CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, SINGAPORE – POST!

It’s been an EPIC month! Production for SPINNING DREAMS in CAMBODIA is officially WRAPPED!

First, some tech talk.

With the new FCPX release – it’s definately time ONCE AND FOR ALL to convert to AVID Media Composer 5. Although I’m a big fan of both software, Avid has won out to be my software of choice for cutting the 2 Terabytes of footage that we shot during the expedition in Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam.

I’m thinking about doing a post podcast throughout the process. Instead of ranting and raving about the production, (which was extremely… arrr… eventful… ) I feel that I should be summarising that element of production through the story of Post. After all, I’m a documentary editor, not cinematographer. (Actually, on that note, I found out the the Maysles Brothers actually credited their Editors as Directors. I think for documentary, the editor truly is the director. However, perhaps “directing” simply isn’t a role in Documentary film? But that’s for another discussion..)

Anyway! In regards to the cinematography – luckily I had the talented DP from Lutman Films join me on the expedition, which brought a great cinematic perspective to the documentary! Especially in the interviews, which with a touch of lighting help lift the production value into the realm of Cinema Quality ~

So over the coming weeks and months, I will be updating you about the insane process of trying to convert the footage into a story. A story which is inspiring, motivating, and positive. A story about young, working professionals, stepping outside their comfort zone to take on a challenge and make a positive impact on society. Ok. Sounds simple.

BUT! Umm… how on earth do I do that while at the same time giving a deeper understanding of the cultural history of these places we visited!!!? The positivity only has a deeper meaning and value because of the NEGATIVE context which people need to understand! Having hope and potential is only significant because of the reality that these countries, both Vietnam and Cambodia, have overcome an overwhelmingly haunting past. To understand the immense achievement of the Cambodian people, to be able to get back on their feet and prosper, first we have to comprehend the history.

One article I found very inspiring was an interview with the documentary Director of the film “Brother Number One” Annie Goldson. She explained in the interview;

“…The trick in documentary it seems to me is how to provide historical context without an oversimplification of history while sustaining the narrative momentum of the personal story.”

This is EXACTLY the biggest hurdle I will have to overcome in the editing process!

I have to find a balance between the story of the bike riders and their emotional journey taking on the challenge bike riding over 400kms from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam to Siem Reip, Cambodia and the story of the NGO, “Carpets for Communities” which is working to empower women to break the cycle of poverty. The GoneCyclin team hopes to raise over SGD$50,000+ for Carpets for Communities. ALL OF THIS has to be captured while also not ignoring the historical context of both Vietnam and Cambodia. What an EPIC MISSION!

Wish me luck guys, I’ll need all the help I can get over the next 6 months.

DOCUMENTARY WILL BE SCREENING IN DECEMBER 2011- better get to work!

P.S Fundraiser screenings will be held in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reip, Phnom Penh, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and more cities around the world! If you want to find out more about the GoneCyclin project visit their website!