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URBAN DREAMS VIDEO PROJECT CESAR CHAVEZ PRODUCTION DIARY FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL MARCH TO MAY OF 2002 Diary: Chris Boulton, Filmmaker "Rough Cut" |
Journal of a filmmaker
Chris Boulton
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URBAN DREAMS VIDEO PROJECT CESAR CHAVEZ PRODUCTION DIARY FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL MARCH TO MAY OF 2002 Diary: Chris Boulton, Filmmaker "Rough Cut" |
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Steven dreamed this up. A close-up on Cesar Chavez’s eye for the beginning of the video to convey his “vision.” This is the basis, the map, if you will for the rough cut also included in this package. He took one voice-over, broke each sentence down into it’s main ideas, then found an image (b-roll) to match. I am especially proud of how he solved a critical dilemma. We had no “Historical archive” of Cesar Chavez, so literal representation was simply not an option….he said he was stuck, but I told him it was too late to go and shoot stills, so I pushed him to be creative. Ultimately, we expanded the “environmental image of planting a tree to encapsulate how Chavez was an “ordinary man (seedling) with an extraordinary legacy of great accomplishments (full grown tree).” It was a creative solution that gives the video a more lyrical tone. |
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WEEK ONEMeet the teacher and fellow filmmakers. My teacher, Michael Jackson has big plans, but I am firm about limiting the video to a 5 minute time frame—quality, not quantity. I give him a copy of my demo reel and latest video project done with youth.
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WEEK TWOI train Mr. Jackson on Final Cut Pro, but we don’t get very far because he is constantly interrupted and very distracted.
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WEEK THREEWe worked on the concept and brainstormed the OBJECTIVES and AUDIENCE for the video to create a working treatment…this document is very important and will help guide all of our decisions from now on. We also decided on a format incorporating voice-over narration, soundbites, and b-roll. Kids want an up-beat beginning, with credits at the end. |
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Michael: Did you make copies of the releases? Also, remember that the Parks and Recs. presentation is this Wednesday at 4pm. Two cameras should go. Both on tripods, one set up right next to the presenters podium with an external mic and headphones (to shoot the presenters up close and get good sound) and the other camera in the back to get establishing shots of the room and zoom in for reactions from the board and the audience (sound is not as important for this camera). The kids should do interviews with Adan and Luis afterwords and a few members of the board and community. Remind the kids they are looking for short, punchy soundbites (ie: Why are you doing this Adan? "I want to make positive change" What is your reaction as a board member? "I'm real proud of these kids" or "Youth can really make a difference" etc.) Thanks.
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WEEK FOUR Dream Team: Aqui esta! El guion basado en lo que ustedes decidieron
hacer para el Video Cesar Chavez! So, the script is completely based on your ideas and it looks good. I attached You made some good choices early on when we did brainstorming so the video has a clear focus. You have a powerful message and you know who your audience. I especially like the structure of Voice-Over and Soundbite and would like to give special thanks to Jadel and Llare for the B-Roll. Maxil wrote the narration voice-over, but it is only temporary. I would like some of you to improve the writing by putting it in your own words.
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WEEK
FIVE
No te olvides!
We are shooting at the Cesar Chavez Festival at the Corner
of Foothill Boulevard and Fruitvale Ave.
We will meet at the stage at 12pm and 2pm. 12-2 pm shift: steven, tony, johnny, cynthia 2-4 pm shift: steven, jadel, llare, yesenia I am bringing all the gear.
YOU all come with a vision. WHAT and WHO do you want to shoot? Chris Cesar Chavez Video DREAM TEAM: Help! I just found out there are some VERY cool,
very VISUAL events happening on Sunday between 11am and 12pm.
I need a shooter, audio tech and producer to meet me at the
stage at 10:45am. Steve, Johnny, Tony or Cynthia-- Can you make it? "Si? o No?" Confirmen por favor. Chris |
WEEK SIXBrave Video Crew: Congratulations on a successful shoot at the Cesar
Chavez Community Event! After a slow start (SPRING ahead!!!) we shot very colorful B-Roll of music groups, dance competitions, food booths, families and even re-enacted the tree and flower planting! We also got A-Roll of Frederico Chavez giving a speech, the youth presenting on the name change of the park, a thrilling performance by Orixa, and interviews with some of the organizers. You all have a lot of very interesting footage to log over the next couple of weeks!!! See you all on Thursday at noon. Max will be there on Friday to look at the tape and talk about
making selections. Chris
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WEEK
SEVEN
AWESOME!!! OK guys. Start logging what we got, and start scheduling
shoots for the B-Roll and interviews that we are still missing.
For contact info etc. look to Maxi. She is our information
resource. I am out of town next week, but today, you gave me every
reason to have complete confidence in your independent producing abilities! See you on April 26. Chris |
WEEK EIGHTcompaneros y cineastas: Some of you should be logging the footage...why? Because we want to start digitizing the video into the computer so we can start editing!!! That's why! Others, should be thinking about re-writing
the narration to match the pictures and the interviews. And don't
forget to shoot a Civics Class!!! (This is for voice-over number 2
in the script) And the rest of you should think about music, graphics,
and titles. Do we have images of the park? The new sign? The book
project? If not, go and get it! You've got the cameras and the skills
to get it done, so...JUST DO IT! Hasta Viernes, Chris P.S. I met another filmmaker who was kind enough to lend us some of the footage she shot of the ballet folklorico from the Community event....I will bring a tape with me. |
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WEEK 10Kids didn’t show up last week and have done very little logging. It appears they need someone to hold their hands. When they cut class, or there’s a “Senior Ball,” or some special event we loose and ENTIRE week. That’s an entire 3 hour session blown. I’ve got to re-evaluate and simplify this process. Time to “down-shift “to iMovie…a simpler version of Final Cut Pro.
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WEEK
NINE
Action Jackson and Mad Max: Just to confirm, I will come today at 1pm. I understand that I only have an hour with each group. I would like Maxil to help the kids get organized about what they have shot (and logged) and make decisions about what they have left to shoot. She could also help them to re-write some of the narration (A-Roll) to match the images (B-Roll) that we have. In the meantime, I want to get started training
one or two kids on digitizing video into the computer during the first
hour, then sit down with our primary editor (is it Chris?) in the
second hour for an intensive Final Cut Pro session. Chris P.S. We need to turn in releases from all the crew and the kids that spoke on camera etc. by Friday, May 10. Cesar Chavez) for Friday, May 17. Our production phase is now over so I need all
your release forms! These are the legal permission forms that people
sign to allow us to use their interviews. Especially important are
the release forms from kids that their parents need to sign! Your
absolute last chance to turn them in to me is next Friday, May 10. May 10 is ALSO our deadline for a rough cut of
the video. This means
that I need EDITORS ahora misma! Today I will do a training and some
digitizing and next week we will edit our rough cut. So step right
up! I am looking for Chris, Llare, Jadell, or anyone else who is ready
to make a commitment to work with me to FINISH this video during the
month of May. |
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WEEK
11
Michael and Max: Our Rough Cut Deadline looms large...May 15. Here's
how we can make it happen. THURSDAY: Michael "persuades" Yesenia and Cynthia
(the "producers") to RE-WRITE the script. The narration
(voice-over) HAS to be written in THEIR words. Johnny and Tony
(Danielle) gather archival footage of Cesar Chavez. (videotape pictures
in a book or just copy a Chavez video out of the library) Steven/Jadel/Chris
load the rest of the SELECTED video clips into iMovie. (that means
digitize from the camera to the G4 computer) FRIDAY: 12:00-1:30pm Max arrives at 12 o'clock sharp and records the
voice-over with the youth in one of the radio booths...using a camera
and a good mic. Chris arrives at 12 sharp and sits down with 2 kids
(provided by Mr. Jackson) and teaches them iMovie. Meanwhile, Michael
Jackson will work with the students not recording voice-over or learning
editing to conduct on-camera interviews with each other talking about
what they've learned on the Urban Dreams Video Project and talking
about the process etc. what was fun, what was hard... (I have attached
questions for this) 1:30-3:00pm Max gives the voice-over tapes to Chris. He and
student editors then digitize the voice-over narration into iMovie.
Maxil then takes over where Michael left off, helping students talk
about what they've learned during the production. The students can
either write paragraphs about their favorite (or least favorite) part
of the project, or they can draw up some STORYBOARDS (remember...medium
shot, close-up etc. with the little drawings) with editing sequences
for the editors to use. MONDAY, MAY 13 7-10pm Chris returns for an additional rough cut edit
session. One student will be selected (by Mr. Jackson) to work with
Chris to complete the rough cut. FRIDAY, MAY 17 12 PM Lunch with Rick 1PM Show and Tell: Students gather to watch an excerpt of Rick's Documentary on Cesar Chavz. They, in turn, will show Rick their rough cut, and we will all discuss ways that I can improve the video during the Fine Cut. It's a tight deadline, but we can do it if we all
work together. Si se puede! Chris |
WEEK 12The rough cut is short, but bonafide student work. And seeing Yesenia do the voice over warmed my heart…she was so nervous, but stepped up and did a good job…even changing the script as she went!!! And working one on one with Jadell and Steven editing on Final Cut Pro was another very positive breakthrough—I think they get it! Steven even came up with a storyboard, breaking each sentence into it’s main ideas, then selecting b-roll to match the concepts… |
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AND WE ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER
AFTER. THE END.
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© Copyright 2001 Center for Evaluation and Research, LL
