Access Denied

At our pre-budget meeting for the Daily Tar Heel today, I felt great walking in with an idea that could possibly turn out extremely well. The feeling only grew when surprisingly the features editor requested a multimedia that had to be done tonight. While I hate rushed projects, documenting the closing of an iconic movie theatre on Franklin St. closing seemed interesting.

Unfortunately, my documentation of an ended era soon met the same fate at the theatre. A person greeted at the door and took me to the owner of The Varsity once he heard my request. I feared this encounter because he was already ignoring every other press member trying to reach him, but I had every intention of fighting for my right to be there.

He simply said no. I could only video the marquis because they were having a farewell party in the lobby, which was a private engagement they did not want disturbed (I was secretly screaming that it's also something that would be great to document. Plus, a series of reactions and goodbyes would have been beautiful from the people who worked and supported the theatre for all these years.)

After devastating my cause, he just walked away, leaving me with the rest of the part goers starring at me. One told me the owner refused to talk any press after the last time the family lost a theatre. People hounded their phone lines and "ruined their lives" somehow. Since then, they haven't given an inch of access to the media.

I took my leave and returned my equipment to the office containing my editor. He called them jerks, which made me laugh and want to agree with that idea; however, I know that hatred or at least fear for the media people experience. It has reared its ugly head in almost every project I have done. People seem to think we're out to exploit them by creating a false image and auctioning it off to the highest bidder.

A lot of that, I feel, derives from the paparazzi hounding celebrities while hiding in secret locales and waiting for their next move. It's an image people have to banish from their minds when it comes to true journalists. At the same time, we have to be persistent with our causes yet respectful of their wishes and uneasiness. It's a fine line to walk, but we all have to do it if these needed stories are ever going to be heard.

Bolshoi Experience

Weeks after my first video completion, I found the time and subject to do another. I feel extremely bad for not having the ability to do these assignments for a publication that is actually paying me, but the one not doing so wore me out completely. Fortunately, part of the work was done for me this time, because the assignment came to me from the arts desk editor. She wanted to see a multimedia project done on the Bolshoi since their presence in Chapel Hill meant a lot more than the fact they were performing two ballets.

I gladly agreed, as you can see, and found myself enjoying the experience. The best part was photographing Swan Lake, hands down. Besides being beyond pleased with the resulting images, I really enjoyed seeing these performers grace the stage and living up to their world renown.

I just wished I had been able to cover the Don Quijote performance, as well, for both the experience and photos. Instead, I had to use another staffer's photographs that did not impress me too much. They worked, but I just wanted to see angles and a closeness to the performers you cannot have by just sitting in the audience, the kind of experience photography and and video should bring.

The Carolina Performing Arts (and I'm sure the Bolshoi) would not allow me to video the two performances, causing me to need their footage. It looks grainy and small because they had already edited the piece together and compressed it for distribution. When I compressed it again for this project, it gave that result.

Despite those hiccups, I enjoyed the experience greatly. I hope to provide many more pieces before the summer goes up, but we will see. The one for this week failed, but I have hope for a mini-documentary piece this coming week. *crosses fingers*

Banned Bliss

Part of my summer adventures has included being the Multimedia Editor for the Daily Tar Heel. I took it out of the need to make some money this summer and not kill all the time needed for my internship. Before this, I had very, very little experience with video. I only used it for transitions in for my documentary project. But with that experience and my knowledge of visual storytelling, I knew I could handle it.

The first week of being editor went by so quickly after the semester ended, I could not manage a story. Then, I just had to do one for the second, and the above video was the result. I'm quite proud of it, especially for my first full video. Everyone had nothing but great things to say, which felt awesome.

The experience, while educational, was not completely enjoyable. I simply walked into the Hookah Bliss and asked the owner if I could do a story on his store as a visual explanation of the legislation that passed and what it meant for the establishments involved. He agreed without hesitation, and I showed up the next day ready to document.

Only the owner and various operators occupied the store most of the time I filmed. They filled their conversations with quite a deal of stereotypical hetero man talk, which included some queer slurs. I was getting pissed at those, but, surprisingly, the owner would shush them each time they uttered the insults (I think he knew my identity. The rainbow-strapped camera bag could have given it away).

His persistence of ending ignorance failed, however, when sexism arose in the conversations. One customer finally drifted in and bringing irritating baggage with him. He discussed sex, specifically about contraception and his wholehearted belief that women should have to take birth control. "Fuck their hormones, I don't care if they have to take a pill. I don't want to have to take it out on my 'guy'," were his exact words.

The patriarchal views made me pack up within minutes--even when I was worried about not having enough, non-visually redundant footage. I may not have been able to step in and berate him due to the photojournalist-subject relationship in place, but I didn't have to be there and further the owner's cause against this legislation if he promoted such hate speech.

So, I left to spend a night of American Idol and editing in the Daily Tar Heel office. Seeing the first out queer come so close to winning it all was much more rewarding along with the realization that I had plenty of footage to create a tightly edited, nicely shot video.

Best of the Triangle

Indy Best Of The Triangle | 2009 - Images by Independent Weekly

This summer, I decided to stay in Chapel Hill because I earned the opportunity to be the Independent Weekly's photo intern. My friend Jesus did me a great favor by allowing me to stay in her apartment for free since she would not be using it anyways and she knew I would not be able to afford a place on my own while doing an unpaid internship. I consider myself very blessed for having both opportunities.

My first and only assignment so far was enormous. Each year Indy has a Best of the Triangle competition in which readers can vote on their favorite establishments throughout Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The very first day of working for them, I was given 29 of the winners to document in three weeks. While, compared to a daily newspaper, that isn't much, but I had to wait until I was paid for my work for being the Multimedia Editor for the DTH so I could afford all the traveling.

In the process, I met some great and irritating people. At one place I was turned around at the door because they did not have the owner's permission. When I finally reached the owner, he laughed at how ridiculous they behaved. Other places gave me free food and drinks and treated me very well. Some bars had ridiculously beautiful staff members (I think it's done on purpose) which made me drool a bit, but, luckily, I could keep my cool to perform my job.

My editors both praised me all my work, along with the higher ups. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, as well. My fave shoot out of all them had to be at Blue Flame, the tattoo parlor in Raleigh. One, I had never seen a tattoo placed on anyone before, and the process fascinated me. I found myself watching the art in progress as much I was documenting it. Two, the fact he chose a Blink 182 symbol after all these years of the band not having a hit made me a smile. Even Derek, one of my bosses, asked, "Now?!?" after I told him the design.

Since this finished, I've only had one assignment, which isn't a bad thing. I'm saving money by not having to drive only all over the place, but, at the same time, I could be working a paying job to help feed myself better. A diet of green beans, Cup of Noodles and Dr. Pepper does not provide much energy whatsoever (I'm working on it!). I will see what happens. The down time might become too much, needing me to fill it with a part time job, which will be so fun to find in this economy.

Oh, the other assignment was of course the Best of the Triangle Party, a celebration to honor the winners and give away samples of their free food to the people that voted for them. They will go on the website, and I will post the link on here.