Tuesday, June 10th, 2008...8:55 pm
God Bless Blogging!
It feels so good to know we are not alone.
I had barely finished my blog session yesterday when I received a comment from a documentary filmmaker we have never met–John Gyovai of Skyhouse Films. His website’s tag line is Telling Stories that capture the heart and mind (I like it). He out is out there doing what was are doing. His feedback is so practical and encouraging. Thank you, John! I know the internet has been around for a while now, but I am still in awe of how it connects people.
But wait, there is more! A comment from one Jennie Brotman, my dear friend and a teacher whom I have been through many a teaching trench with, wrote about having similar feelings as a researcher in the classroom.
She writes: “Part of me wants to be invisible, the fly on the wall, so I can see what goes on when I’m not there, so I’m not affecting what happens in their world. But another part of me knows that the more I connect with these kids, the more I try to participate in what they’re doing in the classroom, the more I am involved and develop relationships with them, the deeper understanding I am going to get about who they are and what I’m trying to understand through the research. Or maybe not deeper, but different. And different in a way that I want. But I haven’t yet figured out how to reconcile these two parts and don’t know that I will. Not saying this is the same dilemma you face- your task is obviously very different from mine- but maybe some small part relates in some small way.”
Jennie, I think this relates in a big way. This is the dilemma.
I love these kinds of conversations. They make me giddy.
Also, we found in our Inbox this morning some personal emails filled with sweetness and interest and inspiration. It’s these public and private notes that are making us believe we can actually do this thing.
Thank you to everyone to has put comments up on our blog, emailed, or who are just out there reading and looking quietly at what we are up to.
And thank you gods for the invention of the Blog. Does anybody know who is the Hindu god of documentary filmmaking? We’d like to make an offering and ring a bell.
2 Comments
June 11th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
LOVE JOHN. Love him. Am totally checking out his site. I just assumed he was some documentary friend from Seattle. How cool. I was thinking “yeah, exactly” the whole time I was readingI thought to idea about splitting up was right on, and about the aspect of learning. Also, I really really feel that you and Scott are exceptional people, and that nonfictionmedia is the sum of who you are as a couple, your passions, your combined skills, your whole bodied (body’d?) listening. I wonder what is”wrong” or incorrect with your being an element of the story. Like Jennie said- (I shall paraphrase) that your involvement leaves you both the richer for it, how can that be bad? - why is fly on the wall documentary filmmaking the MO you must adopt? Cuz James whatsiface fragments of iraq guy does is that way? I want more Scott and Amy in the picture, not less! My favorite picture so far is Amy and the girls together (um, I think perhaps my wildly biased side is showing).
But I understand, the desire to tell the story of what life is like when you’re not there, cuz thats the story you are hired to tell, as well as the more- urgent story? I dunno, you know I can have an opinion for days on something I know very little about.
I am loving this blog discussion - and I think it’s a really importland converstation to be having. my nephews just arrived and I am running off to hug on them, but I’ll be back later.
MUCH love,
ELe
June 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
You guys are so inspiring. You’re doing everything just as you should. And you’re asking all the right questions.
As far as being the “fly on the wall”, John’s comments were right on. Barbara told me about a filmmaker she studied (this was back in the late ’70s) who would carry his camera and shoot for weeks without ever loading film in it. He would wait until the novelty wore off and people started treating him like the “fly on the wall”. He would then load his camera to capture his documentary. The simple fact is that by being there you will always have an effect on what/who it is you are observing. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect ) It’s a scientific fact.
Just remember that you are telling a story. Keep asking yourself what images you need to tell the story in the best way that you can. From what you’ve been sharing so far, it seems apparent that you’ll have a fantastic story to tell.
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