Remember that time I had to make a documentary?

It's crunch time here. It's less than three weeks until our exhibition. The exhibition is a showing where people from all around Jerusalem, some local Jewish organizations and even a few members of the press come to see our work. Everyone in the arts program here will be showing their work. The program and exhibition is mostly catered towards exhibit artists (painters, sculptors, etc). The show will consist of a standard art and photography exhibit, followed by a screening of my film in the theatre just next to the exhibition hall. For me, screening work in front of a large group is always somewhat nerve-wracking. Thinking about this event, however, creates even more pressure as the only filmmaker, the only film, and the only piece of media being seen at the event.

The show is also taking place a month before the end of the program. This allows people to have their pieces up and open to the public for almost a month. For me, this just means an earlier screening date. I want to take advantage of my time here. As much as I want the best quality product for my screening in a few weeks, I need to be practical. I can edit anywhere. My time here will be the only time that I have to shoot these subjects and events in Israel.

Below you will see many things. The first couple of blurbs I produced as a rough draft of what will probably be included in the artist statement program being handed out at the exhibition. Below that, is a project statement and a "list" of the variety of footage I've shot. I'd love for some feedback. I've been working on an "in progress" outline that is the way I currently see my editing unfolding. I'm sure a lot will change - but continuing to work on this outline - like reworking a thesis - has been proving very helpful to me - especially with this large scale of a project. Any any any feedback is absolutely appreciated. You can look below to the footage I have, how I've decided to place it in the outline, and let me know how you think it's coming along.

FILM BLURB
From Left to Right, Israeli to Arab, and Religious to Secular, Israel is a multi-faceted society filled with a multiplicity of people with a deep rooted passion for their country, their land, and their future. This documentary explores a small part of this myriad of characters and poses the question for a land in constant conflict: What is really standing in the way of peace?

ARTIST STATEMENT
This is a project that is constantly evolving - and is still growing and changing today. When I arrived in Israel, I wanted to work on a piece that addressed some of the political issues I felt were pertinent in the short 5 months I have spent here. I choose to particularly address this issue of what very different individuals want for Israel. I found myself trying to believe every person I spoke to, every side of the story, and in the end, being unable to fully believe in any side at all. It is from this great confusion that inspired this documentary.

I wanted the film to send a message that said - "These people speak for themselves - what they want and why." Through this project, I continue to be in awe in the ways in which people can want he exact same things, and yet complete opposite things for their country, all at the same time. The piece you are viewing today is a work in progress. My final month in Israel will consist of working with the characters you see today to create a more solid finality on how their views and challenges make up this extremely multifarious and heterogeneous Israeli Society.


****************
Project Overview:

The many faces and views of Israel. Short stories intertwined with political and religious issues that face Israel today through tours, peace talk groups, and protests.

• ** I want to portray people who believe in so intently on their vision, and really show how easy it is to get so wrapped up in ones own ideas, and show the impossibility of seeing the other side. I will exploring the idea of Zionism, leftist "anti-zionism" in Jewish Israelis, and even what Palestinians and Israeli Arabs see for "their Israel." ***

Interview Subjects:

1. Ofer Neiman: Leftist, Sheikh Jarah Protester, working for Yesh Gvul (non profit org that aids people in the army that refuse to serve). Considers himself to be a "zionist" but does not fit into mainstream forms of Zionism.

2. Amitai Fraiman - more right wing religious jew, in school studying government. Joined a arab israeli peace talk group.

3. Ahmad Sub Laban: Lives in E. Jerusalem. Wall split apart his home and town. How the wall affected his life. Works for Ir Amim, and working for people in E. Jerusalem affected by the wall.

4. Erez - Co Founder of Im Tirtzu, a right wing pro zionism group that calls themselves the second zionist revolution (and also calls them centrist, when most people believe them to be more right winged). They are aimed mostly at young people, to help strengthen what they call the foundation of Zionism. Erez used to be much more right wing, but now he calls himself and the organization much more center.

Non Interview Footage:

1. Leftist Manifesto Meeting: A meeting of 20 and 30 somethings getting together to discuss the "New National Left" (I believe it is called). Two representatives were there, leading the discussion on what this new party means, and giving the people there an opportunity to voice thier opinion.

2. Sheikh Jarrah Protest Footage (including Ofer). Sheikh Jarrah is a huge point of contention in Israel. Around 200 gather every Friday to protest Jewish Israelis settling in this current Palestinian town.

3. Israeli and Arab Peace talk discussion group meetings (Including Amitai)

4. Har Hertzl on Yom HaZikaron (hundreds of thousands gather for the sounding of the siren in Israel for the mourning of derad soldiers. A clip of this can be seen on my blog)

5. Tour of East Jerusalem with Ir Amim, as the issues between east and west jerusalem are discussed. I see this as the footage that frames that different interviews/short pieces on others.

6. Audio only of a tour in Sderot. Tour is very right wing, and aims to educate people on what it is to live in a town that continues to be the aim of many Quassam rockets. (Closest Jewish town to Gaza).

OUTLINE

1. Ir Amim Tour
1. Jerusalem as the center of the conflict
2. Topic of the Conflict difficult, but interesting
3. Jerusalem Montage - shots of a variety of different aspects of Jerusalem and East Jerusalem that show the different people and places I am showing in the documentary. Will work as the opening or title sequence.
2. Amitai Fraiman
1. Intro
2. Joining the peace group (ICCI)
   
1. Why you did it
2. Struggles during your time there
3. Left wing agenda
4. Mtg Footage intertwined
3. Amitai ideas about Israel, what he wants, possibilities for "peace"
   
4. Amitai explaination of Sheikh Jarrah (to go into next segment)
   
3. Ofer Neiman and Shekh Jarrah
1. Protest footage with music
2. Ofer intro and SJ explanation over footage into his interview
3. Importance of Sheikh Jarrah to his work
4. Where Ofer is politically
1. Zionism vs. anti-zionist - not within mainstream forms of zionism
5. Future of Israel to Ofer
4. Im Tirtztu
1. Erez - to be shot this week
   
5. Leftist Manifesto

Notes: Where to fit in Ahmad interview? Depends on how Im Tirtzu interview goes....Still a possible religious element....perhaps an ultra religious or haredi aspect to the film?