Volcano Girl Screening at IMAX

Volcano Girl, a film about a super hero who gets fired, screened at the Wells Fargo IMAX Theatre at Marbles in downtown Raleigh, N.C., last Sunday afternoon. It is a short film directed by the talented and funny Ashley Maria. She's a grad student at the University of Southern California studying Film & Television at the School of Cinematic Arts.

Watching a film in the IMAX theatre with the filmmaker and screenwriter is an incredible feeling. In fact, just watching an independent film in such a fabulous theater is amazing. I'm so glad the folks at IMAX at Marbles were willing to work with a "local" filmmaker (she's still in school in LA but is from the area). Part of making a film is sharing it with people, and doing so in that location is just drool-worthy.

After her two films played, Ashley Maria did a Q&A session. She talked about what happened behind the scenes while making Friday Night Fright and Volcano Girl. The latter is her thesis film since she's graduating this December.

Ashley Maria has a blog titled Life as a Film Student. She's quite talented, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what she does next. Check out the Volcano Girl website for more info on the film.
Here are some photos I took at the event. Enjoy!



Ashley Maria, director of Volcano Girl, with Jan Delory



Josh Eiserike, Volcano Girl screenwriter, and Ashley Maria talk about their film.

Lea-Ann Berst (proud mom, talented marketer) and Ashley Maria wait for the film to start.

The poster on display in the lobby of the IMAX Theatre at Marbles in downtown Raleigh, N.C.

Point of View: Distinctly Yours

While making Abandoned Allies, I have struggled a lot with point of view (POV). This is unusual for me, as point of view is rather easily established when writing (a space in which I am quite comfortable).

There are two very distinct possibilities for this film: American and Montagnard point of views. I have tried making the film heavy on one end or the other, as well as keeping it balanced among the two. It recently occurred to me, though, that I can legitimately only have one POV.

This is a film about the Montagnard-American relationships, but it is made by me--an American. While it would be lovely to make a film from the Montagnard perspective, this is not that film. I could produce that film and maybe event direct it--but this is not that film.

This is a great lesson for me, as a first-time filmmaker. When you make a film, it will be distinctly yours. I feel like since I'm an American--and I'm the one at the helm--this thing has to be distinctively an American POV.

I could be wrong about all of this (being such a noob), but I feel like this decision brings a considerable amount of peace to me as a filmmaker.

I've struggled with balancing the POV versus
making it disctinctly one or the other.

If I were from the highlands of Vietnam (like the Montagnards), this would surely would be a very different film. Perhaps that film will be developed one day. But right now, Abandoned Allies is an American POV and I'm quite alright with that now.

Filmmakers, Be Good to Yourselves

Making a film is incredibly challenging. I have talked with many local, indie filmmakers and it seems pretty common to put passion for filmmaking before being healthy. So today's post is brief: filmmakers, be good to yourselves. Here are a few simple ways to do it.

Filmmakers, Be Good to Yourselves

• Eat well.
  Don't eat too much. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies. Don't eat too much fast food. Buy stuff from the local farmer's market. Learn to cook. Stock your fridge like a vending machine so you always have a healthy option.
• Remember to relax.
  Spend quality time with family and friends. Drink some wine. Do something that has nothing to do with films like sailing, swimming, or golf. Find your way to relax, and do it often.
• Get at least eight hours of quality sleep each night.
  You may pretend you need less than eight hours a night, but very few people actually do. Allow yourself the luxury of enough quality sleep. Fight for it. You'll think better, be healthier, make decisions faster, and eat a less.
• Exercise every day, even if it's just walking.Don't sit behind the camera or at your computer too long. Get up, walk around your block for a while, and come back to what you were working on. Eventually add a little jog. When that's no longer challenging, start running faster, join a gym, or lift weights. Exercise. Everything works better when you're in great shape.
• Drink plenty of water.Do whatever it takes to make drinking lots of water convenient and easy to do. It's worth it. You'll feel the difference. Plus, if you're a starving artist, choosing water while dinning out will save you money because it is almost always free.

These are things I recommend because once I started doing them, I felt infinitely better. Feeling healthier made me happier, and allowed me to work faster and better.

Don't sacrifice your health for your passion for filmmaking. Be patient, and take the time to be in good health. I think you'll make better films because of it.

The Prologue

The Vietnam War happened nearly 40 years ago. Many people, like me, could tell you very little about it. I knew two facts when I first started working on Abandoned Allies: (1) the war wasn't supported by the American public like WWII was, and (2) it lasted longer than any other war in our country's history.

Since I knew so little about the war when I started working on this film, it was tough for me to make sense of how the Montagnards began fighting with the U.S. Special Forces. For years I have felt like going into details about it during the film would take too long. It was the setting, and therefore we shouldn't dwell on it. It just wasn't key to telling the story succinctly.

Now that I'm sharing the film with small audiences, I see the need for more backstory shared in a way that people can easily process it before interview clips start coming on screen. There are very basic details that need to be shared to set the stage a bit better before we jump in.

Therefore, for the past week I have been adding a prologue. It's been a challenge. I know just enough to be dangerous now, and it's hard to distill down facts so that the audience can absorb it quickly.

For example, I want to say that the war started during a certain year so that people have an idea of where this story started. But to say that the Vietnam War started during a certain year excludes so much information. Just that particular name makes it an American perspective versus a global perspective. (It has different names in other places like the Vietnam Conflict or Second Indochina War.) It also excludes so much of the conflict that happened before the United States started supporting South Vietnam militarily. It also could be argued that the war started during a different year. Did it start with military advisers or when combat troops arrived or when the first battles took place?

The truth is, those are the specifics that derail the entire film. They're important to setting the stage, but they aren't all that important to telling this particular story. What matters most is that Americans started coming to Vietnam during the mid-1950s, the highlands were key to a military victory, and the highlands have been home to the Montagnards for thousands of year, and that's where these friendships began to take shape.

Who knew writing a few introductory sentences could be so difficult?

I'm doing the best I can. I know that the people who know these specifics may argue about it all, no matter what I choose to include. As a filmmaker, though, I have do to my best to inform the audience of certain details while simultaneously entertaining them.

While I have gotten stuck in the weeds, I don't want my audience burdened with such information. I want them to know these few facts so that they have an idea of where we are in history, and how these pieces fit together so that they can then enjoy the story as it unfolds.

The prologue is only about a minute long, with just a few sentences to set the stage. It's taken about a week or two to get it in place, but I think it works well. I just want audiences to love these people as much as I have come to love them. I hope that I can take viewers on the same emotional journey I've been on while learning these things. And I hope, with all my heart, that this tiny little project might lead to some very big changes for the better.

Quotes from Todd Phillips

Yesterday I told you how refreshing it was to talk with Andy Poe, David Iversen, and Mark Garske about filmmaking. Part of my conversation with Andy over brews was about how filmmakers talk about filmmaking. He suggested that I listen to The Treatment, and I've been enjoying it.


So far I have listened to Kevin Smith (Red State), Paul Feig (Bridesmaids), Joel McHale (Community), and Greg Mottola (Paul). Each person's name links to the interview, should you want to listen to them as well. I really love listening to the podcast while I'm driving. It's so much fun to hear filmmakers talk about what they do and how much they love it.

This morning I listened to Elvis Mitchell interview Todd Phillips (The Hangover Part II). 



Photo from ScreenJunkies.com.



Phillips commented on making documentaries during his interview. Since I'm working on a documentary (and this blog is about said adventure), I thought it appropriate to share some of his statements. What I appreciated were his thoughts on directing a documentary and how that influences the point of view. Enjoy:

"I always felt like, what is a documentary director? How do you direct something if not by instilling your point of view?"

"No one else could’ve made this film. It was made by a director. Otherwise you’re just a documentary producer."

"You learn how to make movies in editing documentaries. I mean, Martin Scorcese use to edit documentaries. It is where you learn what writing is, what a first act is, how things flow. I mean, really, it’s just … you learn more from editing a documentary, I think, than anything you can do as far as starting out in film."

-Todd Phillips, producer 

Friday with Fellow Filmmakers

Last Friday afternoon, I met up with fellow filmmaker Andy Poe of boulder mountain filmworks in Raleigh, N.C. We met at a filmmakers networking event held at Trailblazer Studios in early December 2010.



Triangle folks met at Trailblazer Studios to chat about filmmaking in December 2010.



As usual I was one of the last to leave the networking event because I'd been running my mouth too much. I had accidentally left my big, knee-length Chicago coat behind. I had to retrieve it from the large, dark stage at the back of the Trailblazer Studios which had previously been bright, and full of conversations and introductions. The building had become cold and creepy since it emptied out. 

I was afraid to go into the pitch-black studio because I'm terribly clumsy and would most certainly break something expensive while stumbling around in the dark. I was also scared. The atmosphere had changed so drastically that it felt like the beginning of a horror film: a happy idiot willingly enters a dark room and gets gruesomely murdered by some treacherous, evil thing. Such a death would have been too scripted, and I could not let that happen.

So I turned and asked Andy to lend me some brave assistance. He used his cell phone to help me find my coat in the dark, and I've been forever grateful.

Andy loves telling unusual stories. He can do the corporate web video, but seems especially attracted to a project that will get him outside or on an adventure. It reminds me of the adventurous girl I faintly remember being; the one who was always out sailing, swimming, hiking, or camping.

Andy works out of Brite Spot Collaborative, which is a coworking space similar to Designbox (where I was lucky enough to work for about 30 days thanks to Jon Williams of shovemedia). The collaborative space is close to downtown Raleigh (off of Peace Street, a few blocks from Glenwood South), and is home to a few filmmakers.

Andy introduced me to David Iversen and Mike Garske, and we watched a joint demo reel. Beautiful footage, I must say.  (You, too, can watch it here.) Talking to people who are passionate about their craft is incredibly rewarding. We are all nit-picky because we want to show our best work. Those are great people to hire, for sure.

Here are some photos of the Brite Spot space ... makes a girl dream, eh?

Sound booth

Edit bay

Lighting studio (foreground) and meeting space (in background)

After we watched some of their work, Andy and I walked down the street for a beer.

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy locally-brewed beers? While Andy and I chatted on the patio, I sipped on a seasonal ale from Mother Earth Brewing. As luck would have it, my fellow ComedyWorx improvisers walked by and I got to say hello. Stuff like that makes me feel like I'm in a small town, which makes me quite happy.

To say the least, last Friday started the weekend off right. Chatting with fellow filmmakers is delightful. I need more conversations like this because it helps me stay energized, enthusiastic, and optimistic.

Making a film--no matter the length--is a challenge. It's really wonderful to talk with others who are passionate about what they do, and want to do it really well. I absolutely love this collaborative form of art.

The past year has been especially tough, and I needed a little uplifting last week. Working on a project as big as Abandoned Allies is challenging for so many reasons. It was wonderful to drop the tough act for a while, and confess how tough it is to fellow filmmakers who understand.

The weekend was packed full of film-related goodness. More on what happened later. Thanks, always, for the encouragement, my friends. Talk to you soon.

Great Links
Brite Spot Demo Reel
Andy Poe: boulder mountain filmworks
David Iversen: One Stop Web Video
Mike Garske on Vimeo

Call for Volunteers: Private Event in July

Next month we will have one of the largest screenings of Abandoned Allies yet, thanks to the kindness of Richard Gardner, owner / operator of ComedyWorx in Raleigh, N.C. The sneak peek of the film is open to ComedyWorx improvisers (and my special guests) only, as a way of thanking them for the consistent encouragement during this production.

Because nearly 30 people have already RSPV'd for the event, I am in need of volunteers.

You see, I dream big. This will be an informal event, but there are things I hope might take shape. Would you (or someone you know) like to help out? Here are the positions to be filled:

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER
A very talented event photographer willing to work two hours is needed. Someone who is well-versed in photographing people (both candid and posed) in dimly lit ares would be ideal. The event will last about two hours, but the photographer(s) will be able to rest while the film is screening.

EVENT FILMMAKER
One or more filmmakers willing to record the beginning and ending of the event are needed. The goal is to create a three-minute video for the web, showcasing the event and building excitement about the Abandoned Allies. We're after stablishing shots, sound bites from attendees, and shots that show the fun of a film premiere here in the Triangle.

EVENT DESIGNER
Someone who can help take charge of creating a fun, memorable environment would be incredibly awesome. The blog Hostess with the Mostess comes to mind, so scope out their photos. I use the term designer instead of planner because I want support in creating a program, cute little things for guests to take home, table decorations, and perhaps a guest book. We have an event planner on board (yay!), so we want someone to create those little details that make an event great.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in helping out in one of these roles, please fill out the comments on this blog or tweet @cammicam.

Thanks to all of you for the encouragement. We'll have a more public event later this year. Looking forward to sharing Abandoned Allies with you all very soon!

Jim, Save My Sanity

Yesterday I mentioned that we're showing the film to Lap and his family this weekend. I am nervous about it. Sharing the film means I have to export it and burn a DVD, and a ton of things usually go wrong along the way.

One of my weaknesses is the lack of technical expertise. I read books and watch online tutorials, but sometimes things just don't work out. I am so grateful to have friends willing to explain it and teach me when I can't figure it out on my own.

Yesterday, fellow filmmaker Jim McQuaid (@turnipvideo) of Turnip Video was kind enough to come to my rescue after reading that the export process takes me so long. He visited my office to analyze the exporting process I'm currently using (hardware, software, etc.), and gave me some excellent ideas for improvements so I don't lose four days every time I try to export the film and burn a DVD. I'm a wee bit frustrated with it taking so long.

We chatted for a bit and came to the conclusion that my equipment is horribly outdated. That's mostly likely why it takes too long.

I'm working on a late model G5 which doesn't have enough internal memory to handle a big project like Abandoned Allies. The film is about 60 minutes long. The project file is full of HD, standard def footage, and archival footage--all in many different forms and frames per second. Uhm, so yeah. It's a beast of a project on a struggling system.

We scoffed at my 12" monitor after looking at the other hardware. The monitor is laughably small for video editing. Two large monitors would help me work more efficiently. I keep meaning to search for a good deal on one, but that's tough to do while I'm so desperately trying to finish the film. It's not absolutely necessary, so I just keep my nose to the grindstone.

Now I face a decision. It is not too different, I feel, from the decision one makes regarding a vehicle in need of repair. If the repairs on the older vehicle will cost a few grand, is it worth doing? What's the value of the vehicle versus the cost of repair? Is it better to buy a new one?

I have an older system, which is salvageable but might just cost as much as getting a new one. So, these thoughts swarm around the back of my mind while I edit. Now I also face even bigger questions. How serious am I about filmmaking? Do I want to make another indie film? If so, do I want to be the one editing it? Could I, instead, find someone else to do the editing, someone who has already invested in the equipment? Would this allow me to focus on producing and directing, so that I can perfect those skills?

My mind is constantly going, but there's no time to think on these things too long right now. All of my effort is going towards finishing the film so we can share it this fall and submit it into film festivals. I think I'll just limp along and hope to make it to the finish line as soon as we can.

After Jim and I finished the task at hand, we talked about a number of other film-related things. It's so wonderful to talk shop. It's encouraging to hear about Jim's projects, and what he enjoys. He is an incredibly smart and kind man, doing a number of interesting things right now.

Jim is working on Grace Running, a film about a 14-year old girl named named Grace (played by Sydnei Murphy). The young lady starring in his film is absolutely gorgeous. I hope Jim will let me lend a hand at some point on the production.

Jim also runs the Triangle Filmmakers Special Interest Group (TFSIG), which is a "mailing list and occasional meeting of dedicated local indie filmmakers." If you're in the area and want to introduce yourself to other filmmakers, TFSIG is a great way to do that.

Big thanks to Jim and his support and encouragement. More to come as we hustle to get this thing finally finished!

Private Screenings Continue

Scheduling of private screenings of Abandoned Allies continues. To say this is exciting for me is a gross understatement. We've been working on the film for years, and I'm finally able to start sharing it with people in intimate settings where we get honest, constructive criticism.

This weekend I'll share the film with Lap and his family. I can't wait to hear what they think of it and their insights on ways to make improvements. Lap and his father are both in the film, and make such poignant statements.

Next week I'm hoping to share Abandoned Allies with Hip, his family, and his friends. Hip is also in the film, and is very passionate about sharing/preserving the Montagnard culture. He seems really excited about having a copy of it.

A larger private screening is scheduled for next month. This one is for my fellow improvisers at ComedyWorx in Raleigh, N.C. My fellow improvisers have all been so supportive of this project by volunteering their time, expertise, and encouragement. The sneak peek is a small way of saying thank you to them and offering the first Q&A with a larger audience. It'll be interesting to show a very serious documentary to a group of people who love comedy. It is a very smart, dynamic crowd.

Work on the film continues. I have to finish adding B roll, tweak the ending, finalize music, and mix sound. When those things are done, we will do color correction. Then we'll work on the trailer and start branding/marketing/communications. We will look into film festival submissions and plan local events, too.

The next six months are going to be one wild ride. I can't stop smiling.

10 Things I've Learned: Part III

Last week I posted 20 things I have learned while working on Abandoned Allies, and I promised you a third installment. Without further ado...

10 More Things I've Learned

1. Take excellent care of yourself.
Like they said on Baywatch, you can't save someone else's life if you're drowning. You may not be saving lives while making your first film, but you won't be any good to others if you're drowning in the process. Take good care of yourself: eat well, rest plenty, exercise. Remember these basics so you can perform at your peak like an athlete.

2. Celebrate milestones.
Take the time to appreciate and celebrate your achievements. Set small, realistic goals so you get excited about reaching them and moving on to the next one.

3. Take vacations.
Drop the film. Get out of town. Spend time with family and friends. Then come back to it refreshed, and you'll find that you can accomplish a lot more.

4. Read voraciously.
Become a consumer of information. Everything is related, even if it doesn't seem so on a surface level. Learn at every turn, and connect the lessons.

5. Watch lots of films.
Watching other films helps you think about how you're making your own. Watch plenty of them, even if you feel you don't have time for it.

6. Have an opinion on other films.
People will start to see you as a filmmaker. Have opinions about other films because that will be your industry, plus it makes conversations interesting and exciting.

7. Share great films with others.
When you find a great film, share it with others so they can enjoy it, too. Your recommendations will stick with others, and soon they'll associate you with something they enjoyed. Positive associations are excellent.

8. Forget about filmmaking.
Do something other than filmmaking because it will help you become a better filmmaker. It will work other parts of your brain, make conversations more dynamic, and give you a point of reference to others unexpectedly.

9. Find peace.
When you are at peace, you can do much more, and do it much better, than when you have discord in your life. Do what you can to find peace and establish balance.

10. Remember to enjoy yourself.
Making a film will be tough, but it's important to enjoy each step. It's a process of discovery, and a path unlike any other. Be sure you're not focused on the end result so much that you forget how to have a good time along the way.

10 Things I've Learned: Part II

Yesterday I posted 10 things I've learned while working on Abandoned Allies, and today I'll share with you 10 more. The musings are, hopefully, good for other first-time filmmakers.

10 More Things I've Learned

1. Prepare your family.
Families appreciate being prepared for your new adventure. Prepare them for how your life might change, and take them along for the ride. Consider yourself lucky if you have a really supportive family.

2. Prepare your friends.
Repeat #1 with your friends.

3. Your relationships may change.
Pursuing your dreams may cause your relationships to change. The ways / reasons they change are numerous because that's just part of life, but be aware that the decision to make your first film may be a catalyst for change in some of your relationships.

4. Find a mentor.
Managing your time, relationships, responsibilities, and energy will become increasingly difficult. Amidst a whirlwind of activity, you need a sound voice of reason. Someone who can serve as a mentor to you--both professionally and personally--is a really wonderful thing. Should you be so lucky to find someone, treat them with respect. Always honor their time, life experiences, and the feedback they share.

5. Hire a coach.
If you can afford it, hire a great career coach. Family, friends, and mentors may provide a wealth of advice and knowledge but a professional will likely have an unbiased opinion and few hidden motives. They also ask key questions and speak the truth in a way that you can hear it.

6. Ask for help.
Once you start talking about making your first indie film, people may find it interesting enough to lend a hand. Take them up on the offer to help. Give them specifics on what you need, and how they can support the efforts. Always say thank you.

7. Build a team.
Filmmaking is a collaborative art. Don't do it alone. Build a team of people willing to work with you on your first project. Barter, trade, or pay them what you can to build a solid team.

8. Work with the best.
Work with the best, most flexible, reliable, trustworthy, and supportive people you can find and afford. Get to know them, their interests, and their families. (I count myself so lucky in this regard.)

9. Don't trust everyone.
You may, unfortunately, encounter people unworthy of your trust. Do your best to find out early--before the stakes get too high--that a person is unworthy of your trust. Ask around to learn of some one's character, and then find out for yourself if the person's reputation is accurate. You owe it to everyone involved with your project to work with only the most trustworthy people.

10. Be honorable.
Do your best to be an honorable leader. Everyone stumbles and makes mistakes, but do your best every day to be worthy of leading a large production.

TOMORROW
In the last installment of the series, I'll share 10 more things I've learned while working on Abandoned Allies. What do you think about the first 20 lessons shared? Care to add to them?

10 Things Things I've Learned: Part 1

In light of having another birthday to celebrate this Friday, I'm sharing 30 things I've learned while working on Abandoned Allies in a three-part series. My hope is that sharing these lessons will help another indie filmmaker complete their first project with, perhaps, a little less stress.

Here are the first 10 things I've learned, in no particular order.

1. Make a plan.
If you don't know where you're going, how will you get there? Make a plan for making your first film. It may change regularly, but that's to be expected. Having a plan will keep you focused on the tasks at hand so you can finish your film.

2. Prepare for a marathon, not a sprint.
Making a film often takes lots of time and effort. How long do you think the project will take? Multiply that by three. Now you have a more accurate picture of how long you'll likely spend on this film. Prepare for the long-haul, then be pleased when you finish it sooner.

3. Find a way to pay the bills.
If filmmaking is not paying your bills then find a good way to earn an income while working on your first film. Seek a job that eases your financial burden, helps you learn about filmmaking, and gives you the peace of mind to finish the project you started.

4. Downsize your monthly expenses.
Depending on your plan and financial situation, you may need to downsize your monthly expenses. Take stock of your spending, create a budget, and iidentify luxury items you can cut. You'd be surprised at how much you can save.

5. If you want to do it, you're more likely to get it done.
Things you want to do tend to get done faster and with greater ease. Pay attention to these things as you work. Focus your energy on the things you enjoy.

6. Even if you don't want to do it, do it anyway.
We can edit out boring parts in films, but not real life. There are plenty of things you would rather not do, but sometimes you have to do it anyway. Do it and move on.

7. Guard your time.
There are only 168 hours in a week, and how you use them is up to you. Guard your time and don't waste it. Meticulously count how you spend these hours each week, and find ways to use them more efficiently.

8. Guard your energy.
Just as you guard your time, guard your energy because you'll get burned out. Learn what drains your energy. Then find someone who enjoys that work and ask them for help. Similarly, figure out what gives you energy and do that frequently.

9. Prepare for chaos.
Making your first film will be challenging. Prepare for the chaos you've just invited into your life. Remove distractions, decrease stresses, avoid nay-sayers, organize your personal space, etc.

10. Enjoy the ride.
Making your first film can be really stressful, but enjoy the journey. You'll learn a lot, make new friends, challenge yourself, and accomplish something quite big. Don't be so focused on the future that you miss the present. What you're doing is pretty amazing, so be sure you pause to enjoy it.

TOMORROW
The series continues tomorrow with another 10 things I've learned while working on Abandoned Allies. Stay tuned, and share some things you've learned in the comments below.

The Late Rev. Charles Long

Rev. Charles Long in Vietnam with a group of Montagnards from his church.

When I first met Rev. Charles and EG Long it was May 24, 2008, at their home in Raleigh, N.C., to interview them for Abandoned Allies and I was fraught with worries when I showed up.

Charles and EG were my first on-camera interviews for the film, and I felt likely to make tragic mistakes while I was there. My lack of knowledge about filmmaking and the subject matter felt as weighty as the humidity outside. The temperatures were up in the 90s--even in May--and the humidity made it worse.

But inside their home, the atmosphere was much different.

Charles, a tall and slender man, led me inside where he introduced me to his smiling wife, EG. It was cooler inside. Calmer. Full of grace, understanding, and forgiveness of my inexperience.

We chatted about the film, how they could help, and how to use the next few hours. They showed me areas in their home to use for the interview. They led me to a treasure trove of photographs and artifacts. Their home looked like that of proud parents with photos of their children (and their children's children) displayed throughout.

I set up my borrowed camera equipment, and the interview began. They shared their story of falling in love, getting to know God, becoming missionaries, and the decision to move to a country no one seemed to have heard about yet: Vietnam. It was a long flight to the other side of the world, but they would end up living there for nearly 15 years.

The interview made them smile as they shared memories from their first years of marriage. Their love for that country and its people radiated from them as they talked. By the time the interview ended, I felt as if we had been abroad without leaving Raleigh, N.C. Charlie and EG would host me a few more times as my research for the film continued.

It was during Memorial Day weekend last month that Rev. Charles Long passed away. Surry and I attended his visitation that Tuesday, and found the church packed with people paying their respects. The large, diverse crowd was spectacular.

Rev. Charles Long is a man respected and loved by many people. It is truly an honor to have learned his story. Spending time with Charlie and EG taught me so much about the Montagnard people of Vietnam. I am saddened by the loss of such a great man.

The Beast

Last week I finally bought a new external hard drive. I labeled it The Beast because it's 2TB, the most external storage I've purchased while working on the film. The name makes me giggle when I see it while managing so many files. The Beast is a much better, more encouraging name than the factory setting, you know?

It's been a while since I started shopping for an external drive. I need a means to save Abandoned Allies off-site, should anything go wrong: natural disaster, theft, accident, etc. The thought of losing all of that work really makes it tough to breathe.

This past weekend I set up the new drive and started copying files. It took about nine hours for all of the Abandoned Allies files to save to the new drive, but at least it is done now. There are a few other things I need to organize, and then I'll finally be able to take an external drive (with the film saved on it) to another to-be-determined site.

Storing the film off-site as a back up will give me a little peace of mind. In the meantime, there's much more work to do. At least, finally, I get to check this off my list! Win!

One Simple Truth About Independent Filmmaking

Years ago I attended the screening of an independent film. The director answered questions afterwards. I mustered up some courage, walked to the mic, and asked him how he started making films.

His answer was, "I just started making movies. With whatever resources I had."

That moment is a big one in my life. The response made me angry because it was so simple. It also gave me enough courage to start Abandoned Allies a few months later.

For years I had been waiting to start making my own films. Waiting for the right time, the right team, the right subject matter. Just waiting for something to get started.

The truth is: there will never be a better time to start making your own independent film than right now. Start today.

Whatever you're dreaming about--even if it's not filmmaking--find a way to do it. Know that it's not going to be any easier to start tomorrow. No one will give you the perfect circumstances. And you're not getting any younger waiting for them.

Don't wait for the perfect time, team, resources, circumstances, script, or subject matter. They don't exist. So quit making excuses and start now. The journey ahead isn't going to be any easier the longer you wait.

Independent filmmaking is not an easy journey. There are ways to make it better, though. More on that later...

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.”