Week 9 and Week 10
-Transferred Pal tapes and began transfer of mini DV tapes to DVD for logging
-Watched "Wild life"
-Worked on and finished reverse storyboards for Benjamin Smoke and "Trembling Before G-D."
-Met with film team to discuss and interview new co-producer and interns. Also met to discuss time line for the project, roles and new grant opportunities.
-Wrote two drafts of self evaluation
-Met with tutor to clean up audio in the extended trailer and worked on posting it to You-Tube
-Talked with animators about getting sketches to me by January deadline
-Brainstormed fundraisers to have for TQ this next year and drafted new budget for grants.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Film viewing notes on "Wild Life"
-Normalization of these queer Latino young men.
-What is being gay? “There is no difference between us and heteros, I was born like this.”
-Theatrical set up, a separation of reality, acting out the steps of there interactions as gay people, IT almost seems fake, This reminded me of Brecht plays in showing the falseness of this “Reality.”
-What makes it a documentary is maybe that they are not actors?
-Sneaking around, changing into gay clothes on the street
-Dressing wild, being wild= gay
-Very intimate but also very surface, here are the signifier's of these people who are very aware of being watched and performing for the camera.
-I imagine this as a good educational video for allies about the inside life of queer folk.
-”We are exactly the same, were 100% gay” One of the boys says this about his friend while putting on neon makeup.
-”Love is knowing that you'll never be lonely again.”
- The film ends with an audio description of why the filmmaker made this. I both like and dis-like not knowing till the end why he chose to shoot in this style. It was a cool set up to dive into this world of these boys lives, it was also a little hard to follow without knowing the intention behind the film.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Notes on Trembling before G-D
-I like the beginning in silhouettes, showing Jewish culture in shadow, a culture that is often not
to open to displaying itself. It is also a good symbol of the invisibility of LGBTQ Jews in the Orthodox community.
-Nice use of B-roll in showing place and culture, each place we travel to has a section of B-roll and a piece of what that culture is like.
-The art of hiding someones identity when you are interviewing them
-I like the traveling style to the editing of this film, how they hop from place to place without making the place the theme. this will be useful in thinking about editing Travel Queeries.
-"We are not advocating for gay rights, we are just showing this is something we have to deal with." this was said by an Orthodox Jewish woman who was in the closet. I liked her frame work for how to deal in a religion that does not allow you to be yourself.
-"Just being Jewish is a gift from G-D." this was said by an out Orthodox Jewish man who is HIV positive.
- The follow up documentary was even better then the movie and very touching. It was fun to see the transformations of the characters as they toured the movie and opened up dialogues in many communities. It was inspiring to see how openly this film was received, I liked continuing the story of the people and watching how things are shifting in the Orthodox community because of this film. it was very hopeful.
to open to displaying itself. It is also a good symbol of the invisibility of LGBTQ Jews in the Orthodox community.
-Nice use of B-roll in showing place and culture, each place we travel to has a section of B-roll and a piece of what that culture is like.
-The art of hiding someones identity when you are interviewing them
-I like the traveling style to the editing of this film, how they hop from place to place without making the place the theme. this will be useful in thinking about editing Travel Queeries.
-"We are not advocating for gay rights, we are just showing this is something we have to deal with." this was said by an Orthodox Jewish woman who was in the closet. I liked her frame work for how to deal in a religion that does not allow you to be yourself.
-"Just being Jewish is a gift from G-D." this was said by an out Orthodox Jewish man who is HIV positive.
- The follow up documentary was even better then the movie and very touching. It was fun to see the transformations of the characters as they toured the movie and opened up dialogues in many communities. It was inspiring to see how openly this film was received, I liked continuing the story of the people and watching how things are shifting in the Orthodox community because of this film. it was very hopeful.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Notes on "The Gleaners and I"
I had mixed reactions to this film. On the one hand I really liked the anthropological look at the culture of gleaning and the creative interviewing style of Agnes Verda; on the other hand her sub plot of noticing her self within the piece I found hard to follow and less engaging.
-Cool use of B-roll to show culture through art pieces about gleaning
-Nice quick shots of urban and rural gleaning with contemporary french rap over it.
-I like the feel of modern and historic France colliding in this activity of gleaning.
-A document of french sub-culture and society
-We meet the filmmaker intimately and somewhat cheesily using the camera as an examining device.
-Defining the word gleaning verses picking, what it means to glean vegetables, fruits things relation to being poor and or resourceful.
-A retriever making art from salvaged materials
-The movie starts to get more into theory "It is full in here, to relive you of emptiness" looking at the concept of gleaning in a house made of gleaned materials.
-Louis Pans-Junk sculpture artist, cool stuff!
-"It always comes back to the gleaners, trying to win there confidence, listen to them, converse with them rather then interview them and film them."-Agnes Verda
-Cool use of B-roll to show culture through art pieces about gleaning
-Nice quick shots of urban and rural gleaning with contemporary french rap over it.
-I like the feel of modern and historic France colliding in this activity of gleaning.
-A document of french sub-culture and society
-We meet the filmmaker intimately and somewhat cheesily using the camera as an examining device.
-Defining the word gleaning verses picking, what it means to glean vegetables, fruits things relation to being poor and or resourceful.
-A retriever making art from salvaged materials
-The movie starts to get more into theory "It is full in here, to relive you of emptiness" looking at the concept of gleaning in a house made of gleaned materials.
-Louis Pans-Junk sculpture artist, cool stuff!
-"It always comes back to the gleaners, trying to win there confidence, listen to them, converse with them rather then interview them and film them."-Agnes Verda
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Notes on Jem Cohen Films
"Talk About The Passion"
- A good example of camera movement vs. person movement with the camera. It was as though the camera was taking you on a journey.
"Blood Orange Sky"
-It was like going on a trip with Jem and seeing through his cameras eyes. His camera found the things for us to peer at.
-The modern and the ancient living next to each other, he shows this skillfully. The modern ends up looking ancient.
-Audio: Use of filed recordings and traditional music to set the ambiance, sometimes-sound b-roll going over long shots.
- The only thing missing is the narrative, the conversations he had with these people. What is his relationship with the people he documents?
-He waits till the end to bring you indoors to maybe show you a little of the interior and a little of the space he took up while filming. It is not just the pure surface of Sicily when we are brought inside and shown his bed. I like that this does not come about till the end.
-The sound b-roll of waves leads you out, I like this, it is as if the movie is washed over you.
"Buried In Light"
-Much more abstract then "Blood Orange Sky"
-Transportation shots to signify travel and place I like this method
-He separates images with words "Signifiers" of place like "Berlin, South wall" this makes his ideas come across to easily, I prefer just seeing the images and coming up with my own story.
-How do you show a place? Really show the soul of a place.
-I really like his people sped up shots and night shots; he inspires me to work with low light.
-It would be a fun project to try and emulate one of his films in Brasil or San Francisco
-I liked the smudged surface of Krakow as if you are walking into a dream; He often uses reflection or pre-muddled surfaces to add drama to a shot, good technique.
-I like the travelers notes as filed recordings, how he follows strangers and watches how they interact with the camera.
- His personal journey into Jewish and Holocaust history was heart breaking and well done.
-The use of vintage footage to really show the "then and now."
-I like the lowering his sense of gravity shots, below the belt
-I like his documentation of plants in each place as signifiers
-"Seven possibilities for color beyond advertising" this was really well done a fun and unique form of activism.
-His postscript was a nice ending
- Approachable Travel Documentary, I like this, I want to write him.
- A good example of camera movement vs. person movement with the camera. It was as though the camera was taking you on a journey.
"Blood Orange Sky"
-It was like going on a trip with Jem and seeing through his cameras eyes. His camera found the things for us to peer at.
-The modern and the ancient living next to each other, he shows this skillfully. The modern ends up looking ancient.
-Audio: Use of filed recordings and traditional music to set the ambiance, sometimes-sound b-roll going over long shots.
- The only thing missing is the narrative, the conversations he had with these people. What is his relationship with the people he documents?
-He waits till the end to bring you indoors to maybe show you a little of the interior and a little of the space he took up while filming. It is not just the pure surface of Sicily when we are brought inside and shown his bed. I like that this does not come about till the end.
-The sound b-roll of waves leads you out, I like this, it is as if the movie is washed over you.
"Buried In Light"
-Much more abstract then "Blood Orange Sky"
-Transportation shots to signify travel and place I like this method
-He separates images with words "Signifiers" of place like "Berlin, South wall" this makes his ideas come across to easily, I prefer just seeing the images and coming up with my own story.
-How do you show a place? Really show the soul of a place.
-I really like his people sped up shots and night shots; he inspires me to work with low light.
-It would be a fun project to try and emulate one of his films in Brasil or San Francisco
-I liked the smudged surface of Krakow as if you are walking into a dream; He often uses reflection or pre-muddled surfaces to add drama to a shot, good technique.
-I like the travelers notes as filed recordings, how he follows strangers and watches how they interact with the camera.
- His personal journey into Jewish and Holocaust history was heart breaking and well done.
-The use of vintage footage to really show the "then and now."
-I like the lowering his sense of gravity shots, below the belt
-I like his documentation of plants in each place as signifiers
-"Seven possibilities for color beyond advertising" this was really well done a fun and unique form of activism.
-His postscript was a nice ending
- Approachable Travel Documentary, I like this, I want to write him.
Monday, November 19, 2007
"Queer Theory An Introduction"
Queer: 1: questionable, suspicious2 a: differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal b (1): eccentric, unconventional (2): mildly insane: touched c: absorbed or interested to an extreme or unreasonable degree: obsessed d (1) often disparaging: homosexual (2) sometimes offensive: gay 4b3: not quite well -Websters Online Dictionary
I found “Queer Theory An Introduction” to be a great crash course lesson in queer history with many insightful looks into how the queer identity came to be and how gay has changed alongside our capitalist society over time.
“One of the ways in which the gay liberation movement of a decade ago differed from most of its predecessors was in its insistence that only radical change to society could bring about genuine acceptance of homosexuality. The thrust of the gay movement over the past decade has been away from this perception toward the idea that all that is involved is the granting of civil rights to a new minority.” –Altman.
As a queer person reading this I got to look at where this identity I chose for myself started and what were the steps leading up to its emergence from the gay and lesbian identity. I could reflect upon my own experience in Jan Clausen’s quote: “I do not want to become an identity junkie, hooked on the rush that comes with pinning down the essential characteristic that for that moment, seems to offer the ultimate definition of the self, the quintessence of oppression, the locust of personal value—only to be superseded by the next revelation.” I have often felt when reading Queer theory or talking with fellow queers about identity that it can become an obsession to see who is the most oppressed, the most original, the most “out there.”
I read this book in combination of watching “Before Stonewall.” The two together gave me a real sense of the foundations of identity politics in western culture. It was fun to read about the start of the Mattachine society and then watch the founders in a documentary. Annamarie Jagose lays out a clear path to understanding the steps to the making of this complex identity and in the process shares all angles on the debate beneath this controversial word “queer.”
“Instead of assuming that collective identities simply reflect differences among persons that exist prior to mobilization, ‘ writes Stein, ‘we need to look closely at the process by which movements remake identities.” I liked this perspective on how an identity is made by a group coming together. A lot of my reading in this book was referencing the community I belong to.
In the Production of Travel Queeries a few of our interviewees cited Queer theory when talking about what this word means to them. I believe this subject has given people a vocabulary to use when discussing their personal identity. At the same time it seems this “language” has alienated many people who live their lives in a queer way without labeling it as such. I have gained more perspective on this identity and on my own community.
I found “Queer Theory An Introduction” to be a great crash course lesson in queer history with many insightful looks into how the queer identity came to be and how gay has changed alongside our capitalist society over time.
“One of the ways in which the gay liberation movement of a decade ago differed from most of its predecessors was in its insistence that only radical change to society could bring about genuine acceptance of homosexuality. The thrust of the gay movement over the past decade has been away from this perception toward the idea that all that is involved is the granting of civil rights to a new minority.” –Altman.
As a queer person reading this I got to look at where this identity I chose for myself started and what were the steps leading up to its emergence from the gay and lesbian identity. I could reflect upon my own experience in Jan Clausen’s quote: “I do not want to become an identity junkie, hooked on the rush that comes with pinning down the essential characteristic that for that moment, seems to offer the ultimate definition of the self, the quintessence of oppression, the locust of personal value—only to be superseded by the next revelation.” I have often felt when reading Queer theory or talking with fellow queers about identity that it can become an obsession to see who is the most oppressed, the most original, the most “out there.”
I read this book in combination of watching “Before Stonewall.” The two together gave me a real sense of the foundations of identity politics in western culture. It was fun to read about the start of the Mattachine society and then watch the founders in a documentary. Annamarie Jagose lays out a clear path to understanding the steps to the making of this complex identity and in the process shares all angles on the debate beneath this controversial word “queer.”
“Instead of assuming that collective identities simply reflect differences among persons that exist prior to mobilization, ‘ writes Stein, ‘we need to look closely at the process by which movements remake identities.” I liked this perspective on how an identity is made by a group coming together. A lot of my reading in this book was referencing the community I belong to.
In the Production of Travel Queeries a few of our interviewees cited Queer theory when talking about what this word means to them. I believe this subject has given people a vocabulary to use when discussing their personal identity. At the same time it seems this “language” has alienated many people who live their lives in a queer way without labeling it as such. I have gained more perspective on this identity and on my own community.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Week 7 and 8 learning post production skills and DVD studio pro
-Finished reading Intro to Queer Theory
-Learned DVD studio pro and made a opening page for TQ DVD
-Sent off extended trailer to "Threat Level" film festival
-Kept in touch with animators and started to get ideas from them about the work they will produce for TQ.
-Watched "Before Stonewall" with group of queer folks and discussed the history of LGBTQ people afterward
-Went to Feminist video art at the Capital Theater learned about the history of feminist video art with all women production teams as well as different video techniques and artists.
-Put final touches on Soiree, getting donations for event and finalizing guest list
-Had a successful Soiree showing the extended trailer to donors and eating good food
-Logged footage of Serbian interviews and b-roll
-Had meeting with mediator on personal issues in the project
-Began research for Reverse Storyboard final project
-Learned DVD studio pro and made a opening page for TQ DVD
-Sent off extended trailer to "Threat Level" film festival
-Kept in touch with animators and started to get ideas from them about the work they will produce for TQ.
-Watched "Before Stonewall" with group of queer folks and discussed the history of LGBTQ people afterward
-Went to Feminist video art at the Capital Theater learned about the history of feminist video art with all women production teams as well as different video techniques and artists.
-Put final touches on Soiree, getting donations for event and finalizing guest list
-Had a successful Soiree showing the extended trailer to donors and eating good food
-Logged footage of Serbian interviews and b-roll
-Had meeting with mediator on personal issues in the project
-Began research for Reverse Storyboard final project
Friday, November 9, 2007
"Tongues Untied" film viewing notes
I really liked this film!
In the beginning, cool use of sound collage, using the spoken word rhythm element.
-Poetry, words, voices of characters over the b-roll used to introduce them.
-The sesame streetesque "snap lesson," this was a great way to show you black gay male culture in a light, funny way. Growing up watching Sesame Street I have a special fondness for this style of sharing information.
-Marlon Riggs chooses to follow the story of himself and his constituency in a very controlled/manufactured way, yet still making it a documentary. It has a different flavor to watch someone work in this model instead of the anthropological documentary I am used to seeing.
-I like Riggs' use of closeups on lips to show rhythm and make sound for the film. We are having a discussion with lips and body parts as much as people.
-I really liked the poetry of Essex Hemphill, this thread running through the film kept me engaged and told the story of these people in a beautiful as well as educational way. Through poetry I learned the different facets of oppression in the black gay male community.
and very "Silence is my cloak, it smothers, Silence is my sword, it stabs." In this poem the character is expressing how black gay men spend most of there lives in silence torn between there identities isolated.
"My body contains as much anger as water."
"Are you more black or gay? its like saying are you more your right testicle or you left?
"Part your eyelids, resounding refrain of two grown men making love"
-In the film there is an inside conversation and an outside conversation similar to TQ. I want to study this film more to get a sense of how they play this neutral ground.
- I learned that as a black gay man you learn many different cultures and to speak the language of all different groups. The white man language, the black man language, the gay language and the secret black gay man language.
This film was beautifully crafted and a cool experimental documentary to watch.
In the beginning, cool use of sound collage, using the spoken word rhythm element.
-Poetry, words, voices of characters over the b-roll used to introduce them.
-The sesame streetesque "snap lesson," this was a great way to show you black gay male culture in a light, funny way. Growing up watching Sesame Street I have a special fondness for this style of sharing information.
-Marlon Riggs chooses to follow the story of himself and his constituency in a very controlled/manufactured way, yet still making it a documentary. It has a different flavor to watch someone work in this model instead of the anthropological documentary I am used to seeing.
-I like Riggs' use of closeups on lips to show rhythm and make sound for the film. We are having a discussion with lips and body parts as much as people.
-I really liked the poetry of Essex Hemphill, this thread running through the film kept me engaged and told the story of these people in a beautiful as well as educational way. Through poetry I learned the different facets of oppression in the black gay male community.
and very "Silence is my cloak, it smothers, Silence is my sword, it stabs." In this poem the character is expressing how black gay men spend most of there lives in silence torn between there identities isolated.
"My body contains as much anger as water."
"Are you more black or gay? its like saying are you more your right testicle or you left?
"Part your eyelids, resounding refrain of two grown men making love"
-In the film there is an inside conversation and an outside conversation similar to TQ. I want to study this film more to get a sense of how they play this neutral ground.
- I learned that as a black gay man you learn many different cultures and to speak the language of all different groups. The white man language, the black man language, the gay language and the secret black gay man language.
This film was beautifully crafted and a cool experimental documentary to watch.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
"Outlaw" Film viewing notes
The film was conducted in a gym to show dignity and strength of trans people. Kate Bornstein is seen working out, something she does every week. She uses the gym to "Sweat out the bad energy inside her body from the negative messages of society."
I found this film to be a good ally training video. Some of the techniques used to express trans identity were interesting but there was not much complexity to the film.
There is a shot of Bornstein getting dressed in the "Obligatory tie scene." she puts on a suit, the quintessential male wear trade mark. I thought about how this is used in movies about gender, getting dressed is often a key feature in trans movies, the process of changing ones self on the outside to conform to how they want to be seen and how they feel on the inside. I have thought about whether I want a getting dressed scene in TQ. In some ways I think it limits the ideas of gender saying you dress as what you feel so that is what you are. I also see it as an easy way for allies to understand what Bornstein is talking about. This goes into the bigger question of how to weave TQ so that it speaks to a queer audience and a non-queer audience? I think I want to get a straight ally to be the editor to help with this discussion.
The final line I liked in the movie was "Where we go becomes dangerous, the places we are our not dangerous." I liked this point on seeing trans people as humans that are oppressed by society not freaks that are trying to hurt and convert people.
I found this film to be a good ally training video. Some of the techniques used to express trans identity were interesting but there was not much complexity to the film.
There is a shot of Bornstein getting dressed in the "Obligatory tie scene." she puts on a suit, the quintessential male wear trade mark. I thought about how this is used in movies about gender, getting dressed is often a key feature in trans movies, the process of changing ones self on the outside to conform to how they want to be seen and how they feel on the inside. I have thought about whether I want a getting dressed scene in TQ. In some ways I think it limits the ideas of gender saying you dress as what you feel so that is what you are. I also see it as an easy way for allies to understand what Bornstein is talking about. This goes into the bigger question of how to weave TQ so that it speaks to a queer audience and a non-queer audience? I think I want to get a straight ally to be the editor to help with this discussion.
The final line I liked in the movie was "Where we go becomes dangerous, the places we are our not dangerous." I liked this point on seeing trans people as humans that are oppressed by society not freaks that are trying to hurt and convert people.
Week1 through week6 weekly Schedules for Fall
Week 2 week schedule
Week 1, Beginning The Contract
Learning how to make a documentary film Post Production
Logged footage of summer 2007 interviews of Mijda, Scratch, Jenni and DebraKate for extended trailer footage
Read “In The Blink of an Eye” editing book where I learned about different techniques for editing. (See readings for longer description)
Finished syllabus
Talked to friend about tutoring on Final Cut pro
Had phone meeting with film team about interns and post- production schedule. Refined ideas for Interns and their roles in the project
Week 2, Learning final cut pro
Logged/captured/edited sequences for extended trailer with tutor and film team
Through doing this I learned the ins and outs of Final cut pro, this was a crash course in how to use this program.
Watched films of Sadie Benning with friends (See film viewing notes)
Transferred super 8 film in Seattle
Had alone date to log and capture footage for trailer, first time really working on program alone.
Continued to read “In The Blink Of An Eye” and started “Between the Sheets and in the Streets”(see readings)
Week 3, Learning final cut pro
Wrote a simple storyboard for extended trailer to use for editing
Made a skeleton of footage to edit for trailer
Helped in editing a 8 min. extended trailer for the Seattle Lesbian and Gay film festival which we finished on Thursday the 11th
Read “Between the Sheets and In the Streets” and “The Filmmaker’s Handbook” for technical and theory skills (see readings)
Watched “Paris is Burning” (see film viewing notes)
Week 4, Learning communication and post production film making skills
Started work on fall fundraiser, made invitation, contacted people to come and contacted people to help with event
Watched “Tongues Untied”
Finished “Between The Sheets and in the Streets” (see readings)
Had meeting with Film team to discuss fall fundraiser and interns
Week 5, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Made DVD of TQ extended trailer to watch at Fundraiser
Started to learn sound editing software and IDVD
Met with Julia to discuss progress of project and get feed back on Extended trailer
Watched Benjamin Smoke (See film viewing notes)
Started to read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Week 6, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Met with Mediator for interpersonal work on the film with film team
Read “Intro to Queer Theory”
Logged/captured footage of Serbia, by region, for rough-cut.
Made new DVD with Julia corrections, learned how to compress film using Compressor software
Watched the films of Jem Cohen and “Outlaw”
Called Universities and posted Intern flyer electronically through out Seattle and Olympia
Had animation meeting with film team to discuss courting animators for our production, timeline for them to submit work and creative ideas for the kind of animation we want
Sent Pal tapes in for transfer to NTSC
Week 1, Beginning The Contract
Learning how to make a documentary film Post Production
Logged footage of summer 2007 interviews of Mijda, Scratch, Jenni and DebraKate for extended trailer footage
Read “In The Blink of an Eye” editing book where I learned about different techniques for editing. (See readings for longer description)
Finished syllabus
Talked to friend about tutoring on Final Cut pro
Had phone meeting with film team about interns and post- production schedule. Refined ideas for Interns and their roles in the project
Week 2, Learning final cut pro
Logged/captured/edited sequences for extended trailer with tutor and film team
Through doing this I learned the ins and outs of Final cut pro, this was a crash course in how to use this program.
Watched films of Sadie Benning with friends (See film viewing notes)
Transferred super 8 film in Seattle
Had alone date to log and capture footage for trailer, first time really working on program alone.
Continued to read “In The Blink Of An Eye” and started “Between the Sheets and in the Streets”(see readings)
Week 3, Learning final cut pro
Wrote a simple storyboard for extended trailer to use for editing
Made a skeleton of footage to edit for trailer
Helped in editing a 8 min. extended trailer for the Seattle Lesbian and Gay film festival which we finished on Thursday the 11th
Read “Between the Sheets and In the Streets” and “The Filmmaker’s Handbook” for technical and theory skills (see readings)
Watched “Paris is Burning” (see film viewing notes)
Week 4, Learning communication and post production film making skills
Started work on fall fundraiser, made invitation, contacted people to come and contacted people to help with event
Watched “Tongues Untied”
Finished “Between The Sheets and in the Streets” (see readings)
Had meeting with Film team to discuss fall fundraiser and interns
Week 5, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Made DVD of TQ extended trailer to watch at Fundraiser
Started to learn sound editing software and IDVD
Met with Julia to discuss progress of project and get feed back on Extended trailer
Watched Benjamin Smoke (See film viewing notes)
Started to read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Week 6, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Met with Mediator for interpersonal work on the film with film team
Read “Intro to Queer Theory”
Logged/captured footage of Serbia, by region, for rough-cut.
Made new DVD with Julia corrections, learned how to compress film using Compressor software
Watched the films of Jem Cohen and “Outlaw”
Called Universities and posted Intern flyer electronically through out Seattle and Olympia
Had animation meeting with film team to discuss courting animators for our production, timeline for them to submit work and creative ideas for the kind of animation we want
Sent Pal tapes in for transfer to NTSC
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Revised Syllabus1
Syllabus for
“The Nature of Documentary, Editing and Theory of Travel Queeries”
By, Margaritte Knezek
Texts I will read:
Technical Skill:
“In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing” Murch, Walter.
“The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV and New Media” Block, Bruce
“The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age” Ascher and
Pincus.
“FinalCut6 Pro Guide”
Critical History, Theory:
“Intro to Queer Theory” By, Jagose, Annemarie
“Between the Sheets and in the Streets, Queer, Lesbian, and Gay Documentary” Holmlund, Chris
Documentaries I will watch:
“Trembling Before G-D”
“Wild Life”
“Me and Ruby Fruit” and other films by Sadie Benning
“Paris is Burning”
“Word is out”
“Before Stonewall”
“The Gleaners and I”
“Films of Jem Cohen”
“Benjamin Smoke”
“Boy I am”
“Tongues Untied”
“ Outlaw”
“Juggling Gender”
“Nomads and No Zones”
Week by week schedule
Logging/capturing/editing footage
Reading
Writing on blog which includes, a film viewing journal, notes on my readings and various treatments and plans for the final version of the film. Also a week by week schedule.
Meeting with film team
Watching films
Working on fund raisers
Week 1 September 25-28th
Find and meet with tutor on final cut pro
Find editor intern/ PR intern/ titles intern for winter and Spring Quarter
Meet with film team to begin editing short piece for Seattle lesbian and gay film festival
Start to read “In the Blink of an Eye”
Watch “Nomads and No-Zones” with film group
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning as well as Treatment for short piece
Meet with Julia to go over syllabus
Week 2 October 1-5th
Meet with tutor on final cut pro
Log/capture/edit footage for short
Continue looking for Interns
Read “In the Blink of an Eye” start “Between the sheets and in the streets”
Meet with film group to watch “Me and Ruby fruit” and other Sadie Benning movies
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 3 October 8-12th
Have short piece ready for the Seattle gay and Lesbian film festival on the 14th
Watch “Paris is burning”
Read “Between the sheets” Start to read excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s Handbook”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 4 October 15-19th
Start work on fundraiser party set for November 18th, make evite and start inviting people
Watch “Tongues Untied”
Read more excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s handbook” and start “ Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 5 October 22nd-26th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening set for spring 08, work with short we created and add on.
Work on fundraiser party by burning DVD and getting together food donations
Meet with Julia to discuss progress
Watch “Benjamin Smoke”
Read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 6 October 29th-November 2nd
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Do university research for Production and PR interns for Jan.08-June 08
Watch “Outlaw” and The Films of “Jem Cohen”
Start to read “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 7 November 5-9th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “Word is out” and “Before Stonewall”
Finish reading “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 8 November 12-16th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Have Fundraiser Fall Soriee party in Seattle!
Start work on my reverse storyboard final project
Watch “Juggling Gender” and “Trembling before G-D” with film group
Write on academic blog about my learning and about the fundraiser
Week 9 November 26-30th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Watch “Wild Life” with film group
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on reverse storyboard
Send thank you notes to attendees of fundraiser
Start holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Write on academic blog about my readings, learning
Week 10 December 3rd-7th
Have final reverse storyboard done to show to Julia
Continue holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Watch “Boy I am” with film group
Write Self Evaluation
Evaluative blog on the quarter and my thought on the final project
Week 11 December 10-14th Eval Week
Faculty evaluation from Julia
“The Nature of Documentary, Editing and Theory of Travel Queeries”
By, Margaritte Knezek
Texts I will read:
Technical Skill:
“In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing” Murch, Walter.
“The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV and New Media” Block, Bruce
“The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age” Ascher and
Pincus.
“FinalCut6 Pro Guide”
Critical History, Theory:
“Intro to Queer Theory” By, Jagose, Annemarie
“Between the Sheets and in the Streets, Queer, Lesbian, and Gay Documentary” Holmlund, Chris
Documentaries I will watch:
“Trembling Before G-D”
“Wild Life”
“Me and Ruby Fruit” and other films by Sadie Benning
“Paris is Burning”
“Word is out”
“Before Stonewall”
“The Gleaners and I”
“Films of Jem Cohen”
“Benjamin Smoke”
“Boy I am”
“Tongues Untied”
“ Outlaw”
“Juggling Gender”
“Nomads and No Zones”
Week by week schedule
Logging/capturing/editing footage
Reading
Writing on blog which includes, a film viewing journal, notes on my readings and various treatments and plans for the final version of the film. Also a week by week schedule.
Meeting with film team
Watching films
Working on fund raisers
Week 1 September 25-28th
Find and meet with tutor on final cut pro
Find editor intern/ PR intern/ titles intern for winter and Spring Quarter
Meet with film team to begin editing short piece for Seattle lesbian and gay film festival
Start to read “In the Blink of an Eye”
Watch “Nomads and No-Zones” with film group
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning as well as Treatment for short piece
Meet with Julia to go over syllabus
Week 2 October 1-5th
Meet with tutor on final cut pro
Log/capture/edit footage for short
Continue looking for Interns
Read “In the Blink of an Eye” start “Between the sheets and in the streets”
Meet with film group to watch “Me and Ruby fruit” and other Sadie Benning movies
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 3 October 8-12th
Have short piece ready for the Seattle gay and Lesbian film festival on the 14th
Watch “Paris is burning”
Read “Between the sheets” Start to read excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s Handbook”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 4 October 15-19th
Start work on fundraiser party set for November 18th, make evite and start inviting people
Watch “Tongues Untied”
Read more excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s handbook” and start “ Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 5 October 22nd-26th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening set for spring 08, work with short we created and add on.
Work on fundraiser party by burning DVD and getting together food donations
Meet with Julia to discuss progress
Watch “Benjamin Smoke”
Read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 6 October 29th-November 2nd
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Do university research for Production and PR interns for Jan.08-June 08
Watch “Outlaw” and The Films of “Jem Cohen”
Start to read “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 7 November 5-9th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “Word is out” and “Before Stonewall”
Finish reading “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 8 November 12-16th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Have Fundraiser Fall Soriee party in Seattle!
Start work on my reverse storyboard final project
Watch “Juggling Gender” and “Trembling before G-D” with film group
Write on academic blog about my learning and about the fundraiser
Week 9 November 26-30th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Watch “Wild Life” with film group
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on reverse storyboard
Send thank you notes to attendees of fundraiser
Start holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Write on academic blog about my readings, learning
Week 10 December 3rd-7th
Have final reverse storyboard done to show to Julia
Continue holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Watch “Boy I am” with film group
Write Self Evaluation
Evaluative blog on the quarter and my thought on the final project
Week 11 December 10-14th Eval Week
Faculty evaluation from Julia
Notes on "Benjamin Smoke"
A sense of mystery starts this beautifully documented film. Snatches of a person in darkness, close-ups of different body parts in grainy black and white. This film sets up a good sense of place and texture.
-Monologues-slowly inform the viewer of the story, extreme full frame close ups as Benjamin talks.
-I like the use of sound in darkness making you guess what is going to happen, the next shot is slowly coming in and out of a simple banjo rhythm, setting the stage for this performers work.
-The technical skill and choices in this film are what drew me in the most. I wanted to take up art photography again, I learned about different visual tactics for using super8, I learned to see the art of cinematography.
-Jem Cohen introduced people by doing mug shots in Super 8 with them talking over the still, quiet, shots.
-The choice of having him work fast forward cooking in the kitchen as b-roll was an accurate representation of his speed addiction. I liked the shot of his collections around the house; a fast shot with slow music makes a nice contrast and identifies his personality.
-The whole film was very intimate, him in his bed, walking around, lying down, you were really getting to know this person in there full humanity.
-The “stuff” of the cabbage town community as signifiers of what this town is, its identity shared through the objects that end up there.
-A beautiful color night shot showing the evening urban landscape, similar to a long exposure color photograph.
-The sounds of the South, buzzing night signs glowing, loud crickets, good mood sound
-Close up of Ben staring into camera with city night light behind him, I like all the simple face on shots used to share this person with you.
-“What is beautiful and difficult?”
-Jumpy close-ups while telling his life story in the middle of the documentary instead of the beginning testimonial style in black and white, I would like to use this style in TQ.
-Sound collage of random conversation, showing the people sitting together smoking weed, with the audio of the conversation dubbed over the top, this creates a nice mood and is a dynamic way of using sound.
-After his death, audio with photos, sad, good use of photos as a document, flashes of the whole movie dispersed in between holga like photos of him.
-I liked how they did not end the film with his death; they even showed live footage of him afterward.
- I liked reading the DVD pamphlet afterward and it sharing how the filmmakers followed Benjamin for years and documented with whatever they were able to afford at the time. This left the film with a diversity of mediums covered that really added to the character sketch of this person Benjamin. I really liked this documentary and was thoroughly inspired to shoot as artistically as Jem Cohen.
-Monologues-slowly inform the viewer of the story, extreme full frame close ups as Benjamin talks.
-I like the use of sound in darkness making you guess what is going to happen, the next shot is slowly coming in and out of a simple banjo rhythm, setting the stage for this performers work.
-The technical skill and choices in this film are what drew me in the most. I wanted to take up art photography again, I learned about different visual tactics for using super8, I learned to see the art of cinematography.
-Jem Cohen introduced people by doing mug shots in Super 8 with them talking over the still, quiet, shots.
-The choice of having him work fast forward cooking in the kitchen as b-roll was an accurate representation of his speed addiction. I liked the shot of his collections around the house; a fast shot with slow music makes a nice contrast and identifies his personality.
-The whole film was very intimate, him in his bed, walking around, lying down, you were really getting to know this person in there full humanity.
-The “stuff” of the cabbage town community as signifiers of what this town is, its identity shared through the objects that end up there.
-A beautiful color night shot showing the evening urban landscape, similar to a long exposure color photograph.
-The sounds of the South, buzzing night signs glowing, loud crickets, good mood sound
-Close up of Ben staring into camera with city night light behind him, I like all the simple face on shots used to share this person with you.
-“What is beautiful and difficult?”
-Jumpy close-ups while telling his life story in the middle of the documentary instead of the beginning testimonial style in black and white, I would like to use this style in TQ.
-Sound collage of random conversation, showing the people sitting together smoking weed, with the audio of the conversation dubbed over the top, this creates a nice mood and is a dynamic way of using sound.
-After his death, audio with photos, sad, good use of photos as a document, flashes of the whole movie dispersed in between holga like photos of him.
-I liked how they did not end the film with his death; they even showed live footage of him afterward.
- I liked reading the DVD pamphlet afterward and it sharing how the filmmakers followed Benjamin for years and documented with whatever they were able to afford at the time. This left the film with a diversity of mediums covered that really added to the character sketch of this person Benjamin. I really liked this documentary and was thoroughly inspired to shoot as artistically as Jem Cohen.
Notes on the Videos of Sadie Benning
“I’ve been waiting for that day when I could walk the streets and people would look at me and say, “That’s a dyke.” And if they didn’t like it, they would fall into the center of the earth and deal with themselves”
“Me and Rubyfriut” The videos of Sadie Benning
“If Every Girl Had a Diary” In this technically well done video the eyes of the character start to portray a face, without a mouth. You are looking at a lesbian, facing this queer person who is coming out without showing her mouth. In Benning’s videos she often uses metaphor. In one shot she closes shutters to hint at her friend becoming a Nazi, closing herself up to this fate. This work inspired me to think of using B-roll for Symbolism when making TQ.
Benning’s use of place, being stuck behind the bars on her window, an empty couch to signify aloneness, all set the stage for these deeply emotional interactions with the camera. We the viewer become her diary. The single hand to gesture as she speaks was mesmerizing to watch. Benning shares a story through the gestures of a single hand, her hand, to examine one body part and give it a life. I really liked this observational narrative.
“Me and Rubyfruit” I appreciated Benning’s use of text and notes to have a dialogue with you the viewer and herself. There is no “Other,” just a teen alone telling a story. In this video the eyes start to become objects not related to a body, they become foreign, almost grotesque without the context of a person behind them. Benning talks about how her stomach hurts and then shows a series of heterosexual porn. I like how it is always linked back to her body and feelings, Benning relates to the world from a somatic place that makes you immediately feel connected to her and her struggles.
“Me and Rubyfriut” The videos of Sadie Benning
“If Every Girl Had a Diary” In this technically well done video the eyes of the character start to portray a face, without a mouth. You are looking at a lesbian, facing this queer person who is coming out without showing her mouth. In Benning’s videos she often uses metaphor. In one shot she closes shutters to hint at her friend becoming a Nazi, closing herself up to this fate. This work inspired me to think of using B-roll for Symbolism when making TQ.
Benning’s use of place, being stuck behind the bars on her window, an empty couch to signify aloneness, all set the stage for these deeply emotional interactions with the camera. We the viewer become her diary. The single hand to gesture as she speaks was mesmerizing to watch. Benning shares a story through the gestures of a single hand, her hand, to examine one body part and give it a life. I really liked this observational narrative.
“Me and Rubyfruit” I appreciated Benning’s use of text and notes to have a dialogue with you the viewer and herself. There is no “Other,” just a teen alone telling a story. In this video the eyes start to become objects not related to a body, they become foreign, almost grotesque without the context of a person behind them. Benning talks about how her stomach hurts and then shows a series of heterosexual porn. I like how it is always linked back to her body and feelings, Benning relates to the world from a somatic place that makes you immediately feel connected to her and her struggles.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Notes 2 on "Between The Sheets and in The Streets"
The ability to hold together intense devotion to something with a simultaneous irony or even derision towards it is characteristic of much gay culture.” Richard Dryer
Film and video is analyzed in this series of essays in a way that made me understand new ways to express my ideas on documentation and analysis of queer documentary. I was able to engage with such terms as cinema verite, “the reflective cinema verite camera is regarded not as a fly on the wall, but as an engaged participant. Such “interactive” films typically foreground the camera, its operator, and the present-tense filming situation.” This description made me think about weather Travel Queeries could be likened to a fly on the wall or me the filmmaker as an engaged participate? I learned more about the term ethnography, “to know and experience the life and community of another.” Travel Queeries could become even more of an intriguing document and window into an “other” culture by looking through the ethnographic lens. At the same time I want to make TQ a mirror reflecting back into itself and the community I, as a filmmaker, choose to document. The film wears these two hats. As I become more familiar with the footage I will be able to construct a story arch that will express both of these realms.
In Chris Holmlund’s essay “When Autobiography Meets Ethnography: The Dyke Docs of Sadie Benning and Su Friedrich,” Holmlund comments on how these two filmmakers are put into the box of making “autobiographical” work. “Most critics easily label them autobiographies, diaries, or confessions. However, almost no one discusses these works as ethnographies. No mention is made of Benning’s consistent condemnation of homophobia, racism and sexism and no recognition is given to her general concern with young people and women. It is as if “autobiography” were understood solely as the inscription of a self-absorbed subjectivity uninvolved with others.”
In the context of TQ I could see how my work could be viewed in similar terms. Hearing the story of a life from the person who has lived it and who is making the document by themselves is very powerful and can tell you a lot about the demographic they are representing. I was impressed and inspired with Benning’s work. In “If every girl had a diary” and “Jollies” I was able to see her filming skills progress and her metaphors become deeper as she got older. I noticed her complete un-self-consciousness of sharing her world and stories with the viewer. I will share more about this in my film viewing post. The dyke doc’s chapter taught me how to reference autobiography and see it as more then just subjectivity but as an actual document through the filmmaker’s eyes.
Film and video is analyzed in this series of essays in a way that made me understand new ways to express my ideas on documentation and analysis of queer documentary. I was able to engage with such terms as cinema verite, “the reflective cinema verite camera is regarded not as a fly on the wall, but as an engaged participant. Such “interactive” films typically foreground the camera, its operator, and the present-tense filming situation.” This description made me think about weather Travel Queeries could be likened to a fly on the wall or me the filmmaker as an engaged participate? I learned more about the term ethnography, “to know and experience the life and community of another.” Travel Queeries could become even more of an intriguing document and window into an “other” culture by looking through the ethnographic lens. At the same time I want to make TQ a mirror reflecting back into itself and the community I, as a filmmaker, choose to document. The film wears these two hats. As I become more familiar with the footage I will be able to construct a story arch that will express both of these realms.
In Chris Holmlund’s essay “When Autobiography Meets Ethnography: The Dyke Docs of Sadie Benning and Su Friedrich,” Holmlund comments on how these two filmmakers are put into the box of making “autobiographical” work. “Most critics easily label them autobiographies, diaries, or confessions. However, almost no one discusses these works as ethnographies. No mention is made of Benning’s consistent condemnation of homophobia, racism and sexism and no recognition is given to her general concern with young people and women. It is as if “autobiography” were understood solely as the inscription of a self-absorbed subjectivity uninvolved with others.”
In the context of TQ I could see how my work could be viewed in similar terms. Hearing the story of a life from the person who has lived it and who is making the document by themselves is very powerful and can tell you a lot about the demographic they are representing. I was impressed and inspired with Benning’s work. In “If every girl had a diary” and “Jollies” I was able to see her filming skills progress and her metaphors become deeper as she got older. I noticed her complete un-self-consciousness of sharing her world and stories with the viewer. I will share more about this in my film viewing post. The dyke doc’s chapter taught me how to reference autobiography and see it as more then just subjectivity but as an actual document through the filmmaker’s eyes.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
film viewing notes "Paris is Burning"
Here are some of the ideas I came up with while watching "Paris is Burning." These are my musings on how to relate the things I watch to how I choose to construct Travel Queeries. I have also written notes on perspectives and shots I liked.
-Having the characters explain what the film is about
-Showing people b-roll then introducing themselves
-Explaining what queer is, many different perspectives, similar to explaining what "the ball is."
-The various aspects of queer identity broken up into categories like sex, political, theory, combine this with animation sequences to tie it all together.
-Break dancing derives from Egyptian hieroglyphics and gymnastics
-Really intense intersection of oppression, homophobia, sexism and racism. Speech about trying to be white and rich, this being in the ultimate goal. Seduced by power.
-The domination of capitalism in the 80's, how the balls went from "what you can create to what you can acquire,"designers verses fashion
-"Everything is drag, all outfits, all roles, all identities"
-Having the characters explain what the film is about
-Showing people b-roll then introducing themselves
-Explaining what queer is, many different perspectives, similar to explaining what "the ball is."
-The various aspects of queer identity broken up into categories like sex, political, theory, combine this with animation sequences to tie it all together.
-Break dancing derives from Egyptian hieroglyphics and gymnastics
-Really intense intersection of oppression, homophobia, sexism and racism. Speech about trying to be white and rich, this being in the ultimate goal. Seduced by power.
-The domination of capitalism in the 80's, how the balls went from "what you can create to what you can acquire,"designers verses fashion
-"Everything is drag, all outfits, all roles, all identities"
Friday, October 12, 2007
Treatment for TQ work in progress extended trailer
Themes:
Identity
gender, sexuality, race
International
community, queer scene, specific politics, firsts
Events
Queeruption, Mitmoch show, ladyfest Berlin, London pride, Trangenial Berlin, Bar wotever
Hard
Challenges they face
Great
Good experiences they have had and what they like best about being queer
Opening
Title
mouths
Queer clips, what is this word? sally, Mimi
Intros
Debra Kate, Jean Genet,Maija
Identities
Scratch, talking about race and trans issues
Jeni, talking about being a different kind of women
Debra Kate, never feeling like a girl, finding drag
Pia, being a bio drag queen
Music and performance break
International
Sally, no boarders politics
Maija, making a new Eastern European definition of queer
the first Queer theory class at Belgrade University
Luca, transnational queer
Lotta, people from all over Europe living together
Positive
Jean Genet talking about their band and being connected to an amazing community
Music and credits
Identity
gender, sexuality, race
International
community, queer scene, specific politics, firsts
Events
Queeruption, Mitmoch show, ladyfest Berlin, London pride, Trangenial Berlin, Bar wotever
Hard
Challenges they face
Great
Good experiences they have had and what they like best about being queer
Opening
Title
mouths
Queer clips, what is this word? sally, Mimi
Intros
Debra Kate, Jean Genet,Maija
Identities
Scratch, talking about race and trans issues
Jeni, talking about being a different kind of women
Debra Kate, never feeling like a girl, finding drag
Pia, being a bio drag queen
Music and performance break
International
Sally, no boarders politics
Maija, making a new Eastern European definition of queer
the first Queer theory class at Belgrade University
Luca, transnational queer
Lotta, people from all over Europe living together
Positive
Jean Genet talking about their band and being connected to an amazing community
Music and credits
Notes1 on "Between the Sheets, and In the Streets, Queer, Lesbian and Gay Documentary"
“Our project, once again, is one of suggestion, provocation, and encouragement, meant to remind ourselves and our readers how important it is to acknowledge and value the shifting layering of identity and community, even as we work toward what we feel is the crucial task of coalition building.” This phrase in the introduction to “between the sheets” drew me in immediately. I felt as I read this book that I was talking to friends about their experiences in making queer film. I could draw correlations between the filmmakers movies and my own.
In Chris Cagle’s essay “Imaging the Queer South” he states that, “Though it is posed as a national movement, “queer” frequently means specifically Northern and/or metropolitan, while Southern queers living in the South are viewed as an amorphous group of “Others.” I could easily see this happen between Eastern and Western European queers. As we filmed in the East we could see how the Western Europeans viewed the queer Eastern situation as tragic and went there to help as much as they could. While the Eastern European queers could see the Westerners as helpful but felt okay with the situation they had and wanted to do more organizing in the regions they lived in amongst themselves without using methods and ideas imported from the West.
Cagle uses the term “Gay and Lesbian affirmational documentary” to mean a “retroactive narrative of coming out and personal journeys as political testimony.” While editing Travel Queeries I am getting ideas for what language I want to use in discussing the film and the kind of documentary it is becoming. I see Travel Queeries as a combination of participatory and performative documentary. I appreciate reading descriptions about the choices filmmakers use to express the feelings they are trying to encourage their audiences to have. In “Greetings from Out Here” Ellen Spiro talks from an insider’s perspective on being queer in the south, Spiro lets herself become a part of the documentary by reconciling her past as a Southerner living in the North while at the same time documenting modern Southern queer culture. I look forward to more insider information and a larger perspective on what my documentary could represent as I continue to read these essays.
In Chris Cagle’s essay “Imaging the Queer South” he states that, “Though it is posed as a national movement, “queer” frequently means specifically Northern and/or metropolitan, while Southern queers living in the South are viewed as an amorphous group of “Others.” I could easily see this happen between Eastern and Western European queers. As we filmed in the East we could see how the Western Europeans viewed the queer Eastern situation as tragic and went there to help as much as they could. While the Eastern European queers could see the Westerners as helpful but felt okay with the situation they had and wanted to do more organizing in the regions they lived in amongst themselves without using methods and ideas imported from the West.
Cagle uses the term “Gay and Lesbian affirmational documentary” to mean a “retroactive narrative of coming out and personal journeys as political testimony.” While editing Travel Queeries I am getting ideas for what language I want to use in discussing the film and the kind of documentary it is becoming. I see Travel Queeries as a combination of participatory and performative documentary. I appreciate reading descriptions about the choices filmmakers use to express the feelings they are trying to encourage their audiences to have. In “Greetings from Out Here” Ellen Spiro talks from an insider’s perspective on being queer in the south, Spiro lets herself become a part of the documentary by reconciling her past as a Southerner living in the North while at the same time documenting modern Southern queer culture. I look forward to more insider information and a larger perspective on what my documentary could represent as I continue to read these essays.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
“In the Blink of an Eye, a Perspective on Film Editing”
I really appreciated reading this book for its fun and articulate way of explaining editing. I noticed all the creative examples Murch gave on how one thinks and how that shapes what one sees. At one point he describes filmmaking as “the closet to thought process of any art form.” (60) Though Murch mainly talks about narrative film editing and not documentary video editing I could relate a lot of what Murch says to my project. I liked Murch’s thoughts on following the blinks of the actor’s eyes to get a sense of when to make the cut. ”In film a shot presents us with an idea or a sequence of ideas, and the cut is a “blink” that separates and punctures those ideas.” (62)
Murch gave me perspective on how to follow a conversation and make a good scene by following these procedures for an ideal cut. (18)
1. Emotion, what you want your audience to feel
2. Story, how it relates to your entire story
3. Rhythm, how it flows with the rest of the story
4. Eye Trace, concern with where the audience is looking
5. Two-dimensional plane of screen, stage line and planarity technical
6. Three dimensional space of action, where people are in relation to one another
I will use these techniques as well as Murch’s ideas of taking stills of different parts of the film to piece together the story visually. I will also use Murch’s method of cutting out paper dolls to put on the editing screen to always have perspective on how the audience will ultimately see my film. This book made me ask myself the question, "What do I want people to feel when they are watching Travel Queeries?" I will take this question into the editing room as I work.
Murch gave me perspective on how to follow a conversation and make a good scene by following these procedures for an ideal cut. (18)
1. Emotion, what you want your audience to feel
2. Story, how it relates to your entire story
3. Rhythm, how it flows with the rest of the story
4. Eye Trace, concern with where the audience is looking
5. Two-dimensional plane of screen, stage line and planarity technical
6. Three dimensional space of action, where people are in relation to one another
I will use these techniques as well as Murch’s ideas of taking stills of different parts of the film to piece together the story visually. I will also use Murch’s method of cutting out paper dolls to put on the editing screen to always have perspective on how the audience will ultimately see my film. This book made me ask myself the question, "What do I want people to feel when they are watching Travel Queeries?" I will take this question into the editing room as I work.
Fall syllabus for “The Nature of Documentary, Editing and Theory of Travel Queeries”
Texts I will read:
Technical Skill:
“In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing” Murch, Walter.
“The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV and New Media” Block, Bruce
“The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age” Ascher and
Pincus.
“FinalCut6 Pro Guide”
Critical History, Theory:
“Intro to Queer Theory” By, Jagose, Annemarie
“Between the Sheets and in the Streets, Queer, Lesbian, and Gay Documentary” Holmlund, Chris
Documentaries I will watch:
“Trembling Before G-D”
“Wild Life”
“Me and Ruby Fruit” and other films by Sadie Benning
“Paris is Burning”
“Word is out”
“Before Stonewall”
“The Gleaners and I”
“Boy I am”
“Tongues Untied”
“ Outlaw”
“Juggling Gender”
“Nomads and No Zones”
Week by week schedule
Logging/capturing/editing footage
Reading
Writing on blog which includes, a film viewing journal, notes on my readings and various treatments and plans for the final version of the film.
Meeting with film team
Watching films with a student group
Working on fund raisers
Week 1 September 25-28th
Find and meet with tutor on final cut pro/read final cut book
Find editor intern/ PR intern/ titles intern for winter and Spring Quarter
Meet with film team to begin editing short piece for Seattle lesbian and gay film festival
Start to read “In the Blink of an Eye”
Watch “Nomads and No-Zones” with film group
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning as well as Treatment for short piece
Meet with Julia to go over syllabus
Week 2 October 1-5th
Meet with tutor on final cut pro/ read final cut book
Log/capture/edit footage for short
Begin transfer of Super 8 footage
Continue looking for Interns
Read “In the Blink of an Eye” start “Between the sheets and in the streets”
Meet with film group to watch “Me and Ruby fruit” and other Sadie Benning movies
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 3 October 8-12th
Have short piece ready for the Seattle gay and Lesbian film festival on the 14th
Watch “Paris is burning” with film group
Read “Between the sheets” Start to read excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s Handbook”
Start work on fundraiser cocktail party in Seattle tentatively set for November 16th
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Meet with Julia to look at footage for the short piece
Week 4 October 15-19th
Meet for final time with final cut tutor/finish final cut book
Finish transfer of super8
Interview intern potentials
Meet with editor to discuss story arch after short
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “Outlaw” with film group
Read more excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s handbook” and start “ Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 5 October 22nd-26th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, work with short we created and add on.
Work on fundraiser party
Meet with Julia to discuss progress
Watch “Wild Life” with film group
Read “Into. To Queer Theory” and start “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 6 October 29th-November 2nd
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, work with super 8 footage and start process of translation and subtitles
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “the Gleaners and I” with film group
Read “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 7 November 5-9th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter
Meet with editor to show progress
Work on fundraiser party
Start getting venues and making flyers for rough-cut screening in December
Watch “Word is out” and “Before Stonewall” with film group
Finish reading “The Visual Story”
Meet with Julia to discuss progress and show footage
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 8 November 12-16th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, have latest version of film on DVD to show at fundraiser party
Have Fundraiser Cocktail party in Seattle!
Start inviting guests to screenings of rough-cut at end of quarter
Watch “Juggling Gender” and “Trembling before G-D” with film group
Write on academic blog about my learning and about the fundraiser
Week 9 November 26-30th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, make sure rough cut has some subtitles/other languages in it and or some animation/super 8.
Watch “Tongues Untied” with film group
Start holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Confirm venues, short tour of rough-cut screening plus inviting guests
Write on academic blog about my readings, learning
Week 10 December 3rd-7th
Edit final rough cut short for screening and transfer to DVD
Meet with editor to get final feed back before screening
Meet with Julia to get final feed back before screening
Continue holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Watch “Boy I am” with film group
Write Self Evaluation
Evaluative blog on the quarter and my thought on the final rough cut
Week 11 December 10-14th Eval Week
Have an artistic critique session with faculty and artists to watch a rough cut short piece and get feed back.
Tour this rough cut short on the west coast with artists and community members to get feed back.
Faculty evaluation from Julia
Technical Skill:
“In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing” Murch, Walter.
“The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV and New Media” Block, Bruce
“The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age” Ascher and
Pincus.
“FinalCut6 Pro Guide”
Critical History, Theory:
“Intro to Queer Theory” By, Jagose, Annemarie
“Between the Sheets and in the Streets, Queer, Lesbian, and Gay Documentary” Holmlund, Chris
Documentaries I will watch:
“Trembling Before G-D”
“Wild Life”
“Me and Ruby Fruit” and other films by Sadie Benning
“Paris is Burning”
“Word is out”
“Before Stonewall”
“The Gleaners and I”
“Boy I am”
“Tongues Untied”
“ Outlaw”
“Juggling Gender”
“Nomads and No Zones”
Week by week schedule
Logging/capturing/editing footage
Reading
Writing on blog which includes, a film viewing journal, notes on my readings and various treatments and plans for the final version of the film.
Meeting with film team
Watching films with a student group
Working on fund raisers
Week 1 September 25-28th
Find and meet with tutor on final cut pro/read final cut book
Find editor intern/ PR intern/ titles intern for winter and Spring Quarter
Meet with film team to begin editing short piece for Seattle lesbian and gay film festival
Start to read “In the Blink of an Eye”
Watch “Nomads and No-Zones” with film group
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning as well as Treatment for short piece
Meet with Julia to go over syllabus
Week 2 October 1-5th
Meet with tutor on final cut pro/ read final cut book
Log/capture/edit footage for short
Begin transfer of Super 8 footage
Continue looking for Interns
Read “In the Blink of an Eye” start “Between the sheets and in the streets”
Meet with film group to watch “Me and Ruby fruit” and other Sadie Benning movies
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 3 October 8-12th
Have short piece ready for the Seattle gay and Lesbian film festival on the 14th
Watch “Paris is burning” with film group
Read “Between the sheets” Start to read excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s Handbook”
Start work on fundraiser cocktail party in Seattle tentatively set for November 16th
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Meet with Julia to look at footage for the short piece
Week 4 October 15-19th
Meet for final time with final cut tutor/finish final cut book
Finish transfer of super8
Interview intern potentials
Meet with editor to discuss story arch after short
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “Outlaw” with film group
Read more excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s handbook” and start “ Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 5 October 22nd-26th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, work with short we created and add on.
Work on fundraiser party
Meet with Julia to discuss progress
Watch “Wild Life” with film group
Read “Into. To Queer Theory” and start “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 6 October 29th-November 2nd
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, work with super 8 footage and start process of translation and subtitles
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “the Gleaners and I” with film group
Read “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 7 November 5-9th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter
Meet with editor to show progress
Work on fundraiser party
Start getting venues and making flyers for rough-cut screening in December
Watch “Word is out” and “Before Stonewall” with film group
Finish reading “The Visual Story”
Meet with Julia to discuss progress and show footage
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 8 November 12-16th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, have latest version of film on DVD to show at fundraiser party
Have Fundraiser Cocktail party in Seattle!
Start inviting guests to screenings of rough-cut at end of quarter
Watch “Juggling Gender” and “Trembling before G-D” with film group
Write on academic blog about my learning and about the fundraiser
Week 9 November 26-30th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening at the end of quarter, make sure rough cut has some subtitles/other languages in it and or some animation/super 8.
Watch “Tongues Untied” with film group
Start holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Confirm venues, short tour of rough-cut screening plus inviting guests
Write on academic blog about my readings, learning
Week 10 December 3rd-7th
Edit final rough cut short for screening and transfer to DVD
Meet with editor to get final feed back before screening
Meet with Julia to get final feed back before screening
Continue holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Watch “Boy I am” with film group
Write Self Evaluation
Evaluative blog on the quarter and my thought on the final rough cut
Week 11 December 10-14th Eval Week
Have an artistic critique session with faculty and artists to watch a rough cut short piece and get feed back.
Tour this rough cut short on the west coast with artists and community members to get feed back.
Faculty evaluation from Julia
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