I had a good meeting today with my mentors, Jeff and Brad. Originally we were going to go over my IRB, but then, because that's so complicated and I need to revise it again, I decided just to talk to them about the project itself and how to be more specific about it narrow my gaze on what it is exactly that I will be doing. My biggest problem has been trying to come up with the question that I want to answer. Jeff asked me what it was that drew my attention to this story in the first place. I explained to him that I thought it was impressive, compared to the rest of the world, what Tibetans and Indians are achieving despite their situations and different backgrounds. He helped me transform and translate this into the simple question of, "Is it possible for people to get along?" More specific to this project the question could be, "Is it possible for Indians and Tibetans to get along, and if so, how?" but I want the audience to evaluate more than just Indians and Tibetans. I want them to evaluate the question for themselves. Can we get along with others, and what is necessary in order to do this? Somehow I feel like this helps me determine the route and direction of my film.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Progress and Not Progress
I feel like I have finally been making some good progress on my project, and wish that I would have been doing the things I'm doing now two months ago. However, at the same time that I am making progress, I feel like I am not making progress because things keep getting harder and I keep questioning my project and if it will ever make it past the IRB, if I will ever get funding to buy equipment, and if I even like my topic anymore.
After my journal entry last week I am trying to think more in depth about what the story is that want to tell. I can't say I've really defined it quite yet, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I will be talking to my mentors (there are two of them now) about it on Wednesday and hopefully they can help me figure some things out.
Some exciting news however is that I have heard back from both of the charitable organizations I have contacted, and to my surprise, they seem very willing to work with me. I of course will need to talk to them in more detail about the project, but mostly I'm just glad that they didn't reject me right off the bat. However, I did find out something that may set me back, and that is that if I want to film the slums where the Tong-Len organization is helping Indians, apparently (or maybe) I am supposed to send in a script or a proposal to the Indian government and get there approval before I am allowed to film in the slums. I'm not really sure where to start on this, as in who to contact, but hopefully that is something I can find out. I also don't know how easy the government is to work with, and I don't know if having to go through the government is something the IRB will like or dislike (They may like it because if the government approves then they will feel safer about me doing it, but they may dislike it because it just means that I am trying to enter a vulnerable place.) I would like to make the effort though, and we'll see how it goes.
At times I really just want to give up. But then when I find interesting information or hear back from people I am working with, it gets me excited again. I just hope I'm able to pull everything through, and even though Ashley said that sometimes the biggest flops turn into the most success, I kind of really hope that my project isn't a flop.
After my journal entry last week I am trying to think more in depth about what the story is that want to tell. I can't say I've really defined it quite yet, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I will be talking to my mentors (there are two of them now) about it on Wednesday and hopefully they can help me figure some things out.
Some exciting news however is that I have heard back from both of the charitable organizations I have contacted, and to my surprise, they seem very willing to work with me. I of course will need to talk to them in more detail about the project, but mostly I'm just glad that they didn't reject me right off the bat. However, I did find out something that may set me back, and that is that if I want to film the slums where the Tong-Len organization is helping Indians, apparently (or maybe) I am supposed to send in a script or a proposal to the Indian government and get there approval before I am allowed to film in the slums. I'm not really sure where to start on this, as in who to contact, but hopefully that is something I can find out. I also don't know how easy the government is to work with, and I don't know if having to go through the government is something the IRB will like or dislike (They may like it because if the government approves then they will feel safer about me doing it, but they may dislike it because it just means that I am trying to enter a vulnerable place.) I would like to make the effort though, and we'll see how it goes.
At times I really just want to give up. But then when I find interesting information or hear back from people I am working with, it gets me excited again. I just hope I'm able to pull everything through, and even though Ashley said that sometimes the biggest flops turn into the most success, I kind of really hope that my project isn't a flop.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
How well do Tibetans and Indians actually get along?
I just read an interesting article: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/unease-in-dharamsala/429052/
Lately I have been so focused on looking innocent for the IRB that I have kind of strayed from my original idea or question, which asked "Will Tibetans and Indians get along", and not "Why do they get along", which is what my question seems to have become. This article expresses some of the worries and issues going on between the Tibetans and Indians of Dharamsala. There really are a lot of issues, especially from the point of view of local Indians. They do not seem mad at Tibetans, but actually quite willing to mix with them. The problem they say is that Tibetans do not want to mix with Indians. This is just one of several issues, not to mention the whole deal with the Karmapa Lama (which thankfully seems it is being taken care of nicely without raising more issues).
My point is, I have focused so much on the good lately that I have kind of ignored any negative relationships between Tibetans and Indians, when this could really be a valid point to investigate. My only problem is that I am afraid the IRB will not like the idea of me investigating anything negative if it means negative comments will be attached to people's faces on film. I have tried to avoid this being a risk by deciding that the film should only be screened in the United States, but even still, I don't know if the IRB will see that as enough protection.
However, I also don't want to show Dharamsala as a paradise where everyone gets along if that's not really how it is. How do you determine how "accurate" you want to be versus how "safe" you want to be?
Maybe the answer is in the question that I ask. Maybe my question should be, "What are Tibetans and Indians doing to get along better?"
Lately I have been so focused on looking innocent for the IRB that I have kind of strayed from my original idea or question, which asked "Will Tibetans and Indians get along", and not "Why do they get along", which is what my question seems to have become. This article expresses some of the worries and issues going on between the Tibetans and Indians of Dharamsala. There really are a lot of issues, especially from the point of view of local Indians. They do not seem mad at Tibetans, but actually quite willing to mix with them. The problem they say is that Tibetans do not want to mix with Indians. This is just one of several issues, not to mention the whole deal with the Karmapa Lama (which thankfully seems it is being taken care of nicely without raising more issues).
My point is, I have focused so much on the good lately that I have kind of ignored any negative relationships between Tibetans and Indians, when this could really be a valid point to investigate. My only problem is that I am afraid the IRB will not like the idea of me investigating anything negative if it means negative comments will be attached to people's faces on film. I have tried to avoid this being a risk by deciding that the film should only be screened in the United States, but even still, I don't know if the IRB will see that as enough protection.
However, I also don't want to show Dharamsala as a paradise where everyone gets along if that's not really how it is. How do you determine how "accurate" you want to be versus how "safe" you want to be?
Maybe the answer is in the question that I ask. Maybe my question should be, "What are Tibetans and Indians doing to get along better?"
Monday, March 21, 2011
How to be Creative
This goes in combination with my last post about focusing. It also functions as me trying to be positive despite many my many woes and frustrations currently involved with my project.
In my documentary class the other day we were learning about Dopamine (not sure if I spelled that right). It is the chemical in your brain that causes you to crave new information. In a way it can be very useful because it helps you to want to learn new things. But in other ways it is not so useful, because not all information is important or worthwhile. For example, dopamine could very well be blamed for an hour of youtube watching, when you only meant to watch one video in the first place. This is something I know I've been a victim to because of all the additional videos listed down the right side of every youtube page. This is all information, though most of the time, not very useful.
In my documentary class the other day we were learning about Dopamine (not sure if I spelled that right). It is the chemical in your brain that causes you to crave new information. In a way it can be very useful because it helps you to want to learn new things. But in other ways it is not so useful, because not all information is important or worthwhile. For example, dopamine could very well be blamed for an hour of youtube watching, when you only meant to watch one video in the first place. This is something I know I've been a victim to because of all the additional videos listed down the right side of every youtube page. This is all information, though most of the time, not very useful.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Focusing
Nephi Henry sent me this article which I read and found very interesting: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/arts/design/03abroad.html?_r=1
It mentions how in today's world we are less inclined to focus on what is before us because images and information can be captured so easily through means of a camera or on the internet. The article says that in olden days, when people would go to museums, they would bring their sketch pads and study and draw the things that they saw. But now, we can move quickly through the world's museums, simply snapping a picture of each piece of art to collect it and prove that we've seen it.
It was interesting that I read this when I did, because just a couple days ago I decided that I needed to get a sketchbook to take with me to India in which I can draw, record observations, and take notes. And after reading this article, it has confirmed to me that this is something I should definitely do. I cannot be behind the camera the whole time. I need to explore things for myself first and not just capture them through a lens.
It mentions how in today's world we are less inclined to focus on what is before us because images and information can be captured so easily through means of a camera or on the internet. The article says that in olden days, when people would go to museums, they would bring their sketch pads and study and draw the things that they saw. But now, we can move quickly through the world's museums, simply snapping a picture of each piece of art to collect it and prove that we've seen it.
It was interesting that I read this when I did, because just a couple days ago I decided that I needed to get a sketchbook to take with me to India in which I can draw, record observations, and take notes. And after reading this article, it has confirmed to me that this is something I should definitely do. I cannot be behind the camera the whole time. I need to explore things for myself first and not just capture them through a lens.
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