AFS Outreach in Romania- Part 2

WEEK TWO:

Two students have begun showing up several hours early in the morning for class. We come early just to let them get their hands on the cameras. One of those students is so obsessed with the camera, he wants to use it all class long. I show him a number of angles and techniques and give various assignments for him to go film. He practices and practices, tapping me on the shoulder and showing me his footage for approval. He is very serious about wanting to “do it right” he keeps saying.

We begin to capture footage in Final Cut Pro. A student with a technical knack learns the basics and begins editing clips quickly. Students are settling into areas of interest on productions, while sampling all positions from director to actor.

At the end of class, I learn our “student cinematographer” is having trouble at home and has to leave early; he’s pretty bummed out. I make a note to see if I can find his social worker and talk to her.

On Tuesday, I’m approached by a mother (who speaks English) after class who expresses how her son generally has trouble fitting in, but constantly talks about the Film Workshop. That day, he was acting as a mad scientist (seen in blue) in a short film called “The Experiment.” Over the next few days, several other parents approach us with kind words.

On Thursday, we decide to begin another experiment of a different type. Each night, two students would be allowed to bring cameras home, filming various aspects of their lives. Our student cinematographer nearly explodes at this opportunity and immediately volunteers.

Projects are continuing, as we break up into small group on assignments. While a student drew an extreme close-up of an eyeball on the board, I notice my name written there as part of a sentence in Romanian. The only other word I recognize is “big”.

When I ask the student what it says, she responds in broken English:

“Christian has a big heart”

COMMUNITY FILM PROJECT

During the evenings of the first two weeks, we spend time in preproduction on the “framing device film,” which we’ll shoot primarily with adults in the community on weekends. We have a million things to do it seems, including polishing the script, location scouting, storyboards, finalizing cast and crew, etc.

We schedule the community production for the second weekend. This is probably a whole separate blog post, but during the long two-day shoot, we receive tremendous support from the community. Working with a cast and crew which combine professional talent (okay, one actor), and an all-first-time crew, we film in several neighboring villages.

A quick summary has to mention our gothic tower shoot, in which we had to ascend a fairly treacherous staircase to the top to get just the right high angle. Below, we discuss one of the first scenes of the film.

Saturday we have a night shoot (always challenging) outside of town. Keeping a campfire roaring is a bit of a problem, but it makes us maximize our time. I couldn’t fit a boom pole in with our equipment on the plane, so an industrious community crew member (to say the least) comes up with a rather brilliant solution with a little ducktape (pictured below). I call it “Lord of the Flies” filmmaking.

Managing all the media from the different projects has been challenging, and every night we’re up very late backing up projects and getting ready for the next day. Sergiu has been a champion, sometimes staying up until four or five in the morning.

WEEK THREE

With their confidence building, we split our students up into smaller groups for projects which they pitch for approval before beginning.

I notice I don’t have to stand at the door for the end-of-class “Filmmaker High-Five,” so much anymore, as students track me down in the room for the now ceremonious act on their own before leaving.

COMMUNITY SCREENING

On Tuesday night, I curate a community film screening. It was a pretty good turn out in “The Catacombs,” in the cellar-esque basement of a central building. Using the framework of “CREATIVE PRINCIPLES in Short Narrative Filmmaking” (PRINCIPII CREATIVE in Filmele de Scurt Metraj), which I lay out, we watch a series of short films and have a solid discussion. The Red Balloon leads to the most interesting comments, specifically about what the Balloon represents.

Back in the workshop, the girls work on a project which they say they don’t want any help on. We clearly see them using many of the techniques we’ve shown them as they produce their film independently. Later in the week, we break out the legos for a short stop motion animation workshop. We gear it towards making a historical comment, using the lego castle as a jumping off point. Students get the hang of it quickly.

On the final day, students do final video interviews about their workshop experience. One student says, he’ll “always remember making his first movie,” another asks us to stay for the summer so they can keep making movies, another asks if we’ll just stay and go to a different camp with him.

FILM PREMIERE AND GOODBYES

All but one student and their families (who had to leave town) come to the final, Friday night screening held at the foundation center. The local T.V. station, which broadcasts twice a week for half an hour, covers the event.

Transcript from video footage of my introduction (translated by Sergiu to the audience):

“When we first got here, some said we couldn’t get students interested to come and stick with our workshop, and that we would be regarded as strangers and wouldn’t be able to relate.

By early last week, we had students showing up early - earlier each day it seemed and we eventually were sending kids home with cameras overnight, and our group grew.

Now, eight short films later, here we are.

To all of our filmmaking team, Sergiu and I want to congratulate you. Have fun watching your work! And as you watch, occasionally peek out of the corner of your eyes at the audience…, see how they are reacting…watch and listen to them a bit….

They’re reacting to YOUR creations – your films… I want you to remember that as creative young people, you have the ability to do just what the “Super Powers” film you made says – the ability to make people feel and think - through your creations you have the ability to spread joy…. And what can be better than that?”

After a short Q & A, and the passing out of the DVDs, we all do our final “filmmaker high fives.” The executive director of the foundation thanks us with a present and offers us an open invitation to return.

LATER THAT FINAL NIGHT

Sergiu and I met and say goodbye to some of our new friends in the community who were part of the film. Over a bottle (or several) of wine, we informally screen some footage. Our “Visual Effects Coordinator” comments that making a film was one of the most exciting experiences of her life.

THE RETURN

The next morning, on the scenic five hour train ride back to Bucharest, Sergiu and I decompress and discuss the group’s accomplishments.

Later, sitting in the Paris airport awaiting my flight, I consider reentry into all things Americana, overflowing at the imagined moment of embracing my beautiful wife and two children. I overhear a group of traveling Houstonians sitting nearby complaining… about not having a StairMaster in their hotel, snarky tour guides, bad coffee, and uncomfortable seating.

I begin to write this blog…