I've had a general idea of my style, and what kind of stuff I like to create, but when it comes to getting starting, its actually proving much more difficult than I thought. There is so much I'm interested in, some much I want to explore from a film making perspective, but finding the right person to illustrate the thoughts and feelings I have, and being able to connect and contact people, especially with the language barrier has been more difficult than I thought. To create inspiration, my good friend Marian on the program here suggested I start getting in touch with people I know, both religious and not, and asking them if I can just tape their dinner conversations. It's so simple but its so genius. Finding people that are politically minded here is incredibly easy. Attending and taping dinner conversations is a great way to hear from the source how many different people feel about various issues, as well as a great way to meet people outside of my immediate "Israeli Circle."
I thought about this more. While I don't think that these dinners in of themselves are enough for a documentary on this trip (although a documentary of just political discussions in different families is something I've thought about doing for awhile) I didn't want to end there. I've known that my work here will advance and be brought to its best potential if I work on various shorts. I've also known that as I veer further and further to the left as a Jew in Israel, my work will more than likely reflect my personal criticism of domestic Israeli policy. I want to find various people who represent an aspect of Israeli society, (and not just Jewish Israeli society) in a way that people who think they know, or do not know Israeli at all, can watch, be entertained, and learn a great deal from. I want to show, through many different perspectives what Israel is, to the many that live here. My goal is to create 5-7 short pieces that ideally do exactly this. To introduce, frame and segue these different pieces I hope to insert different short conversations or statement that people make at this dinner or get together's I tape and attend.
I hope that I've already found my first piece. In a class last week going over Israeli current events, we of course watched the latest Gilad Shalit animation appealing to the Israeli government and residents of Israel by Hamas. For those who do not know, Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier that was taken captive I believe at this point just about 4 years ago. He is very publicized all over the world, and Hamas continues to release videos showing that he is alive, etc. Hamas is demanding EXTREME things for his release, (such as the release of 1000 terrorist prisoners, etc). His father, Noam Shalit continues to fight for his sons release. He sits at the prime ministers house EVERY SINGLE DAY. He demands that needs be met in order to bring his son home.
It's a difficult issue, a political one that I don't necessarily want to get into in a 7 minute piece. I do think Gilad's Father, Noam is something I can get at. He represents to me a lot of Israelis and Israeli society. Someone who is so passionate and only acts out of immense love for his family and loved ones. He is so incredibly passionate, that he is unable in any way to see that in his extreme passion he is unable to see that if they did bring Gilad home, 1000 extremely volatile terrorists would be back with Hamas, plotting to kill more, and doing more damage to Israel. Gilad is a very very sad story - but is it worth it?
I think that many people in Israel, jews and arabs, act from a good and pure place. they want what they think is best for those they love - but they are unable to see the repercussions of their actions, and sometimes what they are even REALLY fighting for. I will visit Noam tomorrow, and shoot a piece on his fight, what he does, and the progress he makes on a day to day basis. The rest I guess I will see when I visit him.
So there is my first idea. We'll see what is even possible, and what progresses from here. Wish me luck! :)
Oh, and for kicks I've attached some photos I shot in photo class. I don't want to leave you without some sort of v
isual representation for the week.
