Happy Birthday, Doc!

Happy birthday, Surry!


Today is a very special birthday for my friend, mentor and executive producer, Surry.  We met many years ago, when he was kind enough to give me a summer job while I was in college.  Since then, Surry has taught me so many life lessons.  He's provided wisdom, encouragement, stern talking to's that keep me in line, and more.

Surry served in Vietnam during the war as a medic.  I'm told that the medics were in short order, which meant they worked like dogs and slept very little.  If the medics were sleeping, people were dying.  Yet he's remained very humble about it all.  Other people tell me about the great things he did in Vietnam and all of the things he continues to do today.  I've been very lucky to witness some of that first hand, too.

Surry's a kindred spirit, interested in so many different things.  He's not afraid to try his hand at something new, whether it's surfing, teaching people about medicine, hiking to mountain tops, opening new businesses or traveling abroad.  He's generous with his time, advice and encouragement.  He's the type of guy you want to write an autobiography (uhem: hint, hint).

I hope that today is a delightful day for you, Surry!  Keep on making the world a better place.

Updates on the Next #TriFilm

By request, we're working on another #TriFilm event.  This is a very informal evening designed to be in the same room with people who love film as much as you do.  We have a tentative date set for Tuesday, March 23 from 6-8PM so mark your calendar and register here: http://trifilm2.eventbrite.com/.  We'll keep you posted on the location, as we think we have a good one.  It's a spot that is central to the Triangle, has a private room, and even has a large screen should we want to show some films from a laptop.  More announcements on the way!

Ignite Raleigh 2

This Wednesday is Ignite Raleigh 2, an event I attended last year and really enjoyed.  The folks that organize it do an amazing job.  


These guys have really shaped the social media community in Raleigh, and I am a big fan of them and their work.  They pull together fascinating, energetic and passionate people that always teach me something new.  It's a great group, and they put together really fun events.  I confess that I take them for granted, but want to give them a big public thank you for all that they do.  Keep up the good work, guys!


Go to Ignite Raleigh 2 this Wednesday night.  You can learn more about the event on the website: http://igniteraleigh.com/about/.  The basis is that a presenter gets five minutes and 20 slides (that auto-rotate) to talk about a subject of their choice.  The presenters have been chosen by the community who has voted for them over the past weeks.  Some of my friends will be presenting on topics like "Everyone Needs a Dumb Guy" by Chris Moody, "13 Reasons Women Should Take Up Boxing" by Lisa Creech Bledsoe, and "Anti-Social Media: Breaking Connections for Fun and Profit" by Jay Dolan.


While I have been looking forward to the event for months, and I mean months, I have decided not to attend this week so that I can keep working on the rough cut of Abandoned Allies.  This month marks two years that we have been working on the film.  I've been on lock down lately trying to get the rough cut finished so that we can release the film this summer.


If you're attending Ignite Raleigh 2, please share my hellos with everyone!  I will certainly be missing you all, knowing you're having such a fun time!

The Term Montagnard & Jarai Online Dictionary

To the unacquainted, the term Montagnard can be a bit confusing and the pronunciation can give people some trouble.  Here is a fairly accurate audio clip of the word so you can hear it pronounced: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/montagnard.  Keep in mind, people pronounce the word differently, so you won't hear it pronounced exactly like the robotic version at Dictionary.com.  There's more fluidity to the word when it's used, and people will say the first half a little differently.  Some say "mont" and others say "munt" so it depends on who is using the word.  The "g" is silent, which throws off some English-speaking folks.  

Anyway, the term is kind of like American Indian or Native American--in that it is a term from outsiders used to reference a lot of different tribes, each of which have their own culture and language.  It began when the French were in the highlands of Vietnam, and began referencing the tribes collectively as Montagnards which is a derivative of the French word montagne (meaning mountain in English).  The term Montagnard basically means mountain people.  There are some other terms, but we'll stick to just one for the sake of brevity for this post.

One of the largest Montagnard tribes is Jarai.  I have had the pleasure of meeting a few members of the Jarai tribe that live in North Carolina while working on this film.  They have been very kind to me, sharing their culture, history and time.  It is something I definitely don't take for granted.

The image to the left is a map of Vietnam created by one of our cast members, Charlie Long, who was a missionary with his wife, EG, in Vietnam.  Charlie spent time documenting about 30 Montagnard tribes and languages.  (He even translated the Bible into one of the Montagnard languages.)  This map details where the tribes were located, and right in the middle there is a section showing the Jarai tribe.  You can see that it's much larger than many of the others.

One of the members of the Jarai tribe, whom I have already written about is a man named Lap.  He has been working on a Jarai-English dictionary for quite some time.  That's probably an understatement.  He's been working hard on it for, well, as long as I've known him (and we've been working on Abandoned Allies for about two years now).

Lap emailed me this weekend to say that the dictionary he's been working on is now online!  I can't imagine how excited he must be about this achievement.  Lap has been meeting with the elders in his community to build this dictionary, one that I believe includes about 3,000 words.  He gathered details on Jarai words, different meanings, and the English translation.  

This is a huge accomplishment, to say the least.  I think it may very well be the first online Montagnard dictionary, too.  It is published by TshwaneDje Human Language Technology based in South Africa, as Lap tells me.  

Enjoy using the dictionary: http://dictionaryq.com/jarai.  Feel free to post any comments on the dictionary here on this blog, so that Lap can see your feedback.  Tell him congrats or words of encouragement.  I know he'll appreciate it!

The Next #TriFilm Event

Hello, friends!  A few of you have asked for another filmmakers gathering, so I was looking at some mid-March dates. Using Twitter I recently proposed the evening of 3/23 or 3/24 for another gathering.  Wednesdays seemed to be a pretty bad evening for a handful of folks, though.  I've asked a fellow filmmaker and community organizer if one of those nights would work well for his group so that perhaps we could have a joint event some where in the middle of the Triangle.

Sit tight; we're still working out the details.  Since the #trifilm gathering is rather informal, I wanted to give everyone a heads up about what plans are in the works.  We'll keep you posted, for sure!

Before I Began

Before I began working on Abandoned Allies, I knew very little about the Vietnam War and almost nothing about the Montagnard people.  When I first started talking to our cast members, I questioned where they got their news.  How were they hearing about what's happening in Vietnam and I knew nothing about it?

The same question came to me recently, "Where do you find this news?"

When I found a lot of great articles online today, I realized the only reason I found them is because I'm actively looking for them.  We live in a sound-bite world where we digest news in a decreasing amount of minutes--if at all--on a daily basis.  If the first few paragraphs aren't interesting, we move on.  If the broadcast news doesn't entertain, we turn the channel.  We take less and less time to do our own research to find out what's really happening, so if it isn't served to us in an easily-digestible manner then we don't hear it.

There's no one to blame for this, really.  It's not just a "sign of the times" either.  It's just, simply, the way things are today.  I know because it's how I behaved before I began this project.

Now that I know people in Vietnam (and other places around the world) are being persecuted--raped, jailed, or murdered--for being an American ally nearly 40 years ago, I have started actively seeking more information.  You know why?  Because I'm angry about it.  I am embarrassed that our media puts more weight on an apology from Tiger Woods than it does on people being hunted in the jungles of Vietnam.  I'm upset that my generation can tell you all about Hollywood celebrities and nothing about foreign policy.  And yet, I am desperately trying to tell this story as objectively as possible so audience members can make up their own minds.

There's no doubt that this project has changed me.  It's altered my entire existence.  Before I began, I thought politics were something best left to politicians.  Now I realize that is what they want you to do.  By being ignorant of what's happening, we leave the fate of our nation, future and destiny in the hands of people that may not have our best interest in mind.  And that's putting it lightly.  It's a widely acceptable hasty generalization that politicians are crooked and corrupt, so why would we leave politics to them?

Before I began, I was clueless about a lot of these things.  I am saddened by the fact that this film may do nothing to make a difference, but it's not going to stop me from trying.  I've seen the power of film and social media in action.  I know what a group of people--even a small group of people--can do to make positive change happen.  And I believe, without a crack in my faith, that big things can happen when seemingly little people make the decision to stand up for what's right.

Without a doubt, this film has changed my thoughts on a lot of things.  Before I began I was a much different person.  Not better or worse, perhaps but definitely different.  I dream that this film will find its way into people's hearts, the hearts of people that can make a difference, and that my country will indeed keep the promise it made so many years ago: we will help you find freedom from oppression.

Screening Events for Abandoned Allies

As editing on Abandoned Allies continues, the idea of screening the film to select groups keeps buzzing around in my head.  You spend so much time editing and analyzing the story that it's easy to get too close to the project.  You start to wonder if the things you think are important are still really important for an audience.  Or the opposite--is something you think unimportant, and therefore cut out of the film, actually really important and need to go back in so that the audience isn't confused?


From the get-go, I have wanted to organize some screening events so that we get honest feedback from people that will hopefully make the film better.  Screening events help you get feedback from people so you can make the story tighter, pacing better, and film more memorable.


There are details about screening events, having never attended nor organized one, that have left me wondering.  Thank goodness Jane Kelly Kosek, who writes a blog All About Indie Filmmaking, just posted an entry titled "Focus Group Screening for Take Me Home".  She answers a lot of the questions that have been floating around in my head.


Is it better to have written, anonymous feedback?  Should it be people you know, or complete strangers who know nothing about the project?  What is the energy in the room like when  you screen your film for the first time?


The screening events have been a nerve-racking thing, continuing to nag at me as I put clips in order on the timeline.  Her post helped quiet a lot of those thoughts so that I can return to them once we have the rough cut finished.  Take a look at her entry: http://bit.ly/bwRVF6.  It is well-written and includes some great tips.  Enjoy!

Finance Plans for Indie Films

This is my first film, and it's basically a zero-dollar budget one; however, I hope that the next film might have a little bit of funding. It's too early to think of these things in great depth because we're still editing this one.

Every now and then I look up from editing to take a deep breath and stretch. Today I came across this article while doing so: Top Independent Filmmakers, Take Finance Plans Seriously. It's a short, well written article and something I look forward to revisiting when we finish Abandoned Allies.

There's no clue what the future will bring, but I know that filmmaking is something I will love for a very long time. I look forward to having a financial plan for the next film I do and hopefully a bit of financial backing, too.

Triangle Film Society Launches March 4th

On Thursday, March 4th, 2010, the Triangle Film Society will officially launch at a party in Durham, N.C. At an event I organized earlier this year (#TriFilm) with help from several friends including @RobLaughter, Nene Kalu announced plans to form the Triangle Film Society. Nene Kalu and Kathy Justice previously worked together on FilmSPARK, which is part of SPARKcon (http://www.sparkcon.com/).

I was told that the society is a means to unite some of the existing film communities in the area. Over the past few months, my friends have graciously introduced me to some of those existing communities and I am delighted about them! It is so much fun to be in a room full of people passionate about filmmaking. The energy is tangible.

EDITED
Sorry for the confusion, folks. Nene and I had several conversations since my event in January, and she asked me to help promote the Triangle Film Society. Nene informed me that they have a limited amount of space at the venue for the launch party so it is, in fact, not open to the public. This is a great lesson in today's age of rapid communications, no?! I'm told that they will have an event later that is open to the public, although I don't have the details on that yet.

In the meantime, I am organizing another #TriFilm event by request of a few people. We will likely have the informal networking event some time mid-March. There's no fee to attend. Just a chance to meet others in the area and talk about one of our favorite subjects: making films.

25 Tips to Make Documentary Film Interviews Better When Going Solo

There are a lot of lists of tips out there for documentary filmmakers. Here are a few recommendations of my own. These tips are based on doing the interview process by yourself, but I recommend getting someone to help you.

1. Ask someone to help you: carry equipment, set up, run errands, etc.
2. Read as much as possible about conducting interviews, the subject matter of your film, and the expertise of your interviewee before filming begins.
3. Get a lot of rest before the interview.
4. Pack your bags and check them twice. Do you have all of your cables, tapes, notes, extension cords, extra batteries, 2 sets of head phones, etc.?
5. Get to the location earlier than you think you should.
6. Bring water for you and the interviewee.
7. Bring your digital camera (not just film equipment). Take a picture of the subject for promotional materials before the interview begins. Take a picture of the subject in front of the cameras so you'll have behind the scenes promotional materials.
8. Schedule breaks for lunch so you don't work / film for 12 hours straight.
9. Have your questions ready--all typed on one page so you can look down easily to get to the next one.
10. Share the questions with the interviee prior to filmming, but only if appropriate to do so.
11. Interview the person in chronological order--don't jump from past to present too much if possible.
12. Choose a quiet room, with no distractions/interruptions to conduct the interview.
13. Choose a background that's not distracting.
14. Choose comfortable chairs that make no noise when sitting in them. (Or choose uncomfortable chairs if you want to have a certain impact on the person you're interviewing.)
15. Choose a room that has no windows if you have lighting equipment. The sunlight will change a lot during the course of your interview, causing lighting inconsistencies on film.
16. Remember to turn off the room's lights if you have lighting equipment. They may cast an unwanted tone on your subject.
17. Put the camera in front of you so you can be sure the subject matter is framed properly.
18. Wear ear phones to be sure the audio is being captured.
19. Don't make any noises while they interviewee is talking.
20. Maintain eye contact with the interviewee while they're speaking and react to what they're saying--nod, smile, laugh, etc.--but do so silently.
21. Don't worry about stopping / starting the tape if there are interruptions.
22. Ask questions so that the interviewee speaks in complete sentences, not just yes or no answers
23. Be patient. Give the interviewee the moments of silence so they can organize their thoughts before you move on to your next question.
24. Don't be afraid to cut them off if the interviewee derails from the information you really hope to capture. Every minute of what's filmed costs money in tape availability, transcriptions of footage and time spent editing it out later.
25. Get your interviews transcribed by a professional to make editing easier later.

There are so many more tips to share, but one of the best ways to learn is by doing. I had to learn a lot of this by diving in, with my executive producer's support and encouragement. Sink or swim isn't always the best way to learn, but it will certainly make those lessons hard to forget.

Surround Yourself with the Very Best

After each filmed interview, I would give Surry a recap of the experience. We've conducted 15 interviews (two or three of which we'll have to reshoot so that they are also in high def). After each one, I remarked that I felt so privileged to talk with such impressive people on camera. These men really are some of the finest you'll ever meet.

They are strong, humble and brave but they are so much more than that. They are smart, tactical, genuine, generous and have a protective/parental air about them that is in no way condescending. They have corrected me when I misunderstood the story, given me advice on where to get more information, and gone above and beyond to make sure that this story is accurately shared with others.

Monday night we had a meeting with some of my volunteers helping with marketing, communications, social media and event planning. As we went around the table introducing ourselves, our backgrounds and our roles/interest with Abandoned Allies I sat in awe at the team surrounding me. These, too, are some of the finest people you'll ever meet.

They are lending me their talents, wisdom, time and guidance to help make Abandoned Allies a great film. To them, I am most grateful for the support and the not-so-gentle reminders that I need to let them help me.

You see, for so long we have been working on this project with a very small team. Since March 2008, Surry and I have been working together with the occasional assistance from some very talented people. That's almost two years of working with just a handful of people. On the whole, there was no collective team with which to meet, as was the case last night. What a great feeling it was to sit with six people, each of whom has said, "Yes, I'll do what I can to help!"

My number one focus for Abandoned Allies right now is editing the "talking heads" version of the film. So, to some degree, a meeting about marketing, communications, social media and event planning seems a bit premature. Years of experience tell me otherwise, though. It's never, never too early to gather a team of that sort. The introductions, strategy planning, brainstorming--all of those things must happen right now. It takes time to plan, get things in order and prepare. That time is now.

One of the best things about this group is that they, too, are challenging me to be a better filmmaker. It's delightful. And each one of them seems to have a great sense of humor. We laughed a lot at dinner. You know, if it's not a touch of fun, then why do it? Life's too short. This should be fun, for sure.

It'll be a great pleasure to introduce everyone to you at some point. Like I said, I'm working hard to get the "talking heads" version of the film finished right now. (In fact, the minutes of edited footage is playing as I type this so that I can hear it.) You might see some guests posts from the team in the future.

In the meantime, we're all looking forward to this summer's release of Abandoned Allies.

The Cove

This weekend I finally had a chance to watch The Cove. It's a film about the slaughtering of dolphins in Japan. Annually, about 23,000 dolphins are killed in this little cove in Taiji, Japan. Those that aren't killed go into captivity to perform for people. At the end of this post is a synopsis pulled from their website.

Images from the film will not cease to keep replaying in my mind. It is a very powerful film, something that has inspired me to believe that our little film might actually lead to positive change. They worked hard to get footage of what's happening, and to put it out there so that the world knows about the injustice that's taking place. I'm furious about it!

It took me a great deal of courage to watch the film. Simply to watch it. Dolphins are quite sacred animals in my world. I have always been a big fan because I'm a beach girl. We grew up on the water, where wild dolphins swam around us and near our boats. In Florida, at a company that claims the dolphins come and go as they please, I swam with a dolphin named Fonzie. It's tough to put into words the chemistry and the unspoken connection between man and animal.

While watching the film, I wanted some resolution to have taken place. I wanted the problem to be solved before the credits rolled. I wanted them to say, "This was a huge problem, but through the production of this film, positive change has happened." Guess what? That wasn't in the film. And unfortunately, it won't be in ours either. And that breaks my heart.

You know, the only promise I can make right now is that this film will bring awareness and even that feels like it's a big promise. So desperately I want to shout, "Don't you see what's happening?! We have to do something about it. These are people who are suffering. Yes, dolphins are undeniably important, but these are people---our allies--who need our help. We as American citizens need to stand up and say that we don't want this to continue."

The Cove gives me hope. It's a documentary with passionate people behind it, pushing for positive change. I am taking a lesson from what they have done, hoping that we might do the same.

The Cove begins in Taiji, Japan, where former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it was O’Barry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation “Flipper.”

But his close relationship with those dolphins – the very dolphins who sparked a global fascination with trained sea mammals that continues to this day -- led O’Barry to a radical change of heart. One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and self-aware creatures so beautifully adapted to life in the open ocean must never be subjected to human captivity again. This mission has brought him to Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonders and mysteries of the sleek, playful dolphins and whales that swim off their coast.

But in a remote, glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and “Keep Out” signs, lies a dark reality. It is here, under cover of night, that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and an underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in an unseen hunt. The nature of what they do is so chilling -- and the consequences are so dangerous to human health -- they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it.

Undeterred, O’Barry joins forces with filmmaker Louis Psihoyos and the Oceanic Preservation Society to get to the truth of what’s really going on in the cove and why it matters to everyone in the world. With the local Chief of Police hot on their trail and strong-arm fishermen keeping tabs on them, they will recruit an “Ocean's Eleven”-style team of underwater sound and camera experts, special effects artists, marine explorers, adrenaline junkies and world-class free divers who will carry out an undercover operation to photograph the off-limits cove, while playing a cloak-and-dagger game with those who would have them jailed. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery that adds up to an urgent plea for hope.

The Cove is directed by Louie Psihoyos and produced by Paula DuPre Pesman and Fisher Stevens. The film is written by Mark Monroe. The executive producer is Jim Clark and the co-producer is Olivia Ahnemann.

Conversations with Annie Beth

This weekend Annie Beth came to visit. It was so wonderful to catch up with her! We know one another from good old Little Washington, where we ran cross country together. Annie Beth is a firecracker, I tell ya what!

She came to stay with me on Friday. We spent some time catching up, and then she watched the edited footage. It was great to hear her laugh when I laugh. The more people watch the footage, the more nervous I get about sharing it with a big audience.

One of my friends, Chris Moore, showed a film of his once at a film festival. It was a really great short film, which starred some of my fellow improvisers. I remember watching it with him at the film festival, in a room full of people laughing simultaneously. It was very surreal. (What a cliche word to use, eh?) I was so excited to see my friends in the film, sitting with beside my fellow filmmaker as his work played on the big screen.

Watching Annie Beth watch my few minutes of edited footage brought me to that moment instantly. Yikes! I can't imagine showing my film in front of a big audience. It'll be so exciting!

Annie Beth has been gathering music for the film, getting samples from various independent artists. As she played some of the samples for me, I visualized where they might fit within our film. What a fun experience. Each time one played, I thought about the clips and how to put them all together. I am so excited about adding music to the film. It brings so much to it.

My parents are to thank for my love of music. My dad was in a three-person band in college. Our families would visit, and the kids sat on the floor listening and singing along to the parents playing things like "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Blowin' in the Wind" or any other Peter, Paul and Mary song.

We were very surrounded by music, even before I was born. My mom says that she played music for me in the womb! Haha. I think that's pretty cool. They also helped me learn to play the violin and guitar. My aunt plays the piano.

I digress.

Having Annie Beth on the team is such a treat. Annie Beth, like so many of our volunteers, is interested in a great number of things. She studied music therapy, sings, plays the guitar, has FOUR children, home schools her eldest son, and started a website for people living with Spina Bifida. She's, in one word, fearless. She sees a need and does something about it, even if she doesn't know how to do it all. When starting her website, for example, she taught herself HTML so she could make the site.

It was an amazing weekend, and I feel so grateful to have such a power team. I am in awe at the talented people helping with this film such as Annie Beth.

Editing Challenges

So, I didn't get a total rough cut ready for Annie Beth's visit last weekend, as I had hoped. But setting deadlines gets me motivated, and puts the pressure on to get things done. Despite my best efforts to get it finished, we had an external hard drive fail, an editor out sick, project files that wouldn't open and a handful of other challenges.

We have had a lot of editing troubles in the past few weeks. OK, let's be honest, we've had a lot of editing troubles in the past YEAR. It's not exactly been a smooth process. That's the way we learn in the school of hard knocks, though! For a first-time filmmaker, learning by doing is one way to guarantee you won't forget the lesson.

I'm really grateful for the one-to-one lessons I took at the Apple store, plus my experience right out of college editing video. This past week, I sat down to do the editing myself and those experiences really helped. While I'm not the editor that finds joy in sitting at the computer for hours to piece together the story, I have most enjoyed the forward momentum.

If nothing else, I have what Surry calls a "fire in the belly" to get this damn rough cut finished. It's do or die, people. Watch out!

Rough Cut --> Music Additions

This weekend, Annie Beth (AB) and I are going over the film's music needs. She's a wonderful woman! We went to high school together, and I'm a big fan of hers--this is one smart, motivated and talented lady!

Since AB studied music therapy, she has a knack for picking out what music should make you feel a certain emotion. Being a big fan of all types of music, I cannot wait to add it to our rough cut. It feels like one of those uber critical milestones in the making of a film, and to think that we're meeting about it this weekend is incredibly exciting. We've been talking about it for nearly two years!

The flip side? Her arrival means we have to hustle up on the rough cut! Before the end of the weekend, we need a list of what types of music are needed to tell the story so that AB can do her work. That can't happen without a rough cut of the film: the harshly edited, talking heads version of the film. It'll be bare bones: no added images, well thought out transitions, animated graphics, etc. Just the rough cut of the film as it stands. This way, we can figure out where the music will go, and what it will add to the telling of this story.

AB has been talking with independent artists, gathering samples, and thinking about what type of music should go in the film. She's so self-motivated--the type of person you really love to work with because she brings a lot of energy and ideas to the table. Recently she sent me an email with some song lyrics, and I am just about to jump out of my skin to hear the samples she's gathered.

Working with independent artists is ideal to me because it means you get to support their creative efforts. Music is such a splendid thing! I love to celebrate the talents of other artists by using their original music and promoting them.

To have someone equally passionate, knowledgeable and motivated to make this happen? Such a dream come true. I'm so grateful to have AB's help on this project and can't wait to celebrate her.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
--Berthold Auerbach

The Short Circuit Film Festival

On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend The Short Circuit Film Festival at The Clayton Center, just a few miles outside of Raleigh, N.C. They showed 12 films, many of which I really enjoyed. The Clayton Center is wonderful, too.

After the films were shown Todd Tinkham shared a preview of his film Southland of the Heart. Then three of us--Todd Tinkham, Ken Peterson and yours truly--were invited to talk on a filmmaker's panel, taking questions from the audience. After the panel discussion, a number of us went to dinner just down the street at Mulberry on Main.

It was such a wonderful afternoon/evening! I am so honored to have been on a panel with Todd and Ken. They had wonderful things to share about their filmmaking careers and lessons learned. After having worked on Abandoned Allies for so long, it was a delight to listen to fellow filmmakers talk about their current projects and the challenges they've faced. It seems small, but it's quite rewarding to nod your head when a fellow filmmaker talks about a similar challenge--especially where I am right now as a first time filmmaker.

One of the questions was about the difference in the industry here versus somewhere like Hollywood. Honestly, I haven't lived there, so I cannot make a direct comparison, but I must say that I am in love with the filmmaking community here in North Carolina. It's a small-town feel, where people are willing to lend a hand one each other's projects to help everyone more forward together. The process of making a great film--the journey--is the fun part. Sharing it with people afterwards and perhaps getting paid to make another one? That's icing on the cake.

Those that planned the event, Heidi Stump and Jessica Hammettand did a wonderful job. I am also a big fan of Lisa Sullivan, who introduced me to the festival. My thanks goes out to all three of them for giving me such a wonderful Saturday!

Links

• The Clayton Center
• The Short Circuit Film Festival
• Lisa Sullivan's blog post about the festival

Abandoned Allies Website

Our website is still under development, but there's a bit of information available right now for anyone curious or willing to give feedback: http://www.abandonedallies.com/. You can see a few pictures and learn about who's helping us with the film. We'll keep adding to it as we move closer to the release, which I hope will happen this summer.

James Burns, of CMS Website Services, has been kind enough to help us with the site. Brian Thacker, a man of many talents, is helping add content to the site bit by bit. I'm grateful to both of them for their help with the site!

Right now our main focus is finishing the film, but once we have a rough cut (and then a cut of the film with music and animated graphics) I will be able to focus more attention on the site. I'm really looking forward to developing it!

Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant

Last week I applied for the Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant. According to the Full Frame Film Festival's website, the grant:

"funds first time documentary makers for travel and accommodations at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, April 8-11, 2010. For four days, grant recipients will be given access to films, participate in master classes and be mentored by experienced filmmakers. TWO filmmakers will be chosen for the grant in its third year."

This sounds amazing! I would be so thrilled to receive this grant, not only because the few hundred bucks for tickets to attend is not in my film's budget but because of the mentoring opportunities that could make Abandoned Allies even better. What an incredible four days; oh, I just dream of how much fun I would have at the festival.

To apply for the grant, I wrote a three-page letter and edited together about five minutes of footage. Because Chris Moore sent me a reminder, I was able to apply. Months ago I read about the grant, but have been recently focused on editing a rough cut of the film so we can get it finished. I'm so grateful to Chris for the reminder! Thank you, Chris!

Thursday afternoon, Josh Steadman gave me the external hard drive with our footage on it. He has been incredibly encouraging, and I am so grateful to Todd Weeks of GypsyQuaker for the introduction. You should see some of the work both of them have done--just incredible!

Thursday night I spent several hours editing together the five-minute piece. It is hard to find a stopping place because you want the application to be as great as you can make it. So, I finally gave in around 3:30am. Friday afternoon Josh Mills helped me burn the footage to DVDs. I'm so thankful for his help!

With the help of Surry, Chris, Josh S., Josh Mills, and the fine folks at Full Frame, the application was in the mail and on its way before 5pm Friday. Ever the perfectionist, I didn't have the footage ready for The Short Circuit Film Festival on Saturday and have been kicking myself for it since. We live and learn, though, hey?

Here's to keeping my fingers crossed. The website says applicants will be notified via email in early March, so I'll be sitting on pins and needles until then! In the meantime, on to finishing the rough cut! Annie Beth and I will be reviewing it this weekend so she can start working on music.

More updates to come, my friends.

Deadlines Approaching

On February 12th Annie Beth and I will meet up to talk about the music for our film. We've been corresponding for what feels like ages about it, and I confess that I'm entirely too excited about this part of the process. We have had some difficulties getting the rough cut together last month, because of some external hard drive issues. I am bound and determined to have it ready before the 12th, though. Keep your fingers crossed, and words of encouragement coming!

February 6th Film Makers Panel

It is with great honor that I'll be a part of a film fest in North Carolina next month. Please come see the short films, and listen to the filmmakers panel: http://johnston.mync.com/site/johnston/Community/story/47536. I look forward to seeing you there, and talking about Abandoned Allies (which will be released this summer).

Feeling Better and a Tip of the Hat

Today I'm finally feeling like myself, for the first time in what feels like forever. It's been almost a week since I started feeling sick, and I could not be more thankful to have my health return! Things have been moving forward on the film, although the editing is still causing some troubles. More on that later, as I am getting ready to meet with two power ladies about the film's communications strategy.

While the visible activities relating to communications seem a long way away (we're hoping to release Abandoned Allies this summer), it's never too early to get people on board to plan. This gives everyone time to let the ideas marinate, adjust and grow--and helps us all get a better understanding without having to rush under pressure.

It is such an honor to work with so many talented people. It is humbling to give them a challenge, some parameters within they can work, and then give them the responsibility to take the reigns and do their thing. Because I'm working with my friends, they challenge me just as much as I challenge them.

There are moments where I pause and think about how lucky I am to be surrounded by such talented people, each willing to offer their time to help make the project successful. It even brings a tear to my eye on occasion.

Folks, when this thing is finally finished I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed the process of working on it. This film has introduced me to some of the world's finest folks, and I cannot wait to thank them all publicly for their hard work. For now, a little tip of the hat to each must suffice as there is much work left to be done.

Carry on!

Coming Back to Life

Since Thursday of last week I've been feeling pretty sick with some upper respiratory thing. Today is the first day I've started to feel like myself, and even that's a long shot because my whole body is so weak I can't stand for long periods of time without feeling like I'll pass out or start coughing so much it looks more like a convulsion. It's pitiful!

Thankfully, though, I'm on the mends and am already feeling infinitely better than I was last Thursday, after following directions from a good friend, mentor and medical doctor. Today is still a "take it easy day" with short periods of time for work and catching up on emails.

All I can say is that I'm anxious for tomorrow, in hopes that I'll be back on my A Game soon.

Digital Graphics

We've had a surge of new people joining the team lately, and I can't express how excited I am about it. So many great folks are on the team, ready to lend a hand. It's wonderful!

So that we can publicly thank everyone, we'll have a list of the crew on our website when it's up and running. I'll be sure to post a link to it so you can admire and of course provide feedback.

Recently I've been talking with Zach about some digital graphics needed for the film. I know we'll be using the images I've labored over scanning in the past two years, but they need to be more interesting in the final film. We'll break up the talking heads (interview sessions) with these images to keep the audience following along attentively. Zach showed me a 2d to 3d means of altering the images, which I'm ecstatic about.

He put together a quick mock up of some of the things we discussed over beer with another filmmaker, Josh Mills. I'm really excited to start adding those types of graphics to the film. Take a look at the demo he put together, which helps immensely since I'm such a visual person: http://bit.ly/60zvy9.

Now, back to that rough cut of the film...

Triangle Film Gathering Photos

Last night, a group of people all passionate about film joined me at Hi5 in downtown Raleigh for the first Triangle Film Gathering. It was so much fun! Many thanks to everyone who came out last night. To those that couldn't make it, I hope to see you at the next one!

The Triangle Film Folks Gathering is Tonight

Tonight a misc group of people interested in filmmaking will gather at Hi5 in downtown Raleigh from 7-9pm: http://trifilm.eventbrite.com/.

The group is rather informal, but is one of the beautiful case studies that proves the value of social media--or rather the value of genuinely connecting with people over common interests, and having tools available to help share information easily. The evening formed so organically. A few folks interested in beer and film talk became a group of about 20.

If you're interested in filmmaking, please join us tonight. If you're a writer, photographer, actor, director, producer, angel investor, or simply interested in talking film, join us tonight. We'd love to see you there. There's no entry cost, membership fee, or hidden agenda. Simply, a room full of people passionate about film.

Special thanks to @RobLaughter for generously helping scout locations, without any expectations of a public thank you.

Leadership

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.

- General George S. Patton, Jr.

Our team has been growing at a steady rate, with family and friends willing to lend a hand to this project unselfishly. It has challenged me in learning to express my vision. The ideas are something I've had locked away in my head for nearly two years, so finally putting it out there for a team to understand has been a welcomed challenge. These past three months have taught me a great deal.

Leadership is something with which I've been fascinated for a lifetime. How does one emerge as a leader? Or get elected? While they lead, what makes them succeed? Fail? How does a leader redeem himself after failing?

Working on this film has stretched, humbled and empowered me in so many ways. Recently, with the growth of our team, I find myself dusting off those leadership skills I kept tucked away since they weren't really needed. The amount of leadership training I've had is rather comical, but I was in a position that quieted those lessons for a period of time. Regaining ones confidence as a leader can take a bit of time.

When one of our team members gave me critical feedback this week, it woke me up a little bit and helped me realize that I have to step up the leadership even more. Enabling and protecting those whom work with you is key as a leader. There's mutual respect for one another, the buzzword being synergy.

The opportunity to lead others is a humbling experience. There are many good quotes about it, one of my favorite is, "The greatest among ye shall be the servant of all." It makes you realize that the pyramid is inverted, with the leader enabling others to do what they do best. I hope that I may be so lucky to lead others well.

With Thanks to My Dad

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday. He always asks me not to buy him anything, saying that presence over presents is what's important to him. So, in honor of that request I'd like to say thanks to him publicly.

My relationship with both of my parents is something I take for granted. They are fascinating people, even before being dedicated to and supportive of their kids. To a child, it can be a challenge to look at a parent as a person. A parent has always been a parent to the child. I'm incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to see my parents as the fascinating individuals they are. The people they were before I came along, and the people they've become long after I moved out.

Both of my parents are some of the hardest working people I know. They are passionate, dedicated and talented individuals. I have learned so much from watching them, and talking about life and business with them. They are the foundation in my life.

My father is a very self-effacing man. He doesn't put much stock in bragging or touting what one will do, despite having been in countless news articles and national television programs. He believes in doing great work, and letting the work you do speak for itself.

In fact, I think the only time I've seen him share some of the recognition he's gotten was to see his mother's eyes light up, or because I chastised him for not telling me when he was scheduled to be on TV.

My dad has owned his own business longer than I've been alive. Knowing that most businesses fail within the first few months, much less the first five years, it's incredible to know that his has been doing good for the world of history for more than 30 years.

From my parents, I have gotten a passion for preserving and appreciating history, like the relationship between our Montagnard allies and US Special Forces soldiers.

From my parents, I have the fearless pursuit of entrepreneurial endeavors because the work I do brings good to the world, like shedding light on the plight of the Montagnards.

From my parents, I was given the liberty of dreaming limitless dreams, like the idea that this little production might reach the hands of the President and he might make positive change happen as he promised on his election campaign.

From my parents, I get so many of the qualities that make me who I am. I am eternally in debt to my parents for the things they have done for me. Both have made sacrifices to help make my life better. I am humbled and always grateful to both of them.

Happy birthday, Dad. As Surry always says, "I look forward to our next adventure."

Ohh, Mistakes

Over the course of the past few months, I've been showing footage from the film to people. It's delightful and terrifying to sit with them as they watch it for the first time. My mind races. I wonder what they're thinking. What details they're noticing. What emotions they might be feeling. And if they are aware of mistakes I made while filming.

But, no matter the mistakes, they are there to help us learn. You can spend a fair amount of time learning and trying, but sometimes mistakes (when we pay attention to them) will help us improve. Critical feedback is important in shaping the improvements.

It's all a learning process.

Website Progress

Our film's website is making progress, slowly but surely. It'll be great to have it live so that people can learn about the film from more than this blog alone. I spent some time on it yesterday, adding information and photos. Hopefully we will have much more up and ready for folks to view soon!

My Friend Lap

One of life's greatest gifts is finding kindred spirits. They are such rarities that you really feel enriched when you find a genuine kindred spirit, someone that's as equally enthralled by the same subjects that have captured your attention. Someone that you can sit and talk with for hours, and it feels as if only minutes have passed.

While working on this project, I have been lucky enough to meet many kindred spirits, including Lap. Lap is such a kindred spirit, and I have been so lucky to get to know him over the past two years. When we first met, Lap showed up with his lovely wife and charming son. That meeting feels like ages ago now!

Lap is a Montagnard, specifically from the Jarai tribe and has taught me so much. During his on-camera interview, Lap told me about how he came to the States as a teenager. He worked at a high school, and then became a student himself. He has since gotten a high school diploma, undergraduate degree, and now a graduate degree. On December 18, 2009, he graduated with a Masters from Texas Tech University. He thesis was a 2,400-word Jarai-English dictionary, and will be teaching cultural anthropology this semester.

I have been so impressed with Lap and his efforts. Each time we talk, it is usually about exciting things we can do to capture the culture of the Montagnards. We both think big, for sure! I most assuredly look forward to working with Lap in the future, long after the film is finished.

Congratulations on your latest accomplishments, Lap!

So Much Happens In One Week

The film as a whole is making rapid progress each day, a feeling that's very rewarding. So much happens in any one day that I find it tough to capture it all in one blog post. More and more people are joining the team, and we're all hustling toward the finish line. I look forward to highlighting the team publicly when our website is up and running!

One Awesome Start to 2010

Well, folks, I knew this was going to be a good year. This past week has proven that we're off to a beautiful start. I have so many things to say about what's been happening, but am too tired to write anything of substance. We've been working on lots of great things: editing, animations, web developments, etc. This is going to be one marathon of a month, but I'm looking forward to every moment of it.

Full Speed Ahead

What a great start to 2010! We are only four days into the year, but I am quite convinced it will be one of action and progress.

There have been many great meetings in the past few weeks, and many more scheduled in the coming weeks. Our team of volunteers is growing, and the projections for the next few months are exciting. I believe we will finish this project, and have it ready to show to public audiences within the next six months or less--if all goes according to plan.

In the meantime, we keep moving full speed ahead!

Top Ten for 2010

Tomorrow starts a new year and a whole new decade.

I remember when 1990 rolled around. It felt so odd to think of writing a year without an eight in there somewhere. Then Y2K came around with its threats of everything going haywire. (Ten years later, I still giggle about how my friend flickered the lights at midnight to scare us.) New Year's Eve celebrations have varied greatly for me over the years, from quiet evenings with close friends to huge parties with lots of strangers and noise. The common factor among all of them, though, are the people with whom I spend the evening celebrating. Good friends and family members make the night memborable and fun, and I have no doubts this evening will be the same.

As I follow conversations online about milestones in the lives of my friends during the past 10 years, I am reminded about how excited I am for the next 10 years. Right now I am a 28 year old girl with a lot of big dreams, on the path to making a lot of them come true. What a gift it is do be passionate about your life's work!

So, without further ado, here are the top ten things I'm looking forward to in 2010, as they relate to our film:

10
Working with our crew, and adding more members to our crew

9
Finishing a rough cut

8
Adding music, graphics, animations and archived footage to make a director's cut

7
Event planning, marketing, social media and web efforts

6
Screening the film with small, select groups

5
Screening the film with larger, select groups

4
Finishing the film! YAY!

3
Hosting film premieres that are open to the public

2
Fundraising activities for the film and the Montagnards

1
Starting the filmmaking process all over again!

Feeling Free

The term 'brain dump' isn't really an attractive one. It's a harsh term with no frills. That is, unless you're the one doing the brain dump. When you're emptying your mind of information, it becomes a rewarding and beautiful word.

For the past two years, so many thoughts swarm around in my head, buzzing and bouncing around distractingly. I find myself walking much lighter these days, though. Each brain dump leaves me feeling more and more free to oversee the entire project. Free to delegate to the talented and generous volunteers joining our little army. Free to trust them and highlight their strengths and support. Free to make the film better and more successful.

On Monday morning, I mentioned over breakfast with some power women the recent addition of a PA. Their eyes lit up in recognition of such a critical role being filled. Our PA's name is Jessica Kent, and she has proven to be a rock star in such a short time. I've given her many of the details from the past two years, and she is helping me sort through everything to make the finish line seem much closer than it did a few months ago. I feed off of her energy, and find joy in talking with her about the film regularly.

It's incredible how each new day brings the gift of another person interested in our project. This morning I met with Brian McDonald (@bmcd67) to talk about marketing strategy. He, too, was full of energy and ideas. Later we shall divulge everyone's role to the full extent.

It can be overwhelming at times. The weight of the entire project. The thought of shaping a truth about a group of people. And the gloriously overwhelming sensation of having someone join your cause and march by your side.

MLK Day is next month, and I recently saw a photo of him talking to the crowds with the Washington Monument in the background. What a wonderful feeling it must have been--to be surrounded by so many thousands of people that believe in the same truth! Everyone fired up about making a difference, and making our nation better. It may seem like a lofty comparison by far, but there are more similarities than you might think.

Our little film is about justice and human rights. A group of people still fighting for freedom. Still in need of our support. Hoping that we can forget the sound bite world we live in, just for a few moments, and listen to the story of their people. Or, perhaps, leverage the tools that have helped make us a sound bite nation to make change happen for our abandoned allies, the Montagnards.

Marketing Manager

We're looking for marketing support, folks. Let me know if you have anyone in mind, or you would like to join our team.

We want to wrap the film in the next few months, and will use this time during post-production to get a marketing manager up to speed. We have someone potentially helping with strategy, so this person will help us execute the many ideas we have, add in their own, and help build momentum for the film.

Here's the post for the position:

Independent Documentary in need of Marketing Manager. This is a volunteer position, but you will receive film credits, experience, publicity, and having a hand in sending a positive message out to the world.

Duties will include but not limited to:

*Working with the director's ideas and adding new ones in attempts to figure out ways to execute them on a zero dollar budget

*Working with the team (cast and crew) to make sure all are speaking the same message with regards to the film

*Wrangle in and help oversee all efforts in social media, promotions, events, etc.

*Work with events coordinator to promote any screenings, fund-raising events, and general awareness of the film.

*Coordinating coverage of events with appropriate media outlets.

We are looking for someone with at least 5-7 years of Marketing experience, filmmaking experience not entirely necessary but interest in entertainment a plus.

Please include resume with cover letter.

Reshooting Interviews

With the many people joining forces with us to wrap up the film, I grow more and more confident that we can finish it in the coming months. What a great joy it is to have the project gain such momentum with the help of so many of my friends. It's a little army of people going to war to finish it, and that is incredibly rewarding.

Today I sent messages to three of our cast members, requesting more time with them. The original interviews were shot in standard format before we upgraded to an HD camera. Having two different formats in the final film just won't do, so we're setting up to reshoot those interviews. The audio from those tapes was terrible, too, so this will make post-production infinintely easier, I believe.

Sending those emails helped me appreciate how much I have learned since those interviews were shot. I know much more about the equipment, camera angles, lighting, audio, and subject matter. That experience "in the trenches" gives you confidence to move quickly. I know that I can go reshoot the interviews with no hesitations, capture what is needed, and come back to the office to digitize the tapes and drop that footage in the timeline right where it is needed.

There's no doubt that our next production will be an adventure, but I also know that it'll be easier to do in much less time. It's like learning to walk...one step at a time.

Photo credit: Charlie and EG Long

Hope, Love, Joy & Peace

My family decided not to exchange gifts this year. As a result, we have been much less frantic with the holiday season. We're not stressed about going shopping, competing for parking spaces, going elbow to elbow with others at the mall, or overextending ourselves financially. We have found ourselves in a perioed of great contentment, despite everything being so not perfect. What a blessing it will be to actually practice the "presence over presents" rule, and enjoy how blissfully messy our lives are right now.

Work on the film continues with great speed. Our filmmaking family continues to grow, and I feel that is one of the greatest gifts Santa could bring. Many hands make light work, for certain. And with each person that joins the team, I grow more and more free to focus on what must happen to get it finished.

My wish for you, my friends, is at least a few moments of hope, love, joy and peace--no matter what holiday you're celebrating this time of year.

Photo credit: EG and Charlie Long

Moving Forward

We are moving forward on many things, all of which are most exciting. These past few weeks have seen a great resurgence of progress related to the film, for many reasons. We have had a number of people join the team of volunteers, and for that I am most grateful.

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel...

Photo credit: http://mustafakanuar.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel.jpg