The Home Stretch

If/when we should ever meet in person, dear reader, be forewarned when asking me to about Abandoned Allies.  Should you bring up the topic, you might find me rambling enthusiastically about how things are going, now that we are in the home stretch--heading straight for completion of the documentary film.  More importantly, you might find that I won't stop talking about it.

For the first time, in what feels like entirely too long, I feel the fog lifting.  I feel the pressure lifting.  I feel the doubt disappearing.  I feel the solitude waning.  I feel the constant state of chaos starting to take order.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I see the real, tangible possibilities.  I see the end in sight.  I see the future of this film, and more films to come.  And I am overjoyed about it all!  It's overwhelmingly delicious, this taste of renewed strength and spirit.

Yes, we are in the home stretch, my friends.  This film will be ready for your viewing pleasure very soon.  And all of these lessons learned in the School of Hard Knocks will make the next film so much easier to make.  

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Abandoned Allies takes on a life of its own, and finds a means to be distributed so that each of you may love these cast members as I love them.  So that recognition of our soldiers and allies may be tangible, no matter when they served.  So that the support from the Montagnards may be documented for generations to come.  So that we might deliver on a promise made more than 40 years ago.

Yes, we are in the home stretch, my friends.  I anxiously await the chance to share this film with you.  It won't be much longer now.  I'm sure of it.

Eternal Optimist

It's easy to get down and depressed when watching the news these days.  We get so overwhelmed with the bad news: murder, corruption, environmental disasters, and more.  The list could go on and on.  Especially with research related to Abandoned Allies.


But I'm an eternal optimist.  I even have a laminated certificate to prove it.  (OK, so maybe it's a Silver Lining Award from my Leader In Training counselors at Camp Don Lee, but it still proves it.)

Some how, in some sickening way, I can absorb the worst news and frame it in the most positive light.  It annoys even me.  But when I hear all of the bad news, I see opportunities.  When I see a massive problem that is bigger than me, I, too, get overwhelmed.  But I also see the possibility that a small group of passionate individuals can rise up and take action to make change happen.  What a glorious thing that would be, wouldn't it?

I have hope.  I have faith in mankind.  I believe that good will not let bad take over.  And I know that all things are possible.  Even what seems impossible is possible.

Process, Progress

This has been a great week for the film, as we keep pushing forward to get it finished.  Here are a few updates on where we stand with things.

Music
For the past few months I've been editing the film in FCP, trying to tighten it up so that things makes more sense.  Kyle Owen (@KyleDOwen), one of our team members composing music for the film, watched the rough cut this week so we could chat about his work. 

It's always nice to watch the rough with someone, since I have the film virtually memorized at this point.  Watching the film with someone else in the room gives me the freedom to see it through their eyes and make notes about things to improve.  We have, what feels like, a long way to go--but it's coming together well.

Kyle has been working on original music, one in particular that makes my heart sing.  It's a solid, beautiful composition.  We defined a few spaces in which we'll need music without lyrics, and I'm looking forward to working with him on it.  We're both learning: how to score a film, work together, and communicate goals.  (It makes me realize that I might actually enjoy directing just as much as I have been attracted to producing, but that's another matter for another day.)

Annie Beth and I are working towards talking more about the film's music.  She is leading the music efforts, and has gathered a lot of pieces that might work well in the film.  The music she's gathered is really impressive.  I am so amazed with the talented vocalists and musicians, including Annie Beth.  When the rough cut is ready, we'll sit down to figure out where a piece of music fits best.  We're making plans to do that very soon so that I'll have a deadline to work towards.

B Roll
The transfer of our Super 8 footage is still on hold but hopefully not for long.  When you've had this one challenge with many dead ends and failed attempts, the idea that it could be put to rest is very thrilling.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel, yet am walking ever so slowly towards it.  We have one lead that feels very promising, but it's a hurry-up-and-wait type of thing at the moment.  This is actually a very good thing, as I am still very focused on editing the rough cut.

For all of the people that have given me leads on getting film transferred--THANK YOU!  You have been a huge, huge help.  I cannot wait to get this task marked off the list.  When you've tried so many routes, it's really wonderful to know that you still have options.  When the rough cut of the film is in better shape, I'm going to attack those other options with full force.  It's a challenge to get film transferred when working with a shoestring budget, but I am bound and determined to make it happen because we need the footage. 

There are some other segments of b roll left to capture, but it's tough to work on that while juggling so many other things.  I have a short list of things that can be quickly captured, but need a bit of help in organizing schedules with a number of people.  For the moment, that sits on the back burner as a result.

Motion Graphics
The team of fine folks helping with motion graphics is helping me think of needs for the film.  We need lower 3rds, subtitles, segment transitions, opening/ending credits, and probably much more.  I love working with them because they see things I don't, and that's one of the things that makes a great team.  When the rough cut is closer to being finished, we can start adding those things.  They are working on ideas and storyboards in the mean time.

Other
There are so many other things to list here: legal, focus groups, screening events, fund raising, film festival entries, distribution, etc.  I have a list of things that float through my mind on a regular basis, and I cannot even begin to tell you how delightful it will be to watch these things take shape.

Thank Yous
We'll have a long list of people to thank, and I am terrified of leaving someone out.  Every day there are more and more people interested in the project, which speaks to the importance of the subject matter.  I hope we can deliver the highest level of quality possible, with the restrictions we have had. 

So many people have expressed an interest in helping, whether it be a suggestion here or time/talent there.  Thank you all for helping, following along, offering words of support/encouragement, and even financial support so I could attend Full Frame.  There are so many people to thank.  Know that each of you have touched my heart and helped make Abandoned Allies great. 

Until next time...

35th Anniversary of the End of War

Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War.  According to an article from the Associated Press titled "Vietnam celebrates the 35th anniversary of war's end," there was rejoicing about the unification of the country under communist rule last week. 

Upon closer inspection of the article, though, you can deduce that not everyone in Vietnam is rejoicing.  Based on the knowledge gained while working on Abandoned Allies, I can tell you it's highly likely that our former allies fighting for their own freedom were not among those rejoicing.  I'll break it down for you so you can see what I now see while reading the article.

Here are the facts quoted directly from this article*:

1. Vietnam marked the 35th anniversary ... with a grand military parade
2. Some 50,000 invitees ... crowded the parade route
3. In Friday's re-enactment ... everyone in the former Saigon greeted the Communist troops with jubilation.
4. In a reminder of how the Communist Party retains a strong grip on the flow of information ..., foreign journalists were forbidden from conducting interviews along the parade route.
5. Friday's speeches were sprinkled with timeworn communist slogans and quotes...invoked by Le Thanh Hai, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Party chief: "There is nothing more precious than independence and freedom."
6. But Hai focused his remarks on Vietnam's economic achievements
7. "The U.S. is a friend of Vietnam now," said Do Phuac Man..."We've seen growing investment from the United States, which is to our mutual benefit."
8. In a speech, Lt. Gen. Le Thanh Tam ... warned that Vietnam must be wary of "hostile forces who use democracy and human rights to sabotage Vietnam."

Those are quotes taken directly from the article, although they are abbreviated.  Now, let's disect what those quotes really mean.  (NOTE: This is my interpretation, based on what I have learned during the past two years of research.  I strongly encourage you to do your own research so you can draw your own conclusions or correct me if I'm wrong.)

Here is my interpretation of the quotes from this article (corresponding to the numbered quotes above):

1. Vietnam celebrated it's victory over the U.S. with a miliatary parade
2. In a country of about 86 million people, only 50k were invited, with no indication of who was invited or why (leaving me to think it was mostly Communist Party members)
3. They want you to think everyone celebrated (see #4)
4. Press is regulated by the government
5. The subject matter of speeches began to celebrate independence and freedom...
6. But quickly switched to touting economic successes,
7. Stating that trade with the U.S. benefits both countries
8. With a healthy threat against any people (namely Americans) who intend to sabotage Vietnam with talk of democracy and human rights

Do you read what I'm reading?  This article shakes our hand and simultaneously slaps us in the face.  The entire article can be broken down to one thing: Vietnam is celebrating it's war victory over the U.S., wants to keep trading because it's economically viable, and requires that we never mention democracy or human rights (much less stipulate that they treat our allies, the Montagnards, better than they are doing so right now).

Now that I understand more of what's happening--although I still have much more to learn--and I take away a much different message: what exactly are they doing in order to mention two opposing quotes: (1) "nothing is more important than independence and freedom" and (2) Vietnam must be wary of "hostile forces who use democracy and human rights to sabotage Vietnam."

What are your thoughts about the article?

*This is just one article, one source.  When reading the news, it's a great practice to read about the same subject from various sources.  Do your research and don't accept something as truth just because it came from one source.

"The Most Dangerous Man In America" at The Carolina Theatre

Recently I received word that one of my Full Frame Film Festival favorites will be playing in the Triangle again next month.  I'm so thrilled about this news! 

The Most Dangerous Man In America is expected to play at The Carolina Theatre from May 29 to June 4.  While tickets are not yet available for purchase, I encourage everyone to see the film.  If you live outside the Triangle, N.C., area, you can find a location close to you on the First Run Features website.

The film is about the Pentagon Papers and Daniel Ellsberg (@DanielEllsberg).  During the screening of the film at Full Frame, the audience cheered during certain parts--they were so engrossed in the story.  

Anyone interested in Abandoned Allies will enjoy seeing this film because it's about events and themes very closely related to our story.  Ellsberg worked for RAND, which is where one of our cast members worked as well.  There are so many similar themes.  I genuinely encourage you to see The Most Dangerous Man In America.  Be sure to purchase tickets online when they become available.

I really enjoyed seeing it, and cannot thank my festival sponsors enough for that opportunity.  I'm looking forward to a chance to see the film again!

Here's the trailer for the film:

It's been a little over a week since the end of the Full Frame Film Festival.  The days since the festival have been busy, but also relaxing.  I've been reading, thinking and regrouping after the festival ended.

I've spent a number of days sitting in the sun while reading.  My neighbor probably thinks I'm just getting a tan but, in fact, I'm reading about global politics, war, education, poverty and strategy as they relate to Abandoned Allies.  The content of the books are a stark contrast to the green of spring, blooming flowers, and bright sunshine.

One of the books was given to me by Annie Beth, who is helping us with music.  It's titled The Hole In Our Gospel, and is written by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision U.S.  The book is, as the title implies, from a religious perspective, and is about the "true story of a corporate CEO who set aside worldly success for something far more significant."  The author talks about quitting his corporate job to work for a nonprofit, and how it opened his eyes to the state of things in our present world.  The World Vision website states:

World Vision helps transform the lives of the world's poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries, including the United States. Our non-profit work extends assistance to all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic background.

The book is rather interesting, considering I just quit my job last summer and went through some very similar thoughts about finances and success; but what I find most interesting is his taken on global poverty and health concerns.  Through the process of working on this film, I've been fascinated with the state of mind of American citizens.  Why do we think the way we think?  Why do we act the way we act?  From where do we get our news?  Just one source?  Several?  How do we make decisions, form political positions, or draw conclusions about historic events?

The book talks about the state of American thinking (and American churches), but not in an abrasive way.  He writes about compassion fatigue and American thoughts on wealth, poverty, charity, and more.  All of these things have become so fascinating to me in relation to Abandoned Allies, as I continue our research.

It's a fascinating book, and I'm so grateful to Annie Beth for delivering to my front door!  What a great gift!  I love to read, especially a book someone else thinks I will enjoy.

Speaking of which, Surry recommended I read Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs, In Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson.  Surry's been recommending Mortenson's book Three Cups of Tea for a long time, and I'm grateful to finally read one of his books.

The book is about building schools in some of the most remote, challenging parts of the world.  Challenging in terms of landscape (getting supplies to build a school), but also politically (getting approval to build a school and teach girls in a community.  The book is about promoting peace, but also about keeping promises and the time it takes to build trusting relationships.  These are key to our story, too.

The two books that have been on my bedside table have so many similarities.  They both explore state of our world, and lessons in how each of us can do something to make it better.  They have given me information, specific facts, about things that left me curious throughout the course of working on Abandoned Allies, and they do it in a way that makes it easy to absorb.  The explore community, education, the making/keeping of promises, and the future.

With these two books and the film festival, I feel like this month has been one to provide a means of connecting all of my research and thoughts.  All of these individual puzzle pieces, so seemingly unrelated, are coming together to make this one big picture.  I feel much more confident about what information to leave out, keep in, and the order in which it should be shared.

We have much more work to do, though.  I have to finish Stones Into Schools but we have a lot of other things on our list: editing, motion graphics, music, additional B roll to capture, and more.  Having watched so many films at the festival, I deeply wish that we could do more research, interviews, and even travel to Vietnam; but perhaps those things will come with time.  Our goal now is to finish the film with what we have and carry on from there.

Photo credit: http://www.stonesintoschools.com/

Full Frame: Day 4

On Day 4 I woke up two hours later than intended; I was tired!  Watching seven films in one day is exhausting.  Who knew?!  Sunday, the last day of the festival, was just as wonderful as the others, though.

Dawn and I met for coffee in the AM, then walked over to see The Most Dangerous Man In America which started at 10:20am in Fletcher Hall.  What a great film.  Anyone interested in Abandoned Allies needs to see The Most Dangerous Man.  Like Restrepo, it hits on a lot of the same themes in our film (but a much different angle).


The Most Dangerous Man In America is about Daniel Ellsberg, who worked at RAND Corporation (where one of our cast members, Dr. Gerald C. Hickey, also worked).  Ellsberg is known for leaking information known as the Pentagon Papers to a number of newspapers during the Vietnam War.  There are so many similar themes: war strategy, decision-making on a presidential level, political corruption, misinformation, blind ignorance of the American people (or misleading the American people), and so much more.

I'm incredibly thrilled about seeing this film, and genuinely think all of my fellow citizens should see it.  There were several points where audience members cheered and applauded in the middle of the film, thrilled about what was happening on screen.  You get so caught up in rooting for Ellsberg and the truths he was trying to share, that you forget you're in a theater watching a film--that's how great it this film and story are constructed.  I fell in love with Ellsberg and the filmmakers for crafting his story so that we can all experience it.

After the Q&A session with one of the filmmakers, Rick Goldsmith, I nervously introduced myself (after following the flock of people waiting to talk with him out of the theater).  During the Q&A he mentioned that they want to share the film, and are working on ways to do that.  I offered to help him show the film in the Triangle again, and truly hope that happens.

The rest of Sunday was spent watching A Film Unfinished (about a Nazi propaganda film that was never finished), Book of Miri (which I had already seen and was thrilled to watch again), and Waste Land, about an artist who makes a difference in the lives of people who pick recyclables out of the garbage in one of the world's largest landfills.  I was lucky enough to hear the director, Lucy Walker, speak as part of the panel discussion on Friday.

Dawn and I parted ways after the end of the last film, each going back to our own realities with the end of Full Frame having arrived.  I have many more thoughts to share, but this was the conclusion of Day 4, and so I'll keep it relatively short for ya!  What a great day.

Full Frame: Day 3

By Saturday we had a few things figured out: best parking options, how not to get too lost in downtown Durham, where the theaters and lines to get into them were located, shorter lines for tasty food at busy lunch times, and a few other things.

Dawn was such a fun film festival friend!  She's so classy, smart and fun to hang out with, and I feel so lucky to have had such fine company for four days.  Today I'm having a bit of withdrawal, knowing that I won't watch films all day and chat with her.  (Thankfully we have another festival coming this weekend with improvisers from Chicago coming down to perform at ComedyWorx.)

Here are the films I saw on Saturday:

• Born Sweet
• Today is Better Than Two Tomorrows
• Book of Miri
• In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee
• Albert's Winter
• The Edge of Dreaming
• Restrepo

While all of these films were really great, the film Restrepo was right up my alley.  I've been studying the Vietnam War and how it relates to what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan today.  I'm interested in the experiences they are having there today, but you can't quite get that from the news.  And not many of them want to talk about it when they return.  This film was incredibly helpful, and reading what the website states will help you see why: 

Restrepo is the feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.  The movie focuses on a remot 15-man outpost, "Restrepo," named after a platoon medic who was killed in action.  It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military.  This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats.  The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment.  This is war, full stop.  The conclusions are up to you.

The Q&A after the film ended was also really wonderful.  Tim Hetherington (co-producer/director/cameraman) took audience questions and answered them with ease and style.  Like the website states, the film is not about politics, and Hetherington kept to that idea during the Q&A session.  I'll paraphrase one of the things he said when asked about whether the U.S. should still be in Iraq & Afghanistan, "I can't tell you what to think.  This is a democracy, and you have to make up your own mind.  Besides, I'm British so you wouldn't listen to me anyway."

This is a film everyone should see; you absolutely fall in love with the soldiers in the film.  For the sake of this film, it doesn't matter where you stand politically.  It doesn't matter how you feel about the war.  The bottom line is that these guys are there fighting on behalf of our country, and they should be respected and applauded for what they've been through (or are currently going through).  That seemed to be the message from the filmmakers, but I can't speak for them here.  The standing ovation from the audience when the soldiers stood gives me goose bumps just writing about it today.  Everyone in that room was standing and applauding them.  

Some of the things the film covered mirror some of the things in Abandoned Allies: you're fighting for the guy to your left and right, politics on a higher level aren't relevant at the moment because you're fighting to stay alive, you're focused on the mission at hand when you're on the ground.  There were also matters related to the strategy of war: working with locals, building relationships, what happens when one group of soldiers rotates out and another comes in, and are the things we're doing to "help" locals really helping them?  

When those soldiers spoke during the film, I saw the members of my own cast speaking nearly 40 years after their own service in Vietnam.  I saw the same look in their eyes, the same pause when they talked about fallen soldies, the same dedication to keeping their memory alive with respect and dignity.

Restrepo is definitely a film that the Abandoned Allies audiences will enjoy.  You feel like you're on the ground with them, a part of the brotherhood, and mourn with them--even though you're sitting safely in a theater.  I really enjoyed the film, and want to watch it again.  There's no secret why the screening was sold out.

Yes, Saturday was a great day!  To all the folks who made it possible to attend: THANK YOU!  You have given me such a great gift, and I'm so humbly appreciative.

Photo credit: http://screencrave.frsucrave.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/restrepo-1-2-10-kc-.jpg

Full Frame: Day 2

What a beautiful weather for a film festival!  Yesterday was sunny and breezy, and with the rain on Thursday night, the grounds have lost that all-too-familiar color of pollen.  Things are going well!  I can't tell you how much fun this festival has been--and how helpful it all is, as well.


Yesterday morning Dawn and I met for breakfast.  We had a scone and coffee before going to the first film of the day, "Casino Jack and the United States of Money" which was absolutely wonderful.  I saw a lot of familiar themes in the film related to happenings in D.C., and the story was told in such an entertaining way.  I could go on and on about it.  One of the producers did a Q&A after the film ended, and stated that the film would be released in theaters in May.  Be sure you get to see the film, it's awesome.


After the Q&A, Dawn and I had lunch.  I got the same thing I had yesterday because it was so tasty!  It totaled about $9, so to those of you whom helped me get here: THANK YOU!  You paid for my lunch so I could stay in the vicinity of the festival and not have to worry about bringing a lunch or going to get anything.  That translates into being more focused on watching a lot of documentaries.  It may seem minor, but it's a huge help to be able to grab something here quickly.


The day was really long, but most enjoyable.  I watched about four feature-length films, sat through the opening of one before skipping out to meet Dawn to see another, and attended a panelist conversation called State of the Doc.  The day disappeared all too quickly, and by the time I got home I was completely exhausted; but as one of the guys I met while waiting in line said, "This is about the only film festival where you can go home and sleep in your own bed."  So I'm very grateful for that!


I keep taking photos and uploading them to Facebook first.  They'll end up on the blog and Flickr soon enough, but if you want them more immediately, click here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=166368&id=500252484&l=5dd5b9c513.


More updates coming soon, my friends!  To all of you who sponsored this adventure: THANK YOU!!

Full Frame: Day 1

Today was the first day of the Full Frame Film Festival.  I got to Durham bright and early--and am so glad of it!  When I finally found the place to pick up passes, there was already a line forming outside.  As I walked up, the line started moving inside.  There was a bit of confusion and frustration among some of the attendees, but in a matter of minutes they figured it out.  

When I picked up my pass, they gave me a bag with lots of info inside.  As the volunteer explained how the process works, I turned to look for the line he referenced and saw Dawn walk up.  She's a fellow improviser and such a fun person!  We stood in line that morning, choosing our preferred films so that we could get tickets.  It was great to have a such a warm smile that early in the AM!  There were some problems at the box office, so we had plenty of time to catch up while they fixed the computer problems.  

After we got our tickets, Dawn and I crossed the street to see our first film at the Carolina Theater.  We waited in another line for a short time, and then the theater opened.  "The Wobblies" was the first film I saw at the festival, and it was very enjoyable.  


I loved watching how they introduced the characters, pieced together interview footage with archival footage, and especially the use of music throughout the film.  One of my favorite clips was of a man (a lumberjack) walking on logs as they floated downstream--so impressive!  They also had some very humorous moments, despite the film having a rather serious tone altogether.  The release year was 1979 and was directed by Stewart Bird and Deborah Shaffer.  It was interesting to learn about the I.W.W.


Dawn and I then sat down for a bit of lunch, which was incredibly tasty.  I was really excited to see some healthy options, and we got our food just before the rush--yet again just ahead of the crowd.  What great timing!  After lunch, Dawn and I went our separate ways so we could see films we really wanted to watch.

"Enemies of the People" was the film I was really excited about because it was about Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge.  I have been learning about them and how it relates to our film, because it's quite close (geographically-speaking) to Vietnam.  One of my cast members mentioned that a few Montagnards had trouble getting to the U.S. as immigrants because they were accused of being a part of the Khmer Rouge, so I'm still very interested in learning more (although you won't see any of that in "Abandoned Allies" because it's not one of our main messages).  I'll likely have to dedicate an entire post about the film, technical aspects, subject matter relevance and much more. 


It has been incredibly helpful to be so immersed in the world of documentary filmmaking.  You do research on your own, watch films, read about techniques, talk with people, etc, but to be at a festival where the air is filled with the energy of documentary filmmaking is totally different.  Seeing so many familiar faces today was also very rewarding!  I just love our community, and was so happy to see Jim McQuaid, Jennifer Evans, Joshua Steadman, and Phil Daquila today.  They are such fun people!


To those of you who made this adventure possible, I cannot thank you enough.  I've already learned so much that I can apply towards "Abandoned Allies" and I absolutely cannot wait to share it with you.  Ya'll are my heroes for helping me attend the festival!

US-Vietnamese Relations

Where to start, where to start...

This morning I read an article regarding U.S.-Vietnamese trade relations.  At a glance the article seems positive, but having worked on Abandoned Allies for two years now I better understand how this news article should be much different.

Read this article first, so you can follow along with the rest of this blog post.  When you return, we will continue...

First, let me preface this by saying that the matter is not really about politics, Republicans or Democrats, racial differences, or even differences of opinion about energy (especially nuclear energy, which is the basis of the AP article).  If you distill it down and look at the bigger picture you might see what I see: a big contradiction.  Try to stick with me on this for a while, I'll walk you through it.

The article states that the U.S. and Vietnamese governments signed an agreement that "may pave the way for U.S. firms to help build nuclear plants in the Southeastern Asian country."  Sure, that seems agreeable so far, right?  It could lead to prosperity for both countries, no matter how you feel about the use of nuclear energy.  Vietnam needs more energy, American businessed wouldn't mind building plants there, so the deal seems agreeable on the surface. 

"This is an important moment in our bilateral relations," U.S. Ambassador Michael Michalak said during a signing ceremony with Le Dinh Tien, Vietnam's vice minister of science and technology.

The problem, though, is that Vietnam is a communist government that has major human rights problems.  People are not permitted to speak out against the government.  Political refugees fleeing to other countries are being turned back, facing certain abuse or even death in some circumstances.  And yet our government is signing an agreement that is a "'key step' in advancing nonproliferation goals and developing the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Vietnam," Michalak said.

You see, here is a key fact.  Just last month, on March 11, 2010, the U.S. Department of State released a report on human rights in the world, stating that in Vietnam, the "governtment's human rights record remained a problem."  Our government officials are signing an agrement with Vietnam, knowing that the human rights record in that country remains a problem.  Here's the bottom line: our country is willing to trade with Vietnam, but not willing to require that human rights improve?

"Michalak said it was 'only fitting' for the former foes to deepen their cooperation this year, 35 years after the end of the Vietnam War and 15 years after they re-established diplomatic ties."

Yes, the U.S. and Vietnamese governments can work together.  Yes, our country can build connections with Vietnam.  Yes, this type of trade may lead to prosperity.   Yes, this can be a way to deepen our connections and re-establish diplomatic ties.  Yes, this seems like it's relatively positive.

Until you look at what this ultimately means.  By agreeing to trade with Vietnam, we thereby give them an unwritten approval to remain treating the people of their country so poorly.  The U.S. Department of State's 2009 Human Rights Report: Vietnam states that

Citizens could not change their government, and political opposition movements were prohibited.  During the year, the government increased its suppression of dissent, arresting several political activists and convicting others arrested in 2008.  Several editors and reporters from prominent newspapers were fired for reporting on official corruption and outside blogging on political topics, and bloggers were detained and arrested for criticizing the government.

Did you read that?  That means that if I were living in Vietnam, I could easily be arrested, detained, or abused for writing and publishing this blog post.  Because I live in the U.S., I have a right to criticize what my government is doing.  I have a right to say that we shouldn't trade with a country that treats its own people so poorly.  Criticizing my own government is a right that I have as an American citizen, yet how often do we actively do so? 

There must be a compromise in our relationship with the Vietnamese.  We, as American citizens, can tell our politicians that we do want to trade with Vietnam, but only if the human rights record improves.  We value life so dearly here in the States, so why are we turning our backs on the allies that saved American lives during the war?

This is something I did not fully understand until I started working on this film.  I don't have all the answers on ways to make improvements to this situation.  I love my country, and I want it to be a great one.  I see a contradiction between our belief in promoting human rights, but trading with a country that abuses the allies with whom we fought so long ago.

In the grand scheme of your daily life, I know this is not likely a priority.  I'm an optimist, but also a realist.  Most of you are thinking about what's for lunch or dinner, the relationships in your life, your promotion at work, or one of the other more pressing matters in your life. 

I ask only that you open your mind to the possibility that we can make change happen.  We can help make improvements for the lives of the allies we abandoned so long ago.  They're still waiting for us to keep our promise.  I'm so grateful to the cast of Abandoned Allies for taking the time to show me these things.  It's undoubtedly changed my life forever.

"Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything."
- Bob Pierce

That thing that has a name

Destiny?  Divinity?  Whatever you wanna call it, that thing that happens that has a name is really great.  There are moments that feel like pure coincidence...but I stopped believing in that a long time ago.  Very few of those coincidences feel like coincidence, but more like destiny.  It's indescribable when it happens.

Take, for example, the phone call I just experienced.  A series of events led up to the phone call, and it is a rather long story that took place over the course of a few years.  A lot lead up to the phone call that just took place.

This guy, living in some other part of the country, working on something incredibly similar to Abandoned Allies, whom I tried to meet years ago but missed, found me on LinkedIn and sent me an email asking me to call him.  So I did.  The energy on the line was palpable.  We could have talked for hours.  After hanging up the phone I realized it's that thing that has a name (although I don't know what to call it).

There have been moments like this throughout the life of this project.  I have found myself in some pretty memborable situations, some in particular that a young girl traveling alone probably would fear.  Or maybe anyone in their right mind would be apprehensive about or fear.  Yet, the whole thing has this air of protection around it that I feel rather fearless about some of the things.  I don't say yes to just anything or everyone, but on ocassion an opportunity or person comes along that you feel destined to work with, you know?

Nothing is formal just yet, but I hope to meet this fellow filmmaker in person sometime soon.  If things work out, that could very well happen this month.  And that's just like this film to make it happen this month.  I'll be sure to keep ya'll posted.

Next Week: Full Frame Film Festival

Next week is the Full Frame Film Festival!  Thanks to so many of you, I am able to attend the festival next week and I couldn't be happier about it.  For years I have been trying to go as a volunteer, but things just didn't work out for various reasons.  This year was a bit of a mess, too, since the volunteer opportunities were filled by the time I found out that the grant didn't come through as I had hoped.  But thanks to the generosity of my friends and a few people I don't even know, next week I will be Full Frame bound!

You'd be so proud of me, too.  I have already studied the list of movies and events, to make sure I see what is most helpful for Abandoned Allies.  There are a few can't-miss documentaries, some specifically about wars (past and present), policy, and government corruption.  Enemies of the People looks especially interesting because it is about Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge, something that's fairly close to our story although completely different at the same time. 

I'm interested to see how these filmmakers tell the stories, and what techniques are used to give the backstory/history and details that help audiences fully understand it.  I feel a lot of clarity in how to tell our own story recently.  There are a lot of side stories that are interesting and worthwhile, but they don't add much to this particular focuse of the story to they end up getting tossed out of the main film.  It's sad because they're so great, but you don't want the audience to get distracted or miss the main points you're sharing with them.  You want them to make up their own minds, do their own research, and find their own way to help, but you can't force any of that or they will want to walk out.  So...it'll be interesting to see how other filmmakers have approached similar subjects.

During the festival, I plan to do a lot to help you feel like you're there with me, since you've supported me and are the reason I'm able to attend.  Using Twitter, Facebook, this blog, Flickr and all sorts of other methods, I will keep you posted on the experience.  If you're tuned in to some of those social media channels and watch/observe regularly, please forgive the rapid increase in noise coming from me during the festival.  There are ways to tune out some of that if it gets to be too much.

Facebook has a means by which you can hide someone's status updates.  I'll be connecting my Twitter account to Facebook for those few days, so that you can follow along.  If the updates get to be too much, just click on the hide button next to my latest update and you won't see anything else from me until you decide to unhide. 

Facebook has directions on how to unhide, which is really easy once you figure it out.  All you have to do is scroll to the bottom of your news feed page and click on edit options.  You'll see a list of people that you've chosen to hide and you can then click on uhide to start getting their updates sent to your news feed again.

Next week is going to be so much fun, and I am really looking forward to it.  Thank you all for helping me attend the festival.  You're so generous and I'll be forever grateful for your help in making Abandoned Allies a great film!

Two Years, Lots of Changes

When we first started this project, it was a pretty small one.  We planned to take a few months to interview five people, and then put that together to make a short film on the subject.  We just dove in the deep end and started it, with little regard for the challenges that lie in front of us.  (Or is it lay in front of us?  I can never get that one right.)  We were confident that it would be finished within one year, since it would only take a short bit of time (maybe a month or two) to interview the people on our list.  From there we could easily put that footage together to make a short film.  We started it in March and would have it finished by fall of the same year.

Here we are two years later, still wrapping up the film.  It's been an incredible journey, to say the least.  Over the course of these two years, so much has changed.  Our team of people helping with the project has grown by leaps and bounds.  The interest in our project--and when we will finish it--grows daily.  I started this blog as a public diary, thinking few people outside my family and friends would find interest in it.  Now I hear people follow our project and want updates regularly.  We have also upped the ante in terms of production quality, too.

When we first started, we were shooting in standard definition.  We then switched to HD after the first few interviews.  Over the course of time, I got more and more used to the differences in film and still photography and picked up tips from people to improve our composition and lighting.  My background in still photography (including studio lighting) helped greatly, but film is very different than still photography.  Additionally, I was learning all about the Vietnam War, Montagnards, Special Forces, interview techniques, trade policies, immigration rules, war strategy, and capturing audio/visuals.  It was a lot, and I am grateful to have been so ignorant of just how big the challenge was when I accepted it.  But that's what you do: you learn, try, and improve along the way.  There's no better way to learn to walk than by taking the first step.  Eventually you start walking with confidence, and before you know it you take the act of walking for granted.  One of the interviews I shot in DC is a particular favorite of mine since the lighting and background were pretty great, but there was still room for improvement on the whole.  It's hard to do all of that (or rather a little crazy to try it that way).  Many hands make light work, and much more fun.  Collaboration is the key to making the film great and working with talented, creative people is a passion of mine.

Last weekend, I felt a touch of dreams turn to reality. 

Sounds cheesy, but it's beyond exciting to have professionals willing to lend a hand to a project that's so near and dear to your heart.  Joshua Steadman and Gabriel Nelson helped me reshoot one of our standard def interviews.  I know firsthand that it takes a great deal of time and effort to make a set look and sound as good as Josh and Gabe did.  They have won my heart, professionally speaking! 

Josh and Gabe gave me the great gift of being able to simply show up and interview George.  What a joy!!  I didn't have to pack/carry equipment, set up a set, test audio/lighting, break down a set, or break a sweat at all.  I just arrived on set and interviewed when the time was right.  They even let me watch some of the footage while they broke down the set (which was probably a kind disguise to keep me from getting in the way or breaking anything since I'm terribly clumsy).  The whole day was entirely too easy, and I will be forever grateful for their help.  I will always want to work with people that are this down to earth, kind, professional and committed to excellence.  What great guys!

More information about these fellows will be posted soon, but for now I wanted to capture just how wonderful it is to see the changes that have happened over the course of two years.  The only thing that hasn't really changed?  Policies that support the allies we abandoned so many years ago.  But that's the thing: there's hope for that yet.

Talking Heads

This week was a big one in the history of Abandoned Allies.  I'm delighted to report that I have shown the rough cut of the film to a few people working closely with me on it, and I have gotten some critical feedback.  What they've seen is the "talking heads" version of the film, which can be tough to watch because it's the bare bones version without any finesse.

When I use the term "talking heads" it comes from my background in improvisational comedy.  When two improvisers are talking on stage and there's very little action/movement, the scene is referred to as one that's just talking heads.  As an improviser, you add movement to make the show more entertaining and enjoyable.  The basis being that people like to watch movement, action, forward progress or changes in characters.  Talking heads aren't always a negative thing, but generally speaking it's better to have something to watch while being entertained.

This version of the film, therefore, is the talking heads rough cut.  I've assembled the clips of various interviews so that we have the content in the right order.  Right now we have about 45 minutes of edited footage.  Thinking that the film should last right around an hour from start to finish, I don't want to add too much more to the timeline, since music and narration will add to the length of the film.

It has been a struggle, nay an internal battle, to figure out what clips to put in/take out.  There are great segments and side stories that I find interesting/important/entertaining, but add little to the forward progress of this particular story.  I have, in my office, a wall of these threads written on notecards so that I can figure out where they fit into our story.

When thinking of the assembly of the film, I keep comparing it to the idea of building a human body.  If you were to build one, you'd most likely start with the skeleton and then add muscles, organs, tissue and lastly skin and hair.  That might be a little grotesque, but most peope get the skeleton part.  That's what this talking heads version of the film is to me: the skeleton to which the rest of the body we'll be added later (and thus seen, finally, as a finished film).  The muscles, organs, tissue and skin are the things I'm calling the final finesse.

The list of things I categorize as the final finesse in our film is also posted in my office, directly above the computer monitor.  When I start to worry about one of those things, I look up and see it on that list so that I can then go back to the talking heads version and focus on the content of the film.  What are the messages conveyed verbally?  Are they in the right order?  Don't think about the audio transitions right now, that will come later.  It's hard to control your thoughts when you want so badly to see the finished film.  Seeing that list helps me guard my thoughts and focus on the task at hand: forming the basis around which the rest of the film is built.

All of these things I have had to use as a preface before sharing the film to certain groups.  It's hard for anyone to watch the talking heads version because we're conditioned to watching finished films, unless we've already made a life of editing films, you know? 

The conversations after sharing this rough cut have been really enjoyable.  I am addicted to hearing the thoughts, opinions and debates that ensue after the last bit of film is shown.  Yesterday, as I did some mindless chore around the house in order to get out of my office chair, I realized how lucky I am to have such great counsel.

The people helping make this film a great one are so impressive, talented and kind.  They have provided feedback that is constructive and helps me think through what an audience member will experience when they see the film.  It's terribly fun.

The Wall That Heals

Recently I became a friend of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund on Facebook.  They post things like "on this day in  history" and many other great things. 

Today I spent a bit of time looking at their page and learned about The Wall That Heals, a traveling exhibit that includes a half-scale replica of the wall that sits in Washington, D.C.  The exhibit includes the wall replica, traveling museum, and information center.  While reading about it I started to wonder if it would be in North Carolina any time soon, hoping that I might get a chance to see the wall again without having to drive to D.C.

As I looked through the schedule for the traveling exhibition, I found a familiar name on the list: Washington, N.C.  How divine!  Next month, this exhibit will be in my hometown!  If you're in N.C., then head to The Original Washington, scope out the exhibit, and tell me what you think!

#TriFilm + TFSIGNC

On Tuesday night about 30 people gathered at RallyPoint Sport Grill in Cary, N.C., for a meet and mingle devoted to people interested in filmmaking.  TriFilm started as an experiment in January 2010, when a few friends and I started talking on Twitter about filmmaker groups.  We set a date, time and location for a chance to talk about filmmaking over beer, and things have grown considerably from there.  (View photos from the first #TriFilm here.)

What I love most about #TriFilm is how organically it has formed.  What started as an experiment continues to keep growing.  It shows that people in the area want and enjoy a chance to mingle and talk about filmmaking.  There's comraderie there. 

For that most recent event Jim McQuaid (@turnipvideo), who manages a group of filmmakers called TFSIGNC, and I joined forces.  I found RallyPoint Sport Grill through a post on Inside919, a ning site for business people in the 919 area code.  When I called about the space, they were very accomadating and said they had a large, private room--something key in my opinion so you can mingle with ease.  Since they had a TV, it was easy for Jim to set up the laptop so people could screen parts of their films in progress. 

Josh Clayton (@JoshClaytonFilm) showed part of his film "The Virgins" at our event, which will premiere Thursday, April 1 at 7pm at Galaxy Cinema in Cary.  Event details can be found here on Facebook.  Christopher G. Moore (@ilikefilms) also premiered part of his film "Bursters" which should be finished quite soon.  You can follow "Bursters" on Twitter: @Bursters.  Both films left me wanting to see more, and I'm stoked about the chance to see them from start to finish.

Wow, I must say how pleased I am with the event.  The evening was a lot of fun!  It seems there are quite a number of filmmaker groups in the area, and I'm thrilled that the community is growing together.  And I can't hide my excitement at the case study it provides for the power of social media, too.  We found the location, promoted the event, shared thoughts, and made connections using social media.  That's a little icing on  the cake for me.  (See the photo of Lisa Sullivan, @LisaSullivan, tweeting at the event below.)

Since the momentum keeps growing, Jim and I are talking about future events.  I'll be sure to keep you posted when something formalizes!  Until then, I hope to see ya'll in person again very soon!  Thank you all for coming, sharing your films, and being such a fun group of people.

Happy Anniversary?

Today marks the 7th anniversary to the start of the US-led war in Iraq.  My friend pointed it out, actually.  I  heard nothing in the news about it. 

When I went online to find more, there was very little available regarding the anniversary from any major news outlet--national or local.  In fact, the news that was easily accessible and readily available was mostly about Sandra Bullock's husband, March Madness and the debate over our healthcare policies. 

I recognize that a quick visit to a randomly select group of news sites is no scientific study, but it shows me that either (a) the news outlets don't see the war as important enough to give it a prominent spot or (b) Americans don't care about it enough to force the news outlets to give it a prominent spot.  Either way, the anniversary is likely to pass quietly without much attention paid to it.

As I have been studying what happened in history, I see a lot of eerie similarities to what's happening today.  I'm no war strategist, politician or historian, but you don't have to be an expert to see history repeating itself.  The realist in me tends to shout: we're just a small group, what difference can we make?  Then the optimist in me wins out with one of my favorite quotes:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that has.

-Margaret Meade

We may be doing a small, independent film in the making, but there's hope there.  Hope that this film can shed light on the respect and brotherhood shared by the U.S. Special Forces soldiers that served with the Montagnard people during the Vietnam War.  There's hope that this little film might cause the U.S. government to change it's foreign trade policies with Vietnam to improve human rights in that country.  There's hope in capturing this focused bit of history, culture, language and tradition so that it can be shared with future generations.  There's hope that broken promises can, in fact, be upheld even if it's 30 to 40 years late on the delivery. 

We face a lot of compassion fatigue.  We are asked to give time and money to so many organizations fighting different things: cancer, hunger, children's illnesses, the environment, etc.  There are thousands and hundreds of thousands of messages fighting for our attention every day.  We are brand loyalists, consumers, overachievers, in constant contact with the people in our world through a variety of instant messaging means.  We get so overwhelmed with the problems of the world that are so much bigger than us, we don't know how to handle taking any action at all, so ... we do nothing.

But this is our country.  And I want it to be a great one.  I want to seek the truth and find opportunities to make our nation, our home, our relationships with the world better.  I don't have the answers and I don't know what the future looks like from here, but I do know that it is definitely time for a season of positive change.  And it's up to us to be sure that happens.

Super 8 Adventures Continue, Part 2

In the war on digitizing this Super 8 footage, I have long felt like I was on the losing end.  But just like Col. Donlon said during his on camera interview, winning the battle is not about more than just the number of soldiers on the field or the equipment they use to fight.  It's also about the spirit of the warrior: what makes someone motivated to fight, keep fighting and carry on long after it seems impossible to win.  And let me tell you, friends, this warrior is far from giving up.

In fact, tonight marks one small victory at the Battle of the Elmo Projector!  Thanks to help from a great number of people, the Super 8 footage shot by Surry in Vietnam played in my living room tonight!  So many hands have helped make this happen.  

Josh Steadman tried to help me view the footage at his office once, even going so far as to take photos of it and then trying to scan it in.  That attempt helped us at least see some of the stills, which was at the time a huge step forward.  The projector wouldn't budge, though.  It refused to work.

More recently another new friend, Neil Grant, borrowed the projector for a while and fixed whatever ailed it.  I believe he actually took it apart and slaughtered something back together.  Huge pat on the back, Neil.  I don't have a clue what you fixed, but you did the trick!

The projector made its way back from Wilmington, N.C., to Raleigh, N.C., in the caring hands of my old Meredith College friend Sarah Barbee and Neil Grant.  We finally got a chance to meet up while they were in town, saw a show at ComedyWorx, and made the exchange after we caught up.  Neil, quite the gentleman, even carried the projector to my car for me because it's relatively heavy.

The projector came home with me that night, but quickly traveled to Goldsboro with me where I met up with my dad.  He took a look at the projector and showed me how to thread the film through it to make it work.  This photo at the left shows dad holding the projector, figuring out how the film threads through the inside so we didn't accidentally ruin any of the footage.

That day, for the first time, I finally got to see what was on one of the reels!  I thought I'd jump out of my skin when it finally started playing.  Surry has been very humble about the footage, trying to keep my expectations low because it's been so long since anyone's seen it.  But I think what I saw that day (and tonight), it's perfect for our film.

During that visit, dad even took the time to thread a piece of header film through the projector so I wouldn't forget how to do it by the time I got home (he knows me so well).  It helped a lot tonight when I sat down to start working on it again.  I took pictures of how it was threaded through so I didn't forget once it was no longer there.

Tonight, for the first time, I was able to view about three reels of film in the comfort of my own living room.  It took me about two hours from start to finish: threading the film, "rewinding" it (putting the film back on the right reel again), and figuring out how to thread the film through the projector so that it worked properly.  

You can see in some of these photos that most of the insides of the projector (on one side of it) is metal, but there's a way to thread it through properly.  After a while you figure out how to get it to thread right part of the way, and then let the projector thread it the rest of the way (while watching it to make sure nothing jams).  Every now and then something would go wrong, causing the reels to jump off the projector, film to get tangle up, threading of the film to go wrong...the list goes on.

I must have been muttering to myself for a while.  Chris Moore was in the other room editing video, and heard me making a racket.  He came out to check on me and tried lending a hand, too.  He watched the few minutes of film with me.  I don't think I've ever been so excited to see Super 8 footage!

After playing about three of the reels, the projector became coated in the white stuff that rests on the reels.  I'm guessing this is a mold of sorts.  It's white and flaky, so I doubt there's anything else it could be, right?  In this photo you can see a bit of the mold stuff on part of the projector.  It's pretty gnarly, and I wish there were a DIY way to clean the film safely but I'm a bit tentative about going down that route.  It'd be so great to have the help of a professional, but at the same time making a film on a limited budget makes you even more creative, no? 

Last week I talked with a guy who owns a conversion shop in Cary, N.C.  He will take your old media and convert it into your new media of choice: A tracks to CDs, Super 8 to MiniDVs, or what have you.  In December he quoted me about $200 for the conversion.  

In the scheme of things that isn't a bad deal, but when you've already invested a fair amount into a project, that small amount becomes a big one.  (Which was part of my decision in raising funds to go to the Full Frame Film Festival.  I felt that if I were going to spend a few hundred bucks on something, it should go towards converting the film, you know?)  I talked to him last week about perhaps bartering, but he didn't seem too keen on it.  I'll stop by again, per his request, to talk about it in person some time in the coming weeks.

Tonight, though, I shot some terrible (read: terrible lighting and handheld/shaky) footage of the Super 8 film playing with my Blackberry.  I was so excited about watching the footage, that my phone was the only thing I had within reach to capture footage of the footage.  I'll try to download that later, and perhaps put it online somewhere should anyone be curious about it.  The priority right now is getting the Super 8 film converted, though.

There are a number of online articles about how to do it.  You have to play the film on a solid white backdrop, preferably in a room that has no vibrations.  For example, you don't want the projector sitting on hard wood floors where co-inhabitants are walking around to make the projector jiggle.  It's better to do it on something super solid like a cement floor.  Also, you have to make sure the frame rate is right and you should film a reflection of what's playing from the projector.  I did a bit of research on how to do it, and will now have to start spinning those wheels once again--now that the projector works!

There are a few friends who have said they'll lend a hand with this part of the process, which is very comforting.  It's great to be surrounded by men who are just as curious and determined to get the thing to work as I am.

Until next time, the adventure continues...

Previous posts about the projector include:

• The 8mm Projector (3 Feb. 2009)
  http://montagnardfilm.blogspot.com/2009/02/8mm-projector.html
• Super 8 Kodachrome Film (13 Dec. 2009)http://montagnardfilm.blogspot.com/2009/12/super-8-kodachrome-film.html
• Super 8 Adventures Continue (19 Dec. 2009)http://montagnardfilm.blogspot.com/2009/12/super-8-adventures-continue.html