I'm finally finished, as much as I can do this semester. I've filmed all I can and edited as best as I can, and I'm fairly happy with the result.
As with my first draft, there is almost no B-roll. I tried to get some, but whenever I showed up, Mama wasn't around. There's not much I can do about that, and the semester is over, so I'm going to have to call it quits. If I had a camera and some editing software, I would love to do some more, as I see this project as almost complete, but as it stands I must stop.
Currently, I am rendering and once I get more space on my Vimeo account, I would like to put the video up for everyone to enjoy.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
First draft.
After hours of work editing and subtitling (mostly subtitling), I have finished my first draft. As far as the editing, it was fairly simple and straightforward. For the subtitling, the best way I've found to do it is to get my film making partner to translate for me and I fit them in myself. When I did my previous documentary, the subtitles were translated and inserted at the same time, which lead to a lot of frustration. Breaking up the work made it a lot easier and less frustrating. Occasionally I wasn't sure about timing, but in those cases, I would simply do my best and have my partner check it for me. I think it went pretty well.
The video is long, though. Clocking in at almost 17 minutes, I think it might be too much. The time for the first draft has come, so I think I'll stop and then see other people's reactions. I also know there is no B-roll and it gets boring visually after a while.
The video is long, though. Clocking in at almost 17 minutes, I think it might be too much. The time for the first draft has come, so I think I'll stop and then see other people's reactions. I also know there is no B-roll and it gets boring visually after a while.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Breakthrough.
I finally went to Mama's and got a chance to interview her and a few regulars. It was a bit rough for me because I did not understand what was being said, but my filming partner (Minori) assures me that it was good material.
The main interviewees were Mama of course and her roommate and friend Ji-Hwan. He is a Korean guy who is sharing an apartment with her. In Mama's interview, she stated how she used to hate Koreans and Korean food. This is actually much more interesting than the inital idea of her relationship to the community.
The main interviewees were Mama of course and her roommate and friend Ji-Hwan. He is a Korean guy who is sharing an apartment with her. In Mama's interview, she stated how she used to hate Koreans and Korean food. This is actually much more interesting than the inital idea of her relationship to the community.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Filming Mama.
After some discussion, Mama agreed to let us film, but not that day. Instead, she wanted to start off filming at a punk show. The idea was great, but the results were less than stellar. Seeing a 70 year old women rocking out at a punk club is interesting enough, but the sound was of course dreadful and this being a show, it was really dark, so the results weren't very good. This of course is nobody's fault. It just happened to be that way, and there's nothing I could do. If I had prepared before, I might have been able to get a light, but that would have been awkward at the show, so really there was no way to prevent it. Afterward I tried to shoot Mama back at the restaurant, but she was really busy and that didn't turn out so well either.
Despite this, I did get her to wear a microphone while she walked around. She was obviously not uncomfortable on camera.
Despite this, I did get her to wear a microphone while she walked around. She was obviously not uncomfortable on camera.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Mama
I asked Mama, the manager of the Korean restaurant, if she was comfortable being the star of a documentary. She was really hesitant at first, but her actions didn't exactly match her words.
At first, she wasn't sure what angle I was going for, which is fair. I had been going to the restaurant for quite some time and I always enjoyed her company. It had become a regular place for me and my girlfriend, plus I had a really good friend living near by.
I told her I would be making a character piece, and I was interested in Mama because of her relationship to the neighborhood, particularly the youth. For example, everyone calls her Mama (and nobody seems to know her real name) and I've seen people come in and hand her gifts and ask for her help.
When I asked her if she wouldn't mind being filmed, I had a camera with me. She initially said no, but she wouldn't mind later. She did say something interesting.
It turns out she is not Korean, like I originally thought. She's Japanese and apparently before starting the restaurant, she used to hate Koreans and Korean food. That sounds like an interesting story.
At first, she wasn't sure what angle I was going for, which is fair. I had been going to the restaurant for quite some time and I always enjoyed her company. It had become a regular place for me and my girlfriend, plus I had a really good friend living near by.
I told her I would be making a character piece, and I was interested in Mama because of her relationship to the neighborhood, particularly the youth. For example, everyone calls her Mama (and nobody seems to know her real name) and I've seen people come in and hand her gifts and ask for her help.
When I asked her if she wouldn't mind being filmed, I had a camera with me. She initially said no, but she wouldn't mind later. She did say something interesting.
It turns out she is not Korean, like I originally thought. She's Japanese and apparently before starting the restaurant, she used to hate Koreans and Korean food. That sounds like an interesting story.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Subjects.
I had actually three ideas for my documentary. One idea as I previously mentioned was working with the band. They were recording and it would have been interesting in capturing that, but their final show was actually at the same day as the exhibition for the documentaries, so that wouldn't have worked. Also, there wasn't really a new angle to go on with them. They're a band and they're great people, but I don't know what I would hope to capture, really. Finally, as someone who is well versed in audio engineering, I don't think I could sit by without intervening, which might have been good for audio reasons, but not really documentary reasons.
The other group I was interested in documenting is an anarchist punk sewing group. They are the other idea I had before, but didn't mention. They were an interesting group, but honestly I didn't know them that well, as I'd only met them a few time, and I didn't feel comfortable asking them if they wanted to be a part of my documentary. More than that is they were jut generally hard to get a hold of. I'm sure I could have made a better documentary with them if I knew them better and I was better with Japanese.
The idea I have chosen is about the owner of a restaurant in Koenji. I randomly found this Korean place in Koenji and the owner was really nice and friendly, making sure to talk to everyone who walks in. And in Koenji, some strange people walk in. Her relationship with the neighborhood, especially the young people of Koenji makes her an interesting subject. She is somewhere around 70 and is pretty much the unofficial mother of some of the local outcasts.
My goal is to create a documentary based on this woman and her interaction to the neighborhood.
The other group I was interested in documenting is an anarchist punk sewing group. They are the other idea I had before, but didn't mention. They were an interesting group, but honestly I didn't know them that well, as I'd only met them a few time, and I didn't feel comfortable asking them if they wanted to be a part of my documentary. More than that is they were jut generally hard to get a hold of. I'm sure I could have made a better documentary with them if I knew them better and I was better with Japanese.
The idea I have chosen is about the owner of a restaurant in Koenji. I randomly found this Korean place in Koenji and the owner was really nice and friendly, making sure to talk to everyone who walks in. And in Koenji, some strange people walk in. Her relationship with the neighborhood, especially the young people of Koenji makes her an interesting subject. She is somewhere around 70 and is pretty much the unofficial mother of some of the local outcasts.
My goal is to create a documentary based on this woman and her interaction to the neighborhood.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Public/private (10 pictures plus one bonus)
I arrived at a monjayaki restaurant for a late lunch or early dinner. The whole place was almost deserted for a while, but filled up pretty quickly. Certainly the restaurant was a public space.
But even though the restaurant was public, our table was quite private. The thought of anyone, including restaurant staff, coming in and cooking something on our plate or setting something down without it being ordered, would definitely be violating our personal private space.
Trains are also very public. Many people, myself included, use them every day and we can see others and be seen ourself, whether we like it or not.
However, much like this man, we can take a seat and turn it into a private place by actively tuning out the rest of the world and creating our own private non-spoken barriers. That seat, the space between him and the magazine, that is HIS space, and not to be violated by anyone else.
On the way to my local train station, I cross this intersection, as does many other people. It's not really special in any way, but it's just an open area that people walk in.
However, right down the street a little ways is a roped off area for a frog advertising a drug store. Since the first time I moved to this neighborhood, I wondered why the frog needed such a large area. I understand having a private space for a sign, so people won't damage it, but such a vast area on a crowded street is a bit odd. No matter why, the yellow chain indicates very clearly what area is part of the the frog's private space and what isn't.
There aren't very many places in Japan, or the world for that matter, that are more public than Shibuya crossing. As the busiest intersection in the world, Shibuya is clearly a public place in Tokyo.
Much like Shibuya, a person's apartment is small, cramped, and a lot of stuff is happening. But unlike Shibuya, it's a quiet place, under the control of one person, and due to it's size and location, is quite private.
Whenever I go to my favorite restaurant, I have my own bottle, but even though my name is written on it, anybody at the table is welcome. There is also a large bucket of ice, lemon slices, some lemon flavoring, and carbonated water for everyone who wants it.
But once it's in a glass, it is no longer the property of everyone. It's my drink in my glass. Even though the difference between public property (of those at the table) to private property (of just mine) is the container it's in, once the ingredients are mixed, it's mine.
Bonus picture:
This kiosk on a train station is in the process of closing. Once those steel shutters are closed, it is a very private world, not open to the public anymore. During working hours, it is a very public place, with many people stopping to grab a quick snack or drink, something to read, and useful emergency items. Yet, when it's closed, the space is not available for anyone. Even though it is still in the middle of a busy train platform, it is a private island. In this picture, it is in the middle of changing from a public space to private.
But even though the restaurant was public, our table was quite private. The thought of anyone, including restaurant staff, coming in and cooking something on our plate or setting something down without it being ordered, would definitely be violating our personal private space.
Trains are also very public. Many people, myself included, use them every day and we can see others and be seen ourself, whether we like it or not.
However, much like this man, we can take a seat and turn it into a private place by actively tuning out the rest of the world and creating our own private non-spoken barriers. That seat, the space between him and the magazine, that is HIS space, and not to be violated by anyone else.
On the way to my local train station, I cross this intersection, as does many other people. It's not really special in any way, but it's just an open area that people walk in.
However, right down the street a little ways is a roped off area for a frog advertising a drug store. Since the first time I moved to this neighborhood, I wondered why the frog needed such a large area. I understand having a private space for a sign, so people won't damage it, but such a vast area on a crowded street is a bit odd. No matter why, the yellow chain indicates very clearly what area is part of the the frog's private space and what isn't.
There aren't very many places in Japan, or the world for that matter, that are more public than Shibuya crossing. As the busiest intersection in the world, Shibuya is clearly a public place in Tokyo.
Much like Shibuya, a person's apartment is small, cramped, and a lot of stuff is happening. But unlike Shibuya, it's a quiet place, under the control of one person, and due to it's size and location, is quite private.
Whenever I go to my favorite restaurant, I have my own bottle, but even though my name is written on it, anybody at the table is welcome. There is also a large bucket of ice, lemon slices, some lemon flavoring, and carbonated water for everyone who wants it.
But once it's in a glass, it is no longer the property of everyone. It's my drink in my glass. Even though the difference between public property (of those at the table) to private property (of just mine) is the container it's in, once the ingredients are mixed, it's mine.
Bonus picture:
This kiosk on a train station is in the process of closing. Once those steel shutters are closed, it is a very private world, not open to the public anymore. During working hours, it is a very public place, with many people stopping to grab a quick snack or drink, something to read, and useful emergency items. Yet, when it's closed, the space is not available for anyone. Even though it is still in the middle of a busy train platform, it is a private island. In this picture, it is in the middle of changing from a public space to private.
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