So it\u2019s been just shy of a week since I watched a mere ten minutes of Daye\u2019s JROTC footage. And though she\u2019d given me permission to blog about the footage here days ago (Daye\u2019s ago\u2026 lol), life has caught up with me and my private blog-o-go-round has been put on a brief hiatus. Finding a bit of time to get some fresh air here in Chicago (very cold air), I thought I\u2019d begin rambling over my thoughts. Though it probably doesn\u2019t need to be said, the thoughts here are sketches of ideas and things I\u2019m trying to flesh out. The nature of blogging \u2013 at least for me \u2013 is something of mild contention as I figure out what I want to use this space here, but for now I feel it necessary to use this space for proverbial throat clearing and brick laying.<\/p>\n
So the actual footage looks absolutely (insert expletives times 1,000) amazing. There\u2019s a shot of students jogging in morning fog that is truly priceless. The footage being spoken of, I feel like Daye (is it OK if I address you directly?), you need to get over the partner adoration thing and take a stronger ownership of this film. I mean that in the most flattering of terms; this is a strong idea with strong visual cues for emotion naturally embedded \u2013 make it more than an idea and an individualized statement. I know your partner (with the two contrasting consonants next to each other that only Europeans can get away with) has strong feelings about the film and wants to contrast his notions of schooling and the role of military with what he has seen at Manual. However, yours is an opinion and ideology that is nuanced and \u2013 to me \u2013 more balanced based on childhood military experience.<\/p>\n
Additionally, I feel like you know your editing. If I\u2019m allowed to expand on the fact that you said you feel insecure in editing compared to your peers, I think that too is something that needs to simply be confronted. I don\u2019t know how such a thing occurs, but sooner or later it will happen.<\/p>\n
Aside from those issues I\u2019ve mainly got a couple of questions. For one, what is the role of the filmmaker in the film? It seemed like you and your filmmaker are of conflicting minds in regards to the presence of you in the film \u2013 I\u2019m thinking specifically of the awesome shot of the instructor speaking to you from a distance with that phantom shadow caught in the frame. Like your distaste for narration, I understand that perhaps your physical absence in the film can be viewed analytically. However, as far as creating a compelling, informed narrative, I wonder how much is being sacrificed by your absence.<\/p>\n
Another question I have is about the issue of creating a fair and balanced film. It\u2019s funny that my initial concern was about how the film could be overly negative in its view of JROTC. Now, however, after looking at the footage, I continue to be impressed with what JROTC is doing. I realize this is a conversation we\u2019ve had before, and one that we\u2019ve both shared with others, but it still is going to be the most immediate issue brought up as far as the direction of the film. Not that this needs to be a treatise in either direction, but I\u2019d hope this is a film that could inform both sides of the coin; you have positive aspects of JROTC covered, I know you wanted to capture students being critical of the program, but is that going to be the most effective way of conveying a critique of the film?<\/p>\n
I feel like I haven\u2019t covered all of the questions I\u2019ve had built up, but I should have written this up as soon as I left your apartment. Perhaps as I stay informed about the film\u2019s state I\u2019ll be allowed to continue reflecting on your film craft. Again, if any of these comments are invasive to you, please let me know and they will be properly edited.<\/p>\n