Running for the Sake of Sanity

Running is my zen. It gives me the time to be free of the computer, phone, and all forms of communication. It's my time for exercise and play with my dog. It's a chance to think through all that weighs on my mind, work through the problems, and reflect on the day--no matter whether it's coming or going. It keeps me in shape, helps me sleep better, and makes me a happier,  healthier person.

In short, I run for the sake of my sanity.

The heat was always coming, and I knew that. I was just in denial about it, hoping for a few more weeks of running in the sunshine with my dog. It's North Carolina. The South. It gets hot here, and we all know it. So, yeah, the heat was always on its way.

These past few days of 90+ degree weather have nearly driven me crazy, though. Not because of the heat. I love summer and the warmth it brings. But with it comes dehydration and heat stroke when trying to run several miles. Those are fairly serious problems to face, and I'd rather avoid them if I can.

So, I guess it's back to searching for a gym before I pass out while running. I'm trying to be optimistic about it, but I would rather be outside running any day than in a gym. Bleh. Oh well, maybe I can find one with a pool so I can swim laps. That'd be nice.

This clip from What Women Want has stuck with me, even though the movie isn't one of my favorites. It's a great commercial and the stuff he says really speaks to how I feel about running. It's quite nice. Enjoy: http://youtu.be/QyO6ayCb5rE. 

Stay safe, folks. It's hot out there, as you know. 

Memorial Day Weekend

My original Memorial Day weekend plan included visiting the lovely Annie Beth and her sweet family so that we could finalize music in Abandoned Allies. I was really excited about this because (1) I really enjoy spending time with them because they're so much fun, and (2) it meant that we were infinitely closer to being finished with the film as the music is one of the last things we'll tweak.

Ehhh, but that's not at all what happened.

While working on this film, I have learned that one must be flexible with this sort of project because things change on a regular basis. It's just part of the whole "building the plane while you're flying it" thing. It can be frustrating, sure, but I'm so grateful to work with people that are flexible and forgiving as we learn to work together.

Annie Beth was graceful enough to let me cancel the trip when I realized my schedule was off. In my haste to finish the film, I  left no time to tweak it based on feedback from some of our cast members. So my Memorial Day was now meant for tweaking the parts identified during the most recent screenings.

Yet, instead of either of those plans, I found myself adding B roll. (Remember the part about being flexible?) I spent numerous hours hunting through video Alena identified to find relevant footage, downloading it, and organizing it. Then I learned that the files I downloaded wouldn't work in Final Cut Pro (FCP). When I imported them, the audio disappeared. I tried to find the answers to this problem. I googled but I couldn't find what I needed, and pretty soon I was getting quite impatient.

So, much of Saturday was spent connecting with a number of people that know much more about this than I do. Let me just say that I am so lucky to have access to a group of men who kindly guide me through the techie stuff and take the time to kindly explain it to me in plain English. So lucky.

Without further ado, I owe a big shout out to Todd Tinkham, Jim McQuaid, Chris Moore, Patrick Jones, Zach Abrams, and Andy Poe (and Andy's editor, whom I've never even met!) for helping me over the weekend. I needed to figure out two different problems, and they all responded so quickly to my plea for help. They gave me the tools I needed to convert some files so that I could make progress in FCP. They really helped save my sanity over the weekend, and I owe them much more than just a shout out.

Sunday I spent time with family and friends--a welcomed relief from watching that scrolling progress bars at the computer as the sun taunted me through the window. Monday was spent doing more video editing, and I think I have finalized a certain segment of the film that was previously bothering me.

There's much more work to do, and many more blog posts to write. We're moving so quickly now that it's really tough to stop and write about it all but I don't want to miss documenting as much as I can.

Stay tuned, y'all. More to come.

Beloved B Roll

This has been a good week for the film. There are many reasons for this, but the one I'll write about now is alllllll about the B ROLL.

I've been searching for archival footage for a few years, but haven't been able to find what I need. One reason is because my research hasn't been in-depth. I'd skim, search, and get totally overwhelmed because there are so many aspects to the film running through my mind while doing any one task.

While searching I would think about the big picture: editing, sound, marketing, event planning, and so on. It wasn't hard to break the big project down into smaller pieces, but it was hard to keep those pieces separated while working. Searching for footage was also tough because I was so deep into editing the film. I would think, "This clip might go well here. No, I need to move all of those clips to a different section."

Uh, yeah. It's been a challenge.

So I changed my plan. I decided to wait until the film was almost finished before searching again. Then I'd have (a) the clarity of thought to look again, (b) renewed energy for the search, and (b) a semi-finished film so that I could add the final finesse easily.

A running list of the footage I needed to tell the story (refined from the previous general searches) helped, but I couldn't make any real progress in finding B Roll. Because of copyright issues or lack of funds, the footage I did find wasn't something I could use. For example, the clip of an explosion during the war was exactly what I needed for one segment but it was out of my budget. (I had to make sure I could feed my dog and pay the bills, remember?) Also, I discovered that I needed to be in the right frame of mind to sit down and give this part of the project its due diligence. In other words, I was relearning how to (1) separate the big picture out into smaller pieces and (2) keep those pieces separated so I wasn't distracted while working on the task at hand.

Well, there's some good news (for those still reading). This week Alena Koch (who is supporting our social media engagement efforts) gave me the greatest gift: links to copyright free footage that can be downloaded for free. All week long I have been mentally screaming, "JACK POT!" It is precisely what I need, and I am so grateful to her for finding it.

Now, on to the next steps: downloading, importing to Fincal Cut Pro (FCP), and adding these pieces to the timeline. I've not tried importing to FCP so I hope I don't have file format issues. Adding this B Roll to the timeline will take many hours, but it will be so worthwhile.

Access to Information

Access to information is quite commonplace in my world. I have access to libraries, book stores, televisions, smart phones, and the Internet. I’m so spoiled that not finding what I need is a shock.

When I first began research on Abandoned Allies, I naively assumed my usual methodologies would serve me well. Boy was I wrong.

One of my favorite things to do is visit a book store, grab a stack of books, camp out for a few hours, and delve into a new subject. I’m in heaven when surrounded by books. The smell, weight, paper, and the information they contain is delightful. I can read for hours, but perhaps I’m revealing too much of my geekiness. The information I craved for Abandoned Allies, though, was nowhere to be found in any of the places I visited.

One store, for example, had a great section on the Vietnam War but only one of the books had one mention of the word Montagnard. Internet searches were fairly unproductive as well. I found information, but couldn't verify if it was reliable. The overwhelming lack of information from reliable resources has stuck with me.*

Tucked somewhere in the remote parts of my brain was my background in journalism. (Studying design, photography, marketing, and business took priority in more recent years.) My journalism teacher, Susan G. Wellborn, left quite an impression on me.

Wellie taught us about accurate and responsible reporting, research methods, interview techniques, and writing. (Lest I not forget that she also taught us how to have a sense of humor while doing such weighty things.) Working on Opus and Currents (our literary magazine and school newspaper, respectively) has served me well while working on Abandoned Allies.

Access to the information I desperately craved came not through my usual research methods but through the people helping with the project by sharing their experiences, personal photos, and the books they authored. Surry (my executive producer) had many of the books I needed to read, the majority of which were written by our cast members.

We have interviewed more than 20 people in the past three years, including the world’s leading experts on the subject matter at hand. While working on the film, I was granted the access I so desperately craved at the outset.
  

That purple things is supposed to be a bullhorn.

Because I have finally learned enough about this subject to be dangerous, I now long for the chance to share this information so it’s more easily accessible to those who crave it just as I did.

I want to disseminate what the experts have shared with me—through ways that add to what Abandoned Allies explores on screen. I have been so lucky to hear these stories and experiences firsthand, and have learned so much; I feel a great responsibility to share it.

The next step will be putting together a game plan for disseminating information. The possibilities are endless, but it takes time and resources to make this dream a reality. But first things first—finishing the film.

More thoughts on this will come later, I’m sure.

*Note: This information is incredibly hard for the general public to find quickly and easily. A number of people have dedicated their lives to documenting the Montagnard history and culture, and have done an excellent job at it. What I am describing is a lack of availability and access to this information by the general public--people who don't readily know the term or the subject matter experts. I want to make this available in many different arenas, for those who might have trouble finding it if they didn't know where to look.

Screening in Maryland

The setting sun on Friday evening was a beautiful gift.

Last Friday afternoon I left Raleigh, N.C., for Reston, V.A., for a private screening of Abandoned Allies in Maryland the following morning. It was a trip I made alone, and the solitude was both unsettling and refreshing.

That evening I stayed in a hotel room with the fluffiest, white king-sized bed you've ever seen. My exhaustion made me crawl in bed early. The following morning I woke up an hour before my alarm went off, laying completely crooked in the hotel bed and totally confused about where I was or why I was there. To put it simply, I desperately needed some rest. These past few weeks (hell, months) have been quite stressful.

Saturday morning came quickly though. I woke up so early that I had plenty of time to relax, get ready, and grab some coffee. I even had time to clean off the dashboard of my car--something I've neglected for too long.

By 8:42 a.m. I was waiting outside Mike's place, ready for him to meet me to travel to Maryland together. We were both a little shocked when he walked outside and saw me sitting there, waiting. The timing was almost so perfect it felt scripted.

Within minutes we were on our way to Maryland, where we met Greg and his wife. We all chatted for a bit, and then started the film. There were a few technical difficulties I noticed--which I've made notes about fixing--but the DVD played well. The picture quality was unnerving so I need to learn how to export the film faster with higher quality. The entire process takes me about three or four days right now, which is entirely too long.

The responses to the film were positive. There were some areas for improvement, namely with the ending. As I've mentioned previously, we're still working on the ending and it is something that bothers me a lot right now. Talking with Mike and Greg clarified a number of things, which is incredibly helpful.

As I drove home on Saturday, my cell phone buzzed a number of times with follow up emails from Mike and Greg. They shared new resources that will be really helpful with the film: books, photos, stories, etc.

Showing the film to cast members Mike, Greg, Chris, and George has been really, really helpful. The things they suggested helped me figure out how to handle the very things that have been bothering me as a filmmaker.

This coming weekend is Memorial Day. I had planned on visiting AB to work on the final musical additions; however, I recognize that I need time to make changes to the film as suggested by the cast members whom have watched it recently. The new game plan will be working on the film this weekend, and finding another weekend to finalize the music.

Overall, the screening went really well this weekend. It feels so great to be finalizing the film. I can't wait to tweak these last few things so that we can start sharing it with the public. We're almost there, folks. Thanks for your unending support and patience.

What's Next?

Yesterday I mentioned that we're showing the latest cut of Abandoned Allies to two more cast members tomorrow morning. The film we're showing is not a finished piece because we're finalzing a few things.

So, then, what's next? When is it going to be finished, and what's left to do?

We'll get feedback tomorrow from our cast members, consider it, and finish tweaking a few things in the story line. The ending of the film isn't finished yet, but I am much closer to it now. There are things that still bother me, so we're working on those things.

Next weekend I'll work with Annie Beth to finalize the music. She has been incredibly patient with me over the years, as have many other volunteers. It's a learning process, really, and I am glad to be working with people willing to learn with me. I've heard the phrase "building a plane while flying it" enough but now I really grasp what that means: a fair amount of organized chaos. Annie Beth is a wonderfully smart woman, though, and I am deeply grateful to her for lending her talents. She's collected original music from truly talented indie artists, and I know you'll be impressed when you hear it.

Once we finalize the music, we'll then finalize the end credits. Patrick and Zach are working on this with me, and have also been very patient along the journey. They, too, are incredibly talented and dedicated to making this film a great one. They're working on a few things, but are still waiting on the final end credits list from me (which is waiting on the final list of music).

After those things are in place, we'll work with a sound engineer to normalize the film. This simply means that we go through the film to make sure that each person is audible, the music isn't too loud while someone's talking, and that everything is on the same level (it doesn't get drastically louder in one spot and way too quiet in another). There are also some trouble spots that I hope our sound engineer can improve.

Once those things are completed, then we should be a breath away from having the film totally complete. I'd like to do some color correction, but am not quite sure how to make that happen. It's definitely needed.

In the meantime, there's plenty of other work to be done. We'll have a chance to show the film to more cast members to get feedback, as well as a few other private screenings. While that's happening, we'll also work on marketing/branding/communications and event planning. The goal is to have a party later this year because, well, we've been working hard on this for so long--how can you not stop to celebrate such a momentous occassion?

So, basically, that's what I envision is next for this film and all the folks helping with it. There are varying levels of completion, and I feel a huge one is coming up very soon. After that, I imagine I can breathe MUCH easier. The stress of making this film is taking its toll on my loved ones and me, so it's time to put it to rest and start celebrating the end of a journey and the beginning of a new one.

More to come. Stay tuned!

Next Screening: This Weekend



Mike Benge in Vietnam during the war.



This weekend I'll show Abandoned Allies to two more cast members: Mike Benge and Greg Stock. We'll meet early Saturday morning to watch the film and discuss ways to improve it. I can't wait to share the film with them--finally.

All week long I've been getting ready for this weekend. On Tuesday, fellow filmmaker Todd Tinkham helped me with video editing. He's been such a good friend, and I am incredibly grateful for his help.

There are a few areas in the film giving me problems. Expressing these problems in writing is tough, except to say that they just don't work well. I've been over-analyzing the film for three years, so I know that there are parts that aren't working--but I don't quite know how to fix them. Todd helped me find some clarity, and pieced together the story much better this week. His talent as a filmmaker and a "fresh set of eyes" were incredibly helpful. (More on what Todd's doing later.)

It is such a thrill to start sharing the film with people. Not only is it giving me greater clarity, but it's also giving me closure on the project so that we can move on: wrap up post-production, share the film, start discussions, and hopefully lead to social change. It's an exciting time, indeed.

Finished, Finished? Finished, Finished! (Soon.)

The film isn't finished ... YET.

Yesterday I talked about our next steps with the film, and when we'll be finished with it. It reminds me of a conversation that gets repeated regularly these days. When people find out we're almost finished with it, they usually ask me what's next (either with the film or my own career). Often, they are disappointed to hear what comes after we finish the film: more work.

When we talk about finishing the film, it's important to define "finished" so we're all on the same page. There's still a lot of work left once the film itself is finished because this is an indie film and we most likely won't just hand it off for distribution. In terms of production, though, finished means that we're no longer going to tweak the film. We're not going to change it anymore. It is what it is and won't change anymore.

As an artist, you can tweak a piece of work endlessly. Art history has taught me this repeatedly. Monet painted the same subject over and over again. He painted the same static hay stacks 25 times 1890-1891. Those stupid hay stacks! I love 'em. My point is that an artist can be obsessive about studying something, so it's incredibly important to find a stopping point.

What good would it do for me to continue tweaking the film and never show it to anyone?

Finished, then, means we are comfortable with the story line, we've fixed the problems, and we have done everything in our power to make it the best we possibly can with the resources available. Boom. Done. Print to DVD and move on.

When we're finished with post-production, there's a whole new world of work ahead because this is an independent film. We will work on design, branding, marketing, communications, event planning (premieres, screenings with Q&A sessions, etc.), film festival applications, and plenty of little pet projects that spin-off of this one. But we have to finish this one first.

So we finish the film and then start sharing it. The idea--in the long run, anyway--is that we continue sharing the film and having conversations as long as it takes to bring about positive social change. In those terms, then, I have no clue when we'll be finished because social change might take a lot of time. Might being the key word.

This I can tell you: we will be finished with the film in the coming months because it's time. It's time to be finished with it so we can share it. I mean print-to-DVD finished. Show and sell finished. Never tweak it again finished.

Finished, finished? Yes. Finished, finished!

Next Steps

Many people ask, "When will the film be finished?!"

If I've learned anything while working on the film over the past three years, it's that the time line continues to change. So I have taken to answering, "Soon!"

We are working on a zero-dollar budget with many wonderful volunteers, which means progress is slow-going. My background in design has proven that you can have two of the three following things: fast, cheap, and great.

You can have a great product fast, but it's going to cost. Or you can have a great product for cheap, but it's going to take a while. We're in the latter category. It takes a while to make a film. In our case, it's taken a little more than three years. But we're almost finished.

Image credit: http://welearned.net/2011/01/how-would-you-like-your-graphic-design/. 

So what are the next steps?

The film is in good shape, and we've started showing it to our cast members. We'll keep showing it at private screenings to cast members and other select groups over the next few months. These private screenings will help us make sure the film raises/answers the questions we want it to, and gives us a chance to iron our the kinks.

In the meantime, we have a few things left to wrap up. We'll add the final music to the film over Memorial Day weekend, finalize the end credits and put those in place, correct the color differences in the film, and work with our sound engineer to normalize and fix any audio problems. I also want to find more B roll, if possible. I've done a bit of research but need the time to continue looking into ways to get footage that will help us tell this story visually. That takes a bit of time, which is tough to find while you're working on so many other aspects of the film.

The process is a slow-moving one, but that's not entirely a bad thing. It's taught me a lot about the filmmaking process, and the team you need in order to make it happen efficiently. My mantra has been, "The next film will be so much easier." Each day I learn a lesson about how to make the next film better and more efficiently.

It seems almost unfair to have this much fun working on a project!

First Screening with Cast Members

The viewing party from Tuesday, May 10th (from L to R): Camden Watts, director; Todd Tinkham, fellow filmmaker; Surry Roberts, executive producer; Chris McClure, cast member; George Shepard, cast member; Joe Ellington and Adam Shepard, whom have watched the film develop from its infancy; and (not pictured) Sharon Mujica, film festival organizer.

On Tuesday evening a small group of folks gathered to watch the latest cut of Abandoned Allies, including two of our cast members. It was really thrilling to show the film to this group for the first time. It's a work in progress, but we're almost finished.

After the film ended on Tuesday night, we had a series of great conversations. Many of the things that have been bothering me were brought up in these conversations. I'm so grateful to the group for watching the film, and sharing their thoughts about it.

From here, we have a few things left to tidy up and then we're finished. Every day we're getting closer to completion. Stay tuned!

The Latest

Howdy, folks! It's been a while, hasn't it? I hope you don't feel neglected. We've been hustling to get the film finished (and I have been going through a few personal transitions) so it's been tough to keep up with the blog posts.

Great things are taking shape, though. The film is in a much different state than it was a few months ago, and it is looking good! We'll finish tweaking the ending, add our final music selections, mix sound, and tweak the final motion graphics over the course of the next few weeks.

Then on May 10th, we'll share the film with two of our cast members for the first time. I am absolutely thrilled about sharing the film with them. We will share it with more cast members in the near future and set up small, private screenings with select groups throughout the summer.

Stay tuned. We're hustling to ge tthe film finished as soon as possible. Thank you all for the great encouragement you've provided. We appreciate it so much!

Slow and Steady

Tonight my executive producer and two of his trusted pals will watch Abandoned Allies with me. I hope that it's a rewarding experience for them, because the film is in a much different state than the last time they saw it. We still need to work on sound and color correction, but we're getting insanely close to being finished.

We'll have picture lock by this Friday since Annie Beth and I will be working on adding music again this weekend. The team and I are learning the process together, which is really great. In this case, having the picture locked first makes adding music infinitely easier. It's great to learn how to make the film making process efficient together.

Every now and then I get incredibly frustrated with how long it's taken to get to this stage, but I have to remind myself that it's the slow and steady that wins the race. The rush to the finish line is not the ultimate goal, no matter how anxious I am to finish the film.

Making a great film, on a zero-dollar budget, with nearly 30 volunteers means that the journey itself is the reward. Learning the process, working with close friends, and making a small difference in the world is what I value. Every day--no matter the challenges or frustrations--I feel insanely lucky to be able to do work that I love with people that I adore.

What's that saying again? Find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life. Yep. I believe it.

Mirrors and Mondays

Yesterday I broke a mirror. According to superstition, I'll have another seven years of bad luck ahead of me. Yet today I woke up feeling like one of the luckiest girls in the world because of the work I'm doing and the people helping me do it.

My Monday was absolutely amazing. I had lunch with a fella that lives with his wife in Charlotte. They are friends with a group of Montagnards in the area. He is totally amped up about how to make positive change happen, and we chatted about all the possibilities. I'm looking forward to getting to know this new friend, and sharing the film with his community when we're ready.

Yesterday I also met with my marketing communications team. Meetings like that make me so happy. The smart, talented and enthusiastic people helping with the film just ... well, ... amazes me to no end. I'm so honored to be working with these smart, smart friends.

There are about seven people helping me with this phase of the project, and that's just the start. I'm hoping that the team will continue to grow since everyone is volunteering, and time is a very precious thing. I hate for anyone to be stretched too thin on a project that is not paying the bills for any of us. There is a sweet spot for a volunteer where the altruistic reasons for helping stay balanced with the hard work and time invested. One of my goals is to keep everyone in that sweet spot so they enjoy what they're doing, and so they keep doing their best work.

Last night the marcomm group watched the first 25 minutes of the film, gave me some feedback, and then chatted about our next steps. My mind has been totally occupied with post-production, so having this group help us move the project forward is outstanding. They have a marketing communications plan, and together we'll all make it happen. I can't wait!

The end of the evening included a phone call with a fellow video editor who is helping me craft our trailer. He's been working on it for a while now, and we'll meet again today to go over the changes needed. It's great to have someone helping with those efforts while I finish the film itself.

Other great things are taking shape, too. There are two or three speaking opportunities coming up, where I'll get to share more about Abandoned Allies with new audiences. We will share a few minutes of the film, too, which should be incredibly exciting.

Stay tuned...more to come, my friends.

Working from Designbox

Today I worked on the film from Designbox. I love working from this location, and am so happy to have won the shovemedia contest for 30 days of coworking. It has been a great help in getting the video editing completed.

Working here makes me feel like I'm a part of a bigger artistic community. Other Designbox members stop by and ask how Abandoned Allies is progressing, then offer encouragement and advice. It is so needed. Working on such a large project can feel so overwhelming some days, and coming here provides the perfect dose of medicine needed. I really wish I could be here more often, but perhaps that may come to fruition one of these days. It reminds me of my days at Meredith College, working alongside such bright women on artistic endeavors.

Not nearly enough was accomplished today, but I'll keep working as hard as I can to wrap up post-production. The motion graphics (lower thirds, animated maps, opening sequence, etc.) were added to the time line this week and they look so great. It makes the film feel like it's finally coming together.

Next we'll work on music, once I finally get picture lock. Running towards the finish line as fast as possible...

Montagnard Refugees Moving to Canada

Montagnard refugees seeking asylum in Cambodia will not be forced to return to Vietnam. The majority of the group will move to Canada, but only four members of this refugee group will come to the United States. 

The news article is posted below for more information.

Refugees find new home in Canada
from the Phnom Penh Post

Twenty-five Vietnamese Montagnard refugees from a United Nations-administered refugee centre in Phnom Penh departed the country for Canada this afternoon, following the departure of an initial group on Monday.

Kitty McKinsey, regional spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, confirmed today that 25 left the country for Quebec City on Monday and would be joined by 25 later this week, though she did not give the exact date.
“We’re extremely grateful to Canada, because this is a very good opportunity for these people to start lives over and for their children to get a good education,” McKinsey said.

Sister Denise Coughlan, director of Jesuit Refugee Services, confirmed that the second group of 25 was set to leave the refugee centre at about 4:30pm today before boarding a plane to Bangkok.

Of the 50 refugees bound for Canada, 37 are members of the Jarai ethnic minority, who also populate parts of northeastern Cambodia, McKinsey said. The group is made up of 32 women and 18 men, who range in age from 57 to two infants born at the refugee centre in the last six months.

The departure of the refugees comes just days ahead of the closure next Tuesday of the Sen Sok district site that had housed them while their asylum claims were under review.

On November 29, the Foreign Ministry wrote to UNHCR to announce that the refugee centre would be shuttered at the end of the year, warning that any Montagnards remaining at the site faced deportation.

The deadline was eventually extended until February 15 following a request from the agency.

The centre contained 76 Montagnards when the closure was announced, 62 of whom were registered refugees.

Since 2001, about 2,000 Montagnards – as Vietnam’s highland ethnic minorities are known – have fled to Cambodia because of alleged persecution by the Vietnamese authorities.

McKinsey said today that four more of the Montagnards would be resettled in the United States.

One has also been accepted into the US as an immigrant.

Ten of the Montagnard asylum seekers had their refugee claims rejected, she said, though it was unclear when they would be deported.

An additional 10 are yet to be fully processed, but despite the looming deadline, McKinsey said she was confident their cases would be resolved.

“We’re working with the Cambodian government and I’m confident we’re going to find solutions for them,” she said.

The closure of the site will bring to an end a 2005 agreement between Cambodia, Vietnam and the UNHCR governing the processing of Montagnard asylum seekers.

McKinsey said Cambodia – as a signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention – had an obligation to fairly process any future asylum claims from Vietnamese Montagnards.

Coughlan from JRS said refugee groups would continue to monitor the situation.
“Anyone who seeks asylum from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or the Congo ... we hope that they’re all treated the same way – that they’re all given the same asylum seeker process,” she said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the government would use “the existing law” – including immigration legislation and the 2009 refugee subdecree – in future cases.

“We will apply our existing legal instruments,” he said.

“Right now, I cannot say any further than this. Let’s take it step by step.”

February 11, 2011

Today is my sweet grandmother's birthday. How does this relate to the film, you ask? Because, like the rest of my family, she has been an incredibly positive influence on me and has encouraged me to try big things. She's one of many family members who have taught me the importance of family, history, theater, art, culture, and genealogy.

We are who we are because of the people in our lives, I believe. My grandma is a fascinating creature, and I love her dearly. It's been about two weeks since I saw her last, and that feels like two years. I feel a twinge of hurt for our Montagnard friends as I write that sentence. Some of the Montagnards living in the States haven't seen family members who still live in Vietnam in many, many years.

Occasionally, I will talk to Montagnards living here in North Carolina and I ask if they have family still in Vietnam. I'm curious. Most of the time they say, "Yes," but it's a hesitant response--as if confirmation of such a fact stirs painful memories. Many of them have shared stories about fleeing Vietnam, leaving behind their beloved, and trying to stay in touch because they can't get back to visit.

I can't imagine not seeing my mom for 10 years, wondering how she's doing and feeling like there's little I can do to ensure her safety and well being. Not to mention fleeing my country as a refugee, unsure of whether I will ever see my homeland again. The concept and understanding of a political refugee's life here in the States is something I had not contemplated until I started working on Abandoned Allies.

There are groups helping our allies living in the States, which brings me joy. Churches, NGOs, and corporations are helping them get accustomed to life here. The basics like finding a place to live, getting food, finding a job, learning the language and culture, and raising a family are--I can only imagine--fairly challenging in a new country.

People ask me why a lot of Montagnards have come to North Carolina, and one of the many reasons is because other family members are here. You can believe that if I were forced to leave my home land as a political refugee, I'm going to try relocating where I know someone.

Today--as the people of Egypt force their leader out of power and as my dear grandmother celebrates her 91st birthday--I feel a sense of hope about the future of Vietnam, our Montagnard allies, and the potential of positive change that starts with a small group of very passionate individuals. I am an optimist and a realist, and I feel that when we learn the truth about an injustice, we have the beautiful possibility that we can do something to make it right.

For three years I have talked with Vietnam War Veterans--both Americans and Montagnards--and their disappointment in our government's treatment of these allies is overwhelming. This group of people has been marginalized for nearly 40 years, and they are none too happy about it. I desperately hope that we might give them a voice, so that these mistakes will not be repeated.

In the meantime, I keep working on the film. Hustling to get it finished.

Ignite Durham

Last night I went to Ignite Durham to hear several of my friends give micro presentations, as part of Global Ignite Week 2011. It was a delightful evening of presentations, seeing some of my favorite people, and drinking NC craft beer at FullSteam at the after party.

The folks that organize these events (often using social media tools to mobilize crowds) always impress me. They do such a great job of bringing together fun, intelligent people in an awesome setting (and often with free food, drinks, and prizes). They are such clever folks, and I'm a big fan of what they do.

There's an art to throwing a great party, and hosting an event that pleases as many people as there were last night. Way to go, Ryan Boyles, Jeffrey L. Cohen, Zach Ward! Y'all did a great job. Lisa Sullivan organized the volunteers, and I know she did a great job, too. The evening seemed to run so smoothly from where we sat.

If you want coverage of some of the fun topics covered at last night's event, the lovely and talented Ginny from the Blog has ya covered here.

There were great presentations last night, and I feel quite refreshed and motivated today. Simply put: it was great being around such inspiring folks in one of my favorite theaters. Well done, y'all. Keep up the great work. I'm looking forward to next year's Ignite.

February 2011

This month is going to be a beast. A good beast, but a beast nonetheless. We're going to have the film totally finished by the end of the month. We're sooooo close!

I've been having several meetings recently, and I think that we're on track to have everything completed. The year is shaping up well, and I think we can actually meet these deadlines now. People have been asking me for years when the film will be finished, and the only honest answer I can offer is "sometime soon, I hope." It's been a guessing game for the past three years (because it's my first film), but I feel quite confident that we're going to wrap this baby up by the end of the month.

Recently I met with Surry (my EP) and Adam Shepard, author of Scratch Beginnings. (His book is a great, quick read and I highly recommend it.) We talked about the ways in which book publishing is similar to film distribution--a really interesting and helpful conversation. A lot of people ask me what our next steps are with the film. We've got a plan in place, and talking with Adam and Surry about it recently was a big help. I really like what Adam's done with his books, and am very appreciative of his time and advice.

Last night I met with a very intelligent (and gorgeous, fun) friend about conducting focus groups. The goal is to show the film to very small, select groups of individuals to get feedback about the film. I'm really looking forward to that process. She's already helped me think through it, and how we can take steps to gathering people to get the most helpful feedback. I'm so lucky to have her help.

This morning I had a meeting with our motion graphics guys, Patrick and Zach. They are doing such great work, and I can't even tell you how thrilled I am to have them on board. They are committed to doing their best work, which is the type of team you want to build. (Plus, they're also tons of fun to work with.) They've been working on the opening segment, chapter titles, lower thirds, animated maps, and end credits. What a huge help to have them creating motion graphics to keep the audience informed and engaged. It'll look way better than the place holder graphics I created out of desperate need.

This coming week I will be meeting with AB again about music. We'll take a close look at what we have on the timeline, how it fits, and what is needed. She's collected music from independent artists, and has also written/recorded an amazing song for the film. Kyle's also composing original scores, which is absolutely wonderful.

Folks, these people are so talented. I'm going to owe a lot of favors!

The trailer is also taking shape. We've identified that we'll need a fairly short trailer first, and then work on a teaser from that point. Dustin's sent me a first draft of the trailer, and will keep working on it this month. I hope to have something to show to a class at NCSU when I speak to them this spring. Putting it online is also our priority, so people can see something other than the Habitat for Humanity video we did last year.

Everything is coming together well, it seems. This month is going to be a really busy one, full of working hard and playing hard. We're hustling to get the film finished so we can start sharing it in 2011. Stay tuned, folks!

The End is Near!

Forgive my lack of posts recently, friends. We're so close to finishing the post-production, that I find it tough to keep the blog updated. Be assured, though, we are making great strides each day!

We have recently had meetings about motion graphics, music, and the trailer for the film. Just last night I was telling someone how excited I am about the final product because of the talented people helping make it. When I showed off the opening segment to some fellow filmmakers recently, they gushed immediately. It looks so great.

The part of this phase I love the most is that I'm no longer sitting at my computer for hours on end editing video. While video editing is an art--and I have great respect for it as such--that part of the process has been particularly painful for me since I'm a rather social person.

What a great way to learn about filmmaking, though! I have been so lucky to learn the hard way, jumping in to try it and struggle through it. My friends have been so kind as to show me how to make improvements, and share tricks about using Final Cut Pro. Just the other day, I used FCP with someone and kind of impressed myself with how quickly I moved through the program. It's exciting.

We'll finish everything up by the end of February and then start showing it to select groups of people. This is going to be a great year for the film, and I see the end of post-production in sight! Stay tuned...

Thanks, Y'all

How do you build a good team? A great team? A group of people who work together really, really well to make something outstanding? It's a challenge, for sure, but something that completely fascinates me. The team helping me with Abandoned Allies is stellar. I am so lucky, y'all.

These folks are good friends, lending me their time, talents, and thoughtful constructive criticism in order to make my first film really wayyy better than I ever could on my own. I can't sing their praises enough, and each day I look forward to sharing their work with you. When someone compliments me on a certain part of the film, it brings me such joy to give credit to the cast and crew who made it happen!

These are people who are dedicated to their craft, and volunteer their time to help me step up the value of this film. Because they care about making it better, they aren't afraid to offer their thoughts about how to do so. That is a wonderful trait to have in a teammate: someone who's not afraid to speak bluntly about how to make an improvement.

I'm so grateful to all of you helping me with this film, and providing encouragement along the way. I can't say it enough. Thanks for your help, and for making this one wild and wonderful ride. Cheers, y'all. :)

The Trailer

Recently I was lucky enough to have another new volunteer join our team. Dustin will be helping us by editing together trailers and teasers for the film, which we have desperately needed for quite some time. Welcome aboard, Dustin!

The Volunteer Phenomenon never ceases to amaze me. When I need certain work done, someone shows up willing to work with me on it. It's wild, really, and speaks to the power of the project. We're working on something that's cool, important, and has the potential to make positive change happen. I love watching people get excited about the story, and helping them find a place on our team.

We'll be working on the trailer for the next few months, while we finish the film itself. The trailers will then go online so people can get a taste of the full length film. It's interesting to figure out what type of trailer you want for your film. 

This is something I've not spent a great deal of time on previously, since I've been so focused on finishing the film. Dustin's helping me think through what information should be presented and how, as well as the length of time for the trailer. Most of all, I want the trailer to accurately represent the film itself and not mislead anyone. It should also get people interested enough to see the film, obviously.

While I don't like to brag, I have to admit: this project is one of the coolest things I've ever worked on in my life. I am so lucky to be doing this, and absolutely can't wait to do it again. 

The people helping me with Abandoned Allies are so dear to me, and I am looking forward to sharing their work publicly. They have given me so much by volunteering their time, efforts, thoughts, hugs, criticism, and especially encouragement when I am THISCLOSE to having a break down. Much love to the cast, crew, family, and friends for supporting me through such a monumental endeavor. I can't wait to share the results in 2011.

Stay tuned...more to come, my friends.

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! How wonderful!

You know why I'm particularly excited? Because this is the year that we will finally finish Abandoned Allies! March 2011 will be our three-year mark on the project, and it is fitting that it is the same month we're projected to be totally finished with production. I am thrilled about this, y'all!

This year is going to be a good one. I can feel it.

Back to Blogging: Part 2

It has been incredibly difficult to start blogging again. Can't tell you why, really. I imagine I probably got burned out getting the film in rough cut stage over the course of the last few months. But, thankfully, I have had some time to relax and rest up. Now it's time to start "pounding the pavement" again. I'll do my best to keep you more updated about the film, my friends. We are so appreciative that you care enough to follow along with this filmmaking journey.

We worked really hard to get the film into its current state, but there's more work to do. My team worked hard on the gathering of music, composing original scores, graphic design, motion graphics, social media management, setting up our Withoutabox information, and so much more. By the way, the film totally has an IMDB page now, thanks to Chris Moore who helped make that happen (yay!): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1788347/.

Thanks to the effort of so many people, we submitted the rough cut of the film to its first film festival. This is a huge milestone, and I'm thrilled to have it behind us now. So, what now, you ask? Well, now we finish the film.

From this stage, we'll start the serious tweaking and adding of the final finesse. Motion graphics (opening title sequence, lower thirds, chapter headings, end credits, etc.), music, sound engineering, color correction, adding more images and footage....the list is a long one, but I'm hoping this is the easier part now. The hard part, for me, was editing the story together. The fun part, for me, will be finally sharing these three plus years of hard work.

We'll have the film in its final stages by the end of February if all goes according to plan. We'll hear back about the film festival by early March. We dearly hope that we'll be able to show the film in April in North Carolina. After that, we'll have some super fun events and will be able to start sharing the film with you later next year.

Wow, it feels good to be typing such sentences. We have worked diligently for a very long time, and I absolutely cannot wait to share the film with you. Thanks, always, for following along, asking about our progress, and supporting me when I'm close to breaking down. What a dream come true this whole things has been! I feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Back to Blogging

Hello again, friends! Whew, it's been a while, hey? So much has happened in the past few days that it'll be tough to update you in one blog post. So I'll stick with the big news. Last week we submitted a rough cut of Abandoned Allies to its first film festival!

This is a huge milestone because we've been in post-production for about two years. This also means we're on the fast track to have it totally finished by the end of February. What a wonderful feeling to be this close to finishing the film. There's still a significant amount of tweaking left, but we are on our way now.

The team of folks who helped us submit the film is absolutely wonderful. There are so many thank yous to write. I do want to quickly thank Surry, Annie Beth, Kyle, Chris, Zach, Patrick, Drew, Steve, Sally, Adger, and my parents for being such solid forms of support during these past few weeks. They really stepped up to help make things come together (and keep me sane). I'm so appreciative of all the people who have helped make this film. It's a wild adventure, and I have to pinch myself regularly because I feel so lucky to be doing this work.

While working on the film, I have been dog-tired.
Even my pup was wiped out. Don't know why he
sleeps with his tongue sticking out, though.

That said, the past few weeks have been even more intense than usual. I've neglected some important things while trying to make the film ready for its submission, and that hurts me deeply. The list of stuff that's been neglected is probably longer than our credits.

So I'm thinking through ways to improve efficiency for the next film. How can I improve as a producer/director? What can I do to help my team (work better, stay happy, do amazing things, etc.)? What tasks are distracting to me, and who can I find to do those tasks so I can stay focused? My mind works over time on these things so I can make the next film better and more quickly. I can't stop looking back and analyzing it, so that I can make the next film faster and better.

This form of "debriefing" after a period of intensity is probably instilled in me from my days at Camp Don Lee. We'd go on sailing trips, and almost immediately debrief after we returned. It's a good practice, and one I hope to take with me throughout my career. I'm lucky to work with people who are honest and unafraid to give feedback on the process, so I hope to debrief with them next year when we finish the film.

Equally important, though, is a bit of R&R after a period of such intensity. I hope my teammates are resting up. I've already given myself some small rewards: a chocolate chip / peppermint milkshake, two new pairs of jeans (bought on black Friday for 50% off, of course), three days of sleeping in, about five hours of cooking/baking, a night cuddled up with my dog on the couch watching delightfully mindless TV, an hour playing the guitar for the first time in years, and some serious quality time with family and friends that I've missed terribly over the past few weeks. There are a few more rewards on my list, and I plan on checking them off soon.

While there's much more work ahead of us, I'm feeling like a huge weight has lifted. In fact, the other night I was just describing how I feel like a fog has lifted. I can see the future of this film much more clearly now, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the coming years. It's a lot of hard work, but I see it already bringing awareness to this important segment of U.S. history and how it relates to today. So, cheers, to that.

Mini Blogging Break

Hello, friends.

We're going to take a mini blogging break.  It's Thanksgiving week here in the States.  We're hustling to finish the film, too.  We promise to be back to blogging soon.  Thanks for following along with our filmmaking adventure.

More updates soon!
Camden

Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Vietnam

The U.S. State Department just released its International Religious Freedom Report 2010, confirming that the lack of religious freedom in Vietnam is still a problem for loyal American allies known as the Montagnard people. Many of the Montagnards converted to Christianity because of the French and American missionaries who were in their country. They are persecuted for their beliefs in their home country today.

Another article titled "Vietnam slams US State Department religious freedom report as biased, incorrect" was recently published. It's a short article, so I'll post it here in case it gets removed later:

Vietnam slams US State Department religious freedom report as biased, incorrect 

HANOI, Vietnam - Vietnam's communist government has slammed the U.S. State Department's annual religious freedom report, calling it biased and based on incorrect information.

The report on the status of religious freedom worldwide, released Wednesday, noted an improved respect for religious freedom and practices in Vietnam, but said significant problems remained.

"Some religious believers continued to experience harassment or repression, particularly those who had not applied for or been granted legal sanction," the report said. "In a number of instances, local officials forced church gatherings to cease, closed unregistered house churches, and pressured individuals to renounce their religious beliefs."

Vietnam's foreign ministry said the report "continues to produce biased assessment that is built on incorrect information on Vietnam."

"In Vietnam, the rights to freedom of belief and religion of the Vietnamese people are enshrined in the national constitution and are respected and guaranteed in reality," ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said in a statement posted on the ministry's website late Thursday.

There are a dozen sanctioned religions in Vietnam, a nation of 86 million people, with Buddhism and Christianity the largest. Those not recognized by the communist government are outlawed.

It's obvious that Vietnam wants the world to think they're improving human rights and religious freedoms, whether they are actually doing that or not. Our country gives a lot of lip service to improving human rights.  There are economic benefits that come with trading with the United States, and we can use that as leverage to improve human rights for our loyal allies, the Montagnards.  An article stated recently that the US is "Vietnam's largest export market and is currently one of the six largest foreign investors in the country with committed investment of $15 billion."

Our country is trading and investing in a country that treats our loyal allies poorly, but we can change that.  The media has identified a key motivating factor for the Vietnamese--$15 billion.

Abandoned Allies explores these things on film.  These are things I knew nothing about when we started the project in March 2008.  Knowing what I know now, I am hopeful that we can see positive change take shape.  I don't pretend to have the answers, but I know that awareness can lead to change.

Living the Dream

It is extraordinarily hard to know what you want.

It is harder in a way to know what you want than how to get it. Sometimes we block our desires for fear we won't get them. Our fears of disappointment and rejection are so huge that we will stay with things we are unhappy with because we know them. Fear of the unknown is so big.

I like big. It's a good word. Short but expansive. It makes me smile when I say it.

Choosing what you want is the biggest difference you can make in your life.

You cannot be doing what you'd rather be doing until you have made that choice. Not the decision, an informed choice. Choice about what you are, what you want and what you will have to lose to do it. 

-- Nicola Phillips, The Big Difference: Life Works When You Choose It

These are words from a book I happened to pick up on January 1, 2007. Inside the book I wrote "a $10 gift to myself" thinking it would inspire me. I only bought it because it was 1/2 off, and years later I'm still enjoying the book and the notes I wrote inside it.

This morning, especially, I recalled where I was in my career (and emotionally) when I bought the book. Filmmaking seemed like a dream that was so far away because I didn't know how to do it, where to go, or how to figure it out. I also didn't know what, exactly, I wanted to do in the industry. I just knew that I wanted to try it.

The year before I bought The Big Difference, I had decided to move to L.A. When I visited L.A., I loved it and wanted to stay. I thought about whether I should ship, drive or sell my car. I thought about how to get a job in L.A. to pay the bills while figuring out how to get into the film industry. I could be a secretary, or answer phones. Something corporate to pay the bills. I even looked at where to live, and how to find roommates. I was convinced this was the plan. But something didn't feel quite right. So I stayed in my beloved home state of North Carolina.

Low and behold, I have been able to do everything I wanted to do in L.A. right here in Raleigh, N.C. These two worlds are quite different, but I have been able to try what I wanted to try without actually moving. I was able to study improvisational comedy through ComedyWorx and iO, and I am now making my own film. How lucky I am to have had these opportunities in my home state.

For those of you who are trying to figure out your career, what you want out of life, and how to make your dreams come true, I recommend this book. It leaves you with a lot of questions, but helps you think through things for yourself. It helps you figure out the path you'll take, because none of us take the same paths in life, right?

My favorite chapter is titled "Living in Chaotic Space," which is exactly where I've been living for about three years now. The learning curve I've faced in making Abandoned Allies is both thrilling and simultaneously exhausting. Because I crave new information, though, this chaotic space has become quite satisfying and comfortable (on some days, but not all days).

In the past week I've wanted to throw my massive desktop out the window out of frustration. Then on days like today, I'm in the right place at the right time and the right people show me the right information. It's as if the universe aligns for the briefest of moments to show confirmation that I am doing what I'm meant to be doing. And that, my friends, is worth any frustration I might feel along the way.

Besides, these silly little battles I have are so insignificant when I see the bigger picture. Any time I start to feel tired or have self-pity, I am reminded of the struggles that my cast members went through in their lives. It's a healthy dose of perspective, and I am often left weeping in the midst of editing video.

How I long to share this film with you. I only hope that the film will tell these stories well, and that you'll forgive me of my first-time filmmaker mistakes.

Talk at NCSU (Round 2)

This morning I was lucky enough to visit Dr. Patterson's STS 323 class to talk about Abandoned Allies and the issues it covers: human rights, foreign policy, the US Special Forces, and our loyal allies, the Montagnard people. I'm very grateful to Dr. Patterson, his students, and Laura Hartman for the kind introduction to the class.

It's an honor to share the subject with such smart university students. The subject is a complex one, and speaking to Dr. Patterson's classes has helped me think through our messages and how to distill them down into smaller bits of information for a presentation (outside of the media of film).  Abandoned Allies has a very narrow scope, and would be much longer if we covered all that I wish could go into it.  Finding what to cut / keep has been one of the biggest challenges.

Today, the room was full of about 200+ undergraduate students, many of whom are set to graduate soon. They were kind enough to listen to me talk about our project, and all of the things I've struggled to learn since the adventure started in March 2008. It's tough to not get amped up when talking about what's happening to our allies in Vietnam today.

Once I learned more about the truth explored in Abandoned Allies--and I still have more to learn--I couldn't help but be embarrassed and upset about it. Our government made a promise to the Montagnards: fight with us, and we'll help you find freedom.  We didn't live up to that promise.  It's a bit therapeutic to finally start sharing these things publicly, because we (as Americans) can actually do something to change this without the fear of being thrown into jail. Our Montagnard friends in Vietnam don't have that freedom, as all of my research has shown me.

Our country is trading with Vietnam, yet our allies are facing persecution in that country. It's a very complicated thing, to some degree. Do we continue trading or not? Can foreign trade be lumped together with human rights? How could our country stipulate human rights worldwide? Then again, how can we not stipulate that our allies be treated fairly? I have many more questions than I have answers.

Last night, in preparation for the talk, I searched for news relating to Vietnam.  I found one article from the Canadian Press titled "Vietnam jails 2 hill tribe villagers for plotting anti-government protests" and another article from Bernama.com titled "Bill Clinton pledges more help to Vietnam." These two contradictory articles leave me with a feeling of unrest. Both were published in the last month. On one hand we have the persecution of Montagnards (or "hill tribe villagers" as the article calls them) and on the other, we have our previous President promising economic benefits for trading with the very country doing the persecuting. It's there, in black and white, for anyone who wants to piece it together.

These talks to students have been really helpful because this doc is not just a film--it's real life, happening today.  My interest in this subject won't end after the film is finished, or after it has been shown to audiences. It'll be a lifelong interest of mine, as I learn how to be a more active/responsible citizen of the United States. I love my country. Learning these things about the broken promises of our government hurts me, and I search for answers about how to make it right.

Dr. Patterson asked me to speak to another class this afternoon, so I will head that way soon. I'm learning more from these talks than the audience is, I'm sure. They raise great questions, and a few students have even offered to help us with the film and events related to it.  I'm so grateful and honored.

Viva La Challenges

Forgive me if that title is grammatically incorrect in French.  It's been a while since I've studied it...and I was always better at the accent than the foreign grammar.

Soooooo, it's been a while.  How've you been.  Good?  I'm good, too.  Actually, that's a half-truth.

The whole truth?  I've been trying for a week to export Abandoned Allies so that I can get it to my team (designer, animator, composer, music supervisor), and every attempt has been a royal failure.  Each moment, hour, and day that passes makes that deadline creep closer and closer.  I've become the bottleneck.  It's incredibly frustrating.

If you're tracking the progress of our film, know that we're making progress.  It's taking time, but we're moving forward.  I'm not one to moan about all the failures.  It's too depressing living it, much less writing about it.  But I've had my fill of challenges this week, and I'm looking forward to a vacation when the film is finished.  Anyone wanna send me to Disney World so I can be like the commercials?

Keep us in your thoughts (and prayers if you do that, too).  These next few weeks are going to be seriously intense, but I look forward to them, knowing that we can pull it off.

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."

-- Winston Churchill, former prime minister of Great Britian

Triangle Flight of Honor Salutes Our Veterans of WW II

The following is a guest post by Abandoned Allies supporter and friend Lisa Sullivan. Lisa had an incredible opportunity to witness a Veteran’s Day celebration last week, and she shares her story with us here.

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" 

-- President Woodrow Wilson, official proclamation in November 1919 marking the celebration of Armistice Day, later re-named Veteran’s Day in 1954.

About 1,500 people welcomed the Veterans at RDU last week.

Read President Wilson's words and you can’t help but instantly feel them. Each year on November 11th we pay tribute to those that served for our country, those that continue to serve, and--even though it’s not in the official proclamation--the families that support them.

Last week, I witnessed one of the truest forms of celebration I have ever experienced thanks to the Triangle Flight of Honor program.

On Thursday, November 4, 2010, a plane carrying 100 Triangle area World War II Veterans and several volunteers departed Raleigh-Durham International Airport bound for a day-long trip to Washington, D.C. Their mission is to make it possible for aging Veterans to visit the memorials that were erected in their honor. The plane departed early in the morning to much fan-fare, including a water cannon salute, and returned to just as much celebration. It was the return that I had the chance to experience….and I’m so glad I did.

Banners welcoming the Veterans were hanging up at RDU.

In the atrium of the RDU parking garage that separates Terminal 1 from Terminal 2, folks from Triangle Flight of Honor, the local USO Chapter, and several Boy and Cub Scout troops gathered to hang banners, pass out flags, ready the coffee and refreshments, all while the National Guard Band plays for the guests in attendance – nearly 1,500 of them! I was one of the 1,500.

Photos honoring each Veteran were on easels at the airport.

When I arrived, they had already set up the poster-sized photographs honoring each Veteran complete with a bunch of red, white, and blue balloons attached to the back of the easel with which it stood. Those Boy and Cub Scouts I mentioned were passing out their flags, good-sized ones too. I grabbed a cup of hot coffee and proceeded to walk around the area near Terminal 1.

Lisa's Grandfather

Tears filled my eyes. While I didn’t have a grandparent in attendance, my grandfather served in World War II. As a matter of fact, his platoon was on the ground days after D-Day. He experienced the wreckage and carnage that was left behind.

 As a child, I remember stories he would tell every time a military show came on the television or a documentary was screened or a holiday came around (Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day). I had to be there last Thursday for him. As I type this, I still have tears in my eyes.

At the welcome home event, there’s a lot of waiting. You have to get their early to see everything, and of course grab a prime viewing spot for when the Veterans return. But when they do return the crowd roars, the band plays, and there is not a dry eye in the house. Watching those men return to a celebration that’s just for them, watching their eyes light up at the numbers of people in attendance, and as they see their loved ones waving with flags or signage in hand--it’s truly something.

The Triangle Flight of Honor program is a nonprofit organization that relies on donors, sponsorship, and volunteers to make this happen for Veterans. The group aims to give all World War II Veterans in the area a chance to see the memorials in Washington in their honor. What they do is remarkable and it’s an honor just to be there.

The organization will be making another trip in February of 2011 and possibly in April as well. For more information, please visit http://triangleflightofhonor.com. Maybe I’ll see you in the crowd in February.

Lisa at the Triangle Flight of Honor event last week.

Lisa Sullivan is a social and new media specialist assisting with the film’s marketing efforts. You can find Lisa at http://lisasullivanpr.com. For more of her writings, visit her blog – http://quintessentialfeline.com.

The Pressure is On

Our goal is to have the film finished by Thanksgiving. We're hustling to meet that deadline.

Surry has been working hard to check facts with our cast. I've been adding the narration to the time line to get a final cut of the film together. Patrick has been hustling to finish the opening sequence, and work on other motion graphics. Annie Beth is waiting to get the rough cut from me to add the music. My marcomm and events planning team is starting to look forward at the coming months, and we are all making plans for what happens after we submit the film to the first festival.

Things are moving quickly. That deadline is closing in on us. Good things are taking shape. And the future is quite bright. But all of that excitement about the film rests in the shadow of a very real possibility that positive changes could take shape as a result of sharing this story.

The pressure is on to finish the film. The pressure is on to represent this story well. The pressure is on to keep encouraging positive change in the world.

Pinch me. How'd I get to be so lucky to do this work? I can't wait to share this film with you.

The pressure is on.

Deadlines to the Left, Deadlines to the Right

This weekend I'm working towards another deadline: finishing the rough cut so that I can send it to my music supervisor and motion graphics guys. They'll start adding the final finesse to the film, and making it look like a real film. It's very exciting!

We've been working on the rough cut for ages, but now that we have the narration recorded and in place, it is all coming together well.  This post will be a short one because there's much work to be done this weekend.

More updates coming soon, my friends!

Talk at NCSU's Global Sustainability and Human Development Class

Last night I was lucky enough to give a talk to graduate students at N.C. State University in Dr. Bob Patterson's class Global Sustainability and Human Development. What a wonderful evening of discussion with some incredibly intelligent and kind folks!

The talk was about Abandoned Allies and the main issues the film addresses--namely the abandonment of our allies after the Vietnam War and what has happened since then. I talked briefly about the Montagnard people and our film's production, cast members, and future plans. When we started talking about current affairs, things got really interesting. How I wish it were recorded!

These folks asked excellent questions, and helped me think of many things that will become increasingly important once we finish production. My mind is so focused on wrapping production, that it's almost difficult to transition into the next stages: branding, marketing, communications and activities/efforts related to the issues. Our work won't end with the film has been completed; no, the work will continue long after that.

The conversation last night was really energizing. It gave me even more hope that this little film of ours could lead to positive change. The issues are quite complex, and for nearly three years now I have been obsessively thinking of ways that our audiences can take action after they see the film. For the most part, though, I have been at a loss as to real solutions that could lead to change. I think this is not because there are no solutions, but mostly because I have had a real learning curve about so many things and that constant state of chaos is what is truly overwhelming.

Anyway, I know that I need to identify steps that can be taken after the film is finished. No one wants to watch a film that presents a problem, and never offers a solution. (That type of thing was never allowed in our house when I was growing up. If you complained about something, you had to offer a solution to the problem.) So, how do we facilitate positive change?

Our cast members have talked about a way to publicly honor the Montagnards, and I think this is something that should definitely happen. It could take the shape of a monument in DC near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or somewhere in N.C. where people can come visit it. Or it could be a traveling exhibition, sharing information about the Montagnards and capturing/collecting information about their culture. This first part is a way to honor and support the Montagnards in North Carolina through awareness that leads to conversation that leads to change.

The second part would be supporting the Montagnards in Vietnam, who are still being persecuted for being American allies. How could we positively influence that change? It seems like a big thing to take on, and quite honestly I don't have the answers to those questions. My cast members tell me that trading with Vietnam is essentially supporting a Communist government that is harming our allies. The comparison one cast member uses is, "You don't give a dog a bone so that he'll quit biting you. What will he do after that? He'll bite you again to get another bone." So do we continue trading with Vietnam? Is foreign trade inherently tied to human rights policies or not?

The conversation last night was really helpful because these are things I have been thinking about for so long. I'm not a political scientist, and I don't know enough about foreign policy. But I can help facilitate conversations.

A few of the students chatted with me after the talk, and we have been emailing since then.  It would be so wonderful to have their help thinking through these things. There's a lot of work to do, and it's impossible to do it alone.

I'm so grateful to Dr. Bob Patterson, his students, and Ms. Astra Barnes for inviting me to join them last night. As I suspected, they taught me so much more than I could ever share with them. I wish them all the best of luck in their studies in Global Sustainability and Human Development.