Farmwork: Then and Now

Where do I begin?

A lot has happened since I last updated. For one, I created my first cut of my documentary. It was only about two minutes long, but I tried to create the basic structure of the film in that couple of minutes. It was very simple and not all that great, but I think I found the focus of my film while editing. Instead of looking at one character or at the issue of farmwork as a whole, I’m going to focus on the role of students in the contemporary farmworker movement. In doing so, I’ll use YAYA to demonstrate the great strides that are being made thanks to the dedication and compassion of youths.

My second cut is due Thursday and I’m having a hard time. There’s still a lot I have left to shoot, which leaves me little to use for my cut. However, I did find some footage on youtube from a demonstration against Publix last year. I’m planning to end my film with footage that I shoot from a similar demonstration, the three-day Farmworker Awareness Rally that’s happening in Lakeland this year. The problem is that the rally isn’t until April. So I’m going to try to download the footage I found and use it as filler for now. Then I’ll use voice over from my interview, which will hopefully be a powerful ending.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the beginning of the film as well. The beginning is always the hardest part. It’s my lead, it’s my hook – all my life in my writing classes they’ve told me how important the beginning is, and I know that’s just as true in film. My professor suggested I use clips from old news stories or films about farmworker issues. I’ve been thinking about using a small piece of Harvest of Shame, since that was the first time this problem came into the mainstream. It could almost be like a follow up – “This is what started it, and this is where we are now, 50 years later.”

A few people also suggested that I get footage from a supermarket and essentially make the issue relevant to the audience by using food. The problem, of course, is how difficult corporations are when it comes to filming inside their stores.

A have a few more ideas floating around my head, but I don’t want to write about them just yet.

I really need to write here more often. Doing this just helped me clear things up even more in my head. This is why I love to write.