variety of topics, including college, I found that these kids are no different from any other high schoolers. They all have aspirations, most want to go to college, and they constantly talk about improving their community. In fact, we all finally decided that we wanted our documentary to send a very specific message-- Although the media often portrays the neighborhood as dangerous and violent environment where no one goes to college or has aspirations, the kids are no different from any other student in suburban communities. These kids face the same challenges and conflicts as students at more affluent neighborhoods, including uniforms, segregation, and lack of administrative support.
After working on this project I think I am a more effective team member, and I feel like I learned very important things from the kids at my site. These kids and I are not different at all.
In terms of the community partner, I think the kids at West Adams really started to open up during our last sessions. They shared so much with me and my team that it only added to our understanding of teh community around USC. During one of the site visits, we started to talk to the kids about the recent e-mail from Kappa Sigma. We read the e-mail to them out loud, and asked for their ideas and their response. When we did this, many of them opened up and expressed how they felt about society and its values. We started a whole discussion of how hip hop videos portray women in certain ways that makes them look like simple object. I found that in a lot of ways I shared the same ideas and feelings as they did. We were not different in the ways that we thought or felt. After talking to them about a variety of topics, including college, I found that these kids are no different from any other high schoolers. They all have aspirations, most want to go to college, and they constantly talk about improving their community. In fact, we all finally decided that we wanted our documentary to send a very specific message-- Although the media often portrays the neighborhood as dangerous and violent environment where no one goes to college or has aspirations, the kids are no different from any other student in suburban communities. These kids face the same challenges and conflicts as students at more affluent neighborhoods, including uniforms, segregation, and lack of administrative support.
After working on this project I think I am a more effective team member, and I feel like I learned very important things from the kids at my site. These kids and I are not different at all.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Blog 3: Interview with Joseph Paul
For the last visit of the Francisco House, I walked in while one of the guys was speaking about the police's involvement with these men. It was general consensus that the cops' main concern in this entire process is simply job security. Kenya revealed that a cop came up to him to offer a gun for use and another man brought up the drive-by incident that occurred last year, where one of the gang members involved was actually placed by the police. That gave me a lot to think about.
In the interview with Joseph Paul, I asked what he thought were the main employment obstacles that these men face and he categorized them from three perspectives: employers (in this case, it would be people like him who seek to help these men find employment), society, and the ex-offenders. From the ex-offenders' vantage point, they must be able to identify their own strengths and values, and not give in to society's automatic judgment and labeling of them as offenders. From the society's perspective, their prejudice against these group of people ostracizes them, therefore forming this class of perceived to be lowly and unwanted people. It's the gap between the have's and the have-not's, where the have's possess an overwhelming influence on the have-not's lives and futures, dictating where they deserve to go, and that's not a bright place. Lastly from the employer's standpoint or the New Start Employment Program that Joseph Paul is involved in, the struggle in helping these ex-lifers' with employment is being able to identify the barriers. Joseph claimed that once these three paths converge, it will be the day that the men such as the ones who live at Francisco House will experience a smoother and more successful reentry. However, noone really knows when that will happen, if it ever will.
It is programs such as New Start, people like Joseph Paul and USC classes such as WRIT340 that can act as somewhat of a buffer between the incarcerated and society. This really frustrates me because there is no end solution to this problem that we have. The root of the problem is not employment difficulties or misconception of the incarcerated or ignorance by society. This is an issue of human nature. I truly believe that as the imperfect people that we are, the fact that we don't have the capacity to know someone else, their intentions and thoughts, but we still judge as if we are perfect, there is only so much that we can do. Our efforts and resiliency to conquer this problem are limited in influence and scope. All we can do is to improve the situation by reaching out to educate the public on the complexity of reentry for ex-prisoners, and in the process keep our head up and encourage these wonderful and genuine men to not give up because even though they committed crimes in the past and lives were lost that cannot be restored, there are supporters for these so-called criminals as long as they are treading the path towards redemption and being truly transformed to become contributors to society.
For the last visit of the Francisco House, I walked in while one of the guys was speaking about the police's involvement with these men. It was general consensus that the cops' main concern in this entire process is simply job security. Kenya revealed that a cop came up to him to offer a gun for use and another man brought up the drive-by incident that occurred last year, where one of the gang members involved was actually placed by the police. That gave me a lot to think about.
In the interview with Joseph Paul, I asked what he thought were the main employment obstacles that these men face and he categorized them from three perspectives: employers (in this case, it would be people like him who seek to help these men find employment), society, and the ex-offenders. From the ex-offenders' vantage point, they must be able to identify their own strengths and values, and not give in to society's automatic judgment and labeling of them as offenders. From the society's perspective, their prejudice against these group of people ostracizes them, therefore forming this class of perceived to be lowly and unwanted people. It's the gap between the have's and the have-not's, where the have's possess an overwhelming influence on the have-not's lives and futures, dictating where they deserve to go, and that's not a bright place. Lastly from the employer's standpoint or the New Start Employment Program that Joseph Paul is involved in, the struggle in helping these ex-lifers' with employment is being able to identify the barriers. Joseph claimed that once these three paths converge, it will be the day that the men such as the ones who live at Francisco House will experience a smoother and more successful reentry. However, noone really knows when that will happen, if it ever will.
It is programs such as New Start, people like Joseph Paul and USC classes such as WRIT340 that can act as somewhat of a buffer between the incarcerated and society. This really frustrates me because there is no end solution to this problem that we have. The root of the problem is not employment difficulties or misconception of the incarcerated or ignorance by society. This is an issue of human nature. I truly believe that as the imperfect people that we are, the fact that we don't have the capacity to know someone else, their intentions and thoughts, but we still judge as if we are perfect, there is only so much that we can do. Our efforts and resiliency to conquer this problem are limited in influence and scope. All we can do is to improve the situation by reaching out to educate the public on the complexity of reentry for ex-prisoners, and in the process keep our head up and encourage these wonderful and genuine men to not give up because even though they committed crimes in the past and lives were lost that cannot be restored, there are supporters for these so-called criminals as long as they are treading the path towards redemption and being truly transformed to become contributors to society.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Blog 4: Curse Those Deemed To Be Upper Management
You can't see it, but just above this sentence is the first paragraph that I initially wrote for this particular topic – sparing the details, it had to do with the decidedly Disney-esque images that this prompt initially brought to mind. You know what I'm talking about – the first encounters at the Francisco Half-Way House are gruff, tight-lipped encounters; but then, over the course of one wild semester, their gritty exteriors melt away and we students learn to live, love, and appreciate the little things in a way we never had before! Oh look, there's that paragraph again.
But as to what I've actually learned there? Really and truly and honestly? I'm afraid that it falls short – by about an eight-lane-highway margin – from the picturesque, sweeping ideals that so plague the modern feel-good flick. Sure, the gentlemen have a great deal to say on a great many subjects. But when it comes to big pictures topics – like the demonstrably awful nature of society, and of prison, and of just the system in general – well, interesting though the anecdotes may be, Michel Foucault already sparked that particular nervous breakdown, thanks very much.
Here's what I have learned: a whole helluva lot about the gentlemen themselves. I know that Ralph has several degrees, all of which he was humbled by and grateful for – particularly Optometry, which he'd hoped to practice upon his release. The onset of arthritis quashed that particular dream, and the rest of the degrees are worth the unmarked side of the paper they're printed on, without a state ID. I have yet to see JC, another resident, without a grand-canyon-huge, log-cabin-warm smile plastered across the whole lower two-thirds of his face. The reasons behind the grin are both myriad and mysterious – but always firmly grounded. Suffice it to say that JC, given this second chance, is determined to enjoy each day in its entirety, come what ills may. There's quirks and tics and stories aplenty in the Francisco House, but you'll have to wait for the movie to find out the rest. What I'm saying, in this long-winded and rambling fashion, is just this: the Francisco House has taught me nothing new, but instead has brought me in contact with some truly singular gentlemen that I'd otherwise have simply missed.
As to what we have in common: mostly a shared distaste for the antics of government and the organizations it envelopes. There is a marked, shared suspicion of all things that cannot be boiled down to face-to-face friendships. Lockean philosophy in actions. It is this shared sentiment that has, in my opinion, most effectively bridged whatever gaps might otherwise exist between our life experiences. Damn the man, indeed. Damn the man.
But as to what I've actually learned there? Really and truly and honestly? I'm afraid that it falls short – by about an eight-lane-highway margin – from the picturesque, sweeping ideals that so plague the modern feel-good flick. Sure, the gentlemen have a great deal to say on a great many subjects. But when it comes to big pictures topics – like the demonstrably awful nature of society, and of prison, and of just the system in general – well, interesting though the anecdotes may be, Michel Foucault already sparked that particular nervous breakdown, thanks very much.
Here's what I have learned: a whole helluva lot about the gentlemen themselves. I know that Ralph has several degrees, all of which he was humbled by and grateful for – particularly Optometry, which he'd hoped to practice upon his release. The onset of arthritis quashed that particular dream, and the rest of the degrees are worth the unmarked side of the paper they're printed on, without a state ID. I have yet to see JC, another resident, without a grand-canyon-huge, log-cabin-warm smile plastered across the whole lower two-thirds of his face. The reasons behind the grin are both myriad and mysterious – but always firmly grounded. Suffice it to say that JC, given this second chance, is determined to enjoy each day in its entirety, come what ills may. There's quirks and tics and stories aplenty in the Francisco House, but you'll have to wait for the movie to find out the rest. What I'm saying, in this long-winded and rambling fashion, is just this: the Francisco House has taught me nothing new, but instead has brought me in contact with some truly singular gentlemen that I'd otherwise have simply missed.
As to what we have in common: mostly a shared distaste for the antics of government and the organizations it envelopes. There is a marked, shared suspicion of all things that cannot be boiled down to face-to-face friendships. Lockean philosophy in actions. It is this shared sentiment that has, in my opinion, most effectively bridged whatever gaps might otherwise exist between our life experiences. Damn the man, indeed. Damn the man.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Blog 4
After a few weeks of working together, what have you learned about each other? Do you share anything in common? What (beyond the obvious) are the biggest differences?
After a few weeks of working with the men of the Francisco Transitional home I have learned that they are just like us, and that may also be one of the intriguing parts of this whole experience. I did not quite know what to expect from a group of murderers and I thought perhaps that they would fit the obvious stereotype of big tattooed men with shaved heads, but that just is not the case. They look just like any normal citizen and talk just like any normal citizen. Some of the men are extremely well educated and well-spoken which leads me to wonder, are they really that different from every other person that walks the streets of L.A.? Another surprising similarity is that these men are all extremely focused, just like us. They have goals and dreams which they wish to achieve and are working toward. Whether they are in school or working, it seems like they are all in very similar places to us students here at USC in that they, just like us, are trying to find their place in this society and economy. Beyond the obvious differences, I would say that one of the main differences between the men at the Francisco home and any USC student is focus. We students have the opportunity to slack off at times and lose focus, but it seems like these men never lose focus or sight of their goals. These men cannot afford to lose focus and it shows in everything they do because they have passion for everything they do even menial chores.
Final Screening!!
Hey everyone:
So our final screening will be at 6:30, Wednesday, April 27th in SCA 112.
Please invite your community partners to the screening. And be sure that you bring a DVD of your video (test it out on different platforms to make sure that it works). If you absolutely can't make it, please do make sure that other members of your group can attend and will bring your DVD.
So our final screening will be at 6:30, Wednesday, April 27th in SCA 112.
Please invite your community partners to the screening. And be sure that you bring a DVD of your video (test it out on different platforms to make sure that it works). If you absolutely can't make it, please do make sure that other members of your group can attend and will bring your DVD.
Carlos and His Old Neighborhood
On Friday, April 1, Juan, Amber and I went to see Carlos again. This time, instead of going to his house, Carlos jumped in our car and took us to his old neighborhood. He took us to where he lived in downtown before he turned his life around. It was something I had never experienced. The stories he was telling us as we drove around and the incidences that had happened at particular buildings were very scary. I was excited to hear all that he had to say, but also a little scared. When we got out of the car and started to walk around, I noticed that I got a little uncomfortable because I noticed that Carlos was a bit uncomfortable. Since he knew all the people in the neighborhood, it seemed like he didn’t want some people to be aware that he was back in town. That put me a little on edge, but I knew everything would be okay.
As much as Carlos could, he gave us a walking tour of his old neighborhood. He even took us to a church, which was in the middle of the neighborhood, that he referred to as a “safe ground” where no one could ever get him. Carlos was explaining that no matter how many problems you have with people or how much you could dislike someone, no one ever disrespected each other at church. All their problems were set aside while they were at church.
Carlos was really excited to be back in his old neighborhood. When we asked him if he wanted to film anything, he grabbed the camera and was ready. We drove around again and he filmed the neighborhood, willingly telling us anything that came to his mind about the neighborhood and old stories about what had happened there. Interestingly enough, Carlos’s old neighborhood just so happened to be a couple blocks away from where I lived last year. Carlos kept pointing out how from his old neighborhood there was a clear divide between the “bad” part of downtown and the “good” part of downtown and how they are so close to each other. To be honest, you could see a clear difference between the two places, and he kept stressing that just a couple blocks away is where the people of his old neighborhood want to be, but they’re working to get there. Carlos is a strong, optimistic young man and from the looks of it he hopefully has one bright future ahead of him.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
West Adams
last week was a good we. we caught a lot of footage of the students and got interviews with them. When i was reviewing the footage,however, I realized that the footage is actually not as good as I had thought. There was no cohesive topic except for the fact that west adams is an good school for kids who want to achieve.
My group had sports as its topic and my students were engaged in what we were doing. They wanted the flip camera so they could record themselves rap about stereotyping and its effects. I think that they were thinking of doing a skit.
I am liking what my group is doing but the other 2 groups seem like they are doing their own thing about making lyrics. We will see tomorrow about where we will go next.
My group had sports as its topic and my students were engaged in what we were doing. They wanted the flip camera so they could record themselves rap about stereotyping and its effects. I think that they were thinking of doing a skit.
I am liking what my group is doing but the other 2 groups seem like they are doing their own thing about making lyrics. We will see tomorrow about where we will go next.
Blog 3: Update on Francisco house
The last few weeks working at the Francisco halfway house have been extremely fulfilling. I have had the opportunity to conduct a few interviews, and with each interview I gain some new perspective. The one commonality that I have encountered throughout these diverse interviews is the sense of hope and optimism that everyone shares. Every guy in the house truly wants to do better and wants to do great things in life now that they have a second chance at it. Everyone tells me about how each morning they wake up and thank God that they have carpet beneath their feet and don't have a guard outside their door. No one ever has a bad day, and because of that they have made going to the halfway house a pleasure and a highlight of my week. I have not encountered any problems at all while spending time there, I have only gained valuable experience and most importantly, perspective. Probably one of the most intriguing conversations I have had with the guys is their perspectives on Sr.Mary and Julia. Each of the guys essentially believes that both of the women walk on water, and rightfully so. One can easily grasp how thankful everyone is for the work and care that both Sr. Mary and Julia put in on a daily basis. I guess the entire dynamic of this house is just something I have never encountered in my few years on earth (everyone's wisdom reminds me of how little I have experienced).
Monday, April 4, 2011
Devil in the Details
We met with Carlos again this Saturday. It was the first time we really tried to film an interview, and unfortunately, it didn’t go as well as it could have. I suppose we’re actually quite lucky, because the content was not the issue. To my surprise, Carlos seemed very excited to share his story. He even ended up taking us through his old neighborhood, almost blithely pointing out where friends had been pushed off buildings by the cops, where drug deals went down, and where he had been shot at and taken shelter. The only place he felt comfortable getting out of the car was in the parking lot of his old church, where he said, no one would misbehave in the eyes of God.
He said a lot of thoroughly thought-provoking things like that, but they were drowned out by the clamor of an amateur rock group playing at a weekend show at the church. The mundane details are without a doubt the greatest enemy of a good documentary. The issue is that although we heard Carlos describe the thin dividing line between downtown LA and his former home, although we saw his face as he described how little awareness one community had of the other, the power of his statements will be lost if we don’t capture it in all its clarity. That responsibility is one that can be difficult to balance with the simple desire to hear his words and be engrossed.
They say “the Devil is in the Details,” and now I must wholeheartedly agree. Our time spent scheduling, driving, checking out cameras, and generally doing things that seem to have no inherent value is draining. I simply hope that in the end, we can share some of the real substance that we are getting out of this project. I think the biggest motivation right now is to make something that Carlos and the Mothers will be proud of – despite all the discouraging details that are still to come.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Blog 3: In Which Our Heroes Lose Everything
Television, movies, books (comic and prose); contemporary media as a whole is rife with criminals, be they locked up in maximum security (Oz), or running their city like a shadowy modern-day monarch (The Wire). But regardless of the superficial story differences, one character trait seems universal: an Eastwoodian tightness of the lips. It follows logically, therefore, that my biggest concern walking into the Francisco House was that we'd end up without enough material, that the residents would adhere to the typical media portrayal so ingrained in our general consciousness. It could've been a disaster; without interviews, without stories, without anecdotes, without personalities – these elements are the spark plugs and fan belt of a documentary “engine”. You can fiddle with it in the shop all you like, but without the proper parts ain't nothing gonna work.
Fortunately, the media turned out to be, as it so often is, full of it. Almost everyone in the meetings is happy – eager, even – to tell their stories, albeit somewhat sanitized versions with only vague explanations of how they ended up in prison in the first place. Everybody has a point to make, be it a general breakdown of the flaws in the state's prison system, or the necessity of a support system to prevent aimless kids from taking up the ready-made identity of gang member.
On the other hand, plenty of unexpected problems have reared their heads, hydra-like, in place of this early concern. The most troubling of these, and the one likely to be unsolvable, is the sheer ennui of the entire parolee experience. These men lack neither motivation nor marketable skills – a few have even earned impressive certifications in fields as specialized as Optometry). Despite these seemingly valuable qualities, however, most of the men have a staggering amount of trouble finding anything more than a couple hours worth of low-paid, unskilled labor. And – despite the starry-eyed dreams of truly saintly figures like Joseph Paul, who makes a career out of assisting ex-lifers in their quest to rebuild some semblance of a life – the system is too bloated with turgid regulations to be of any help at all. This situation is unlikely to change, especially given the financial straits currently smothering the state of California – which directly led to the imminent early release of thousands of prisoners, a belated response to prison overpopulation married to massive deficits.
At the beginning, our documentary objective seemed clear: follow these guys through the process of securing work. Once we got there, the goal became more murky, but still graspable: to trace how the prison system hamstrings these men so desperate to become effective cogs in the machinery of free society. But here, so close to the end, the whole point has become so submerged in conceptually boggy swampland that I despair, quietly, at what our documentary seems destined to become. Much like the system and the experiences of the men we're documenting, our final product may well end up a muddled mess of questions with no answers, rhetoric with no real possibility of change, and hopes that forever go unrealized. Cynical defeatism? Why, how uncharacteristic of my blogs! Yeah, yeah. But without access to the people and places that set the policy, without the chance to hold accountable those who so thoroughly – whether by malice or by inaction – mired the system in endless tape of the deepest shade of scarlet, without the time (in terms of overall time, and in terms of available time within our weekly schedules) to truly dig deep – without these things, we are destined to fail. The same system that dooms the Francisco House residents to their Sisyphean struggle for normalcy, may ultimately doom our own efforts to a similarly bottomless Sarlacc pit of disjointed narrative and unclear structure. If you're looking for a silver lining, talk to SoCal History or Fades for Grades; the best I can offer you is that unsatisfying final product would, at least for the sub-ten minute run time, give you some idea of the hazy confusion under which these men labor daily, and for the foreseeable future. The truth is out there, and it sucks.
Fortunately, the media turned out to be, as it so often is, full of it. Almost everyone in the meetings is happy – eager, even – to tell their stories, albeit somewhat sanitized versions with only vague explanations of how they ended up in prison in the first place. Everybody has a point to make, be it a general breakdown of the flaws in the state's prison system, or the necessity of a support system to prevent aimless kids from taking up the ready-made identity of gang member.
On the other hand, plenty of unexpected problems have reared their heads, hydra-like, in place of this early concern. The most troubling of these, and the one likely to be unsolvable, is the sheer ennui of the entire parolee experience. These men lack neither motivation nor marketable skills – a few have even earned impressive certifications in fields as specialized as Optometry). Despite these seemingly valuable qualities, however, most of the men have a staggering amount of trouble finding anything more than a couple hours worth of low-paid, unskilled labor. And – despite the starry-eyed dreams of truly saintly figures like Joseph Paul, who makes a career out of assisting ex-lifers in their quest to rebuild some semblance of a life – the system is too bloated with turgid regulations to be of any help at all. This situation is unlikely to change, especially given the financial straits currently smothering the state of California – which directly led to the imminent early release of thousands of prisoners, a belated response to prison overpopulation married to massive deficits.
At the beginning, our documentary objective seemed clear: follow these guys through the process of securing work. Once we got there, the goal became more murky, but still graspable: to trace how the prison system hamstrings these men so desperate to become effective cogs in the machinery of free society. But here, so close to the end, the whole point has become so submerged in conceptually boggy swampland that I despair, quietly, at what our documentary seems destined to become. Much like the system and the experiences of the men we're documenting, our final product may well end up a muddled mess of questions with no answers, rhetoric with no real possibility of change, and hopes that forever go unrealized. Cynical defeatism? Why, how uncharacteristic of my blogs! Yeah, yeah. But without access to the people and places that set the policy, without the chance to hold accountable those who so thoroughly – whether by malice or by inaction – mired the system in endless tape of the deepest shade of scarlet, without the time (in terms of overall time, and in terms of available time within our weekly schedules) to truly dig deep – without these things, we are destined to fail. The same system that dooms the Francisco House residents to their Sisyphean struggle for normalcy, may ultimately doom our own efforts to a similarly bottomless Sarlacc pit of disjointed narrative and unclear structure. If you're looking for a silver lining, talk to SoCal History or Fades for Grades; the best I can offer you is that unsatisfying final product would, at least for the sub-ten minute run time, give you some idea of the hazy confusion under which these men labor daily, and for the foreseeable future. The truth is out there, and it sucks.
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