Cucalorus

I was really excited to go to Cucalorus this year, having been in years past and having participated as staff for Visions. It is very interesting to go to such an event with the eye of not only a filmmaker, but as someone who has helped set up and run a film festival.

I bought the biggest pass I could afford, and tried to see as many films as I could. I love that Cucalorus has so many different types of events to go to, from your run-of-the-mill doc and narrative feature screenings, to dance-a-lorus, to the vj events and midnight brunch. It's pretty incredible, and very exciting to participate in.

By far, the most influential screening I went to was Daylight Come. It is a documentary about women in the Congo who are survivors of violence and rape. Many of them lost their husbands or were shunned by their society because after being raped they were considered "unclean." The project got started because two girls from Wilmington, Robin and Wendy, travelled to the Congo to help these women get back on their feet. They brought a camera with them the first trip, and returned later with Director Evan Vetter and his crew. Probably the most impressive aspect of the film is that it isn't the typical, white-person-saves-poor-african story. It focuses on the women and their own decisions to move on and find hope. Vetter doesn't hide any of the struggles that Robin and Wendy had while trying to help the women help themselves. There were several attempts that failed because of the gap in two vastly different cultures and mindsets. Rather than downplaying these details, the film highlights them and shows how Robin and Wendy had to struggle and work to find ways to continue their ministry in a seemingly hopeless situation. The women were able to support themselves after Robin and Wendy returned to the United States.

What struck me is that so many times the films about bad situations in Africa leave you with the feeling that there will always be awful things happening there, and that there is no hope for the victims of such suffering. Daylight Come was very different from this. The film aligns itself with the Congolese proverb, "No matter how long the night, the daylight will always come."

Target Audiences

This week's assignment to find a target audience for our film was much more challenging than I originally expected. There is definitely a temptation to enthusiastically declare that your target audience is everyone, but that, as I have discovered, can lead to an inadequate marketing/distribution plan. The reality is that probably more than one audience will be coming to see the film, but the people you want to sell it to are the ones who will be most interested, and will therefore generate interest themselves in other people. It also helps to narrow down the large list of film festivals that we might apply to.

The other thing that thinking about marketing did was allow me to ask why someone would want to come watch the film in the first place. What does my film have that a similar film doesn't? And what would cause a person to sit down for the length of the film? It's a good reminder to focus on what specifically is unique about the film and also on the elements that bring energy to it. Establishing a target audience early on is a good way to bring clarity and direction to your filmmaking process.

Interview Questions

This week my team and I spent some time going over interview questions and interviewee possibilities. We also spent a decent amount of time talking about the tone and style of the film, watching clips from other documentaries and discussing what we liked and didn't like.

Because Rick lives in Carolina Beach and is incredibly involved in his community, we wanted our film to have a very "coastal" feel to it. We noticed that many films about the coast include lots of sunsets and have a very golden color pallet. This is something we really want to avoid because while Rick is retiring, he is still moving on to a chapter of life that is filled with new adventures and hard work. We plan to counter the end-of-life feel by including very bright images shot in the morning, or mid-day before the sun begins it's descent.

Because Rick is going to be the main focus of our film, our interview with will be quite extensive. I have decided to post only a sample of the types of questions we'll be asking him for now, but I'd like to also include an outline for reference.

Rick:

1. Where did you grow up?

2. What were your interests as a child?

3. When and why did you move to Carolina Beach?

4. Was your plan always to be a realtor? Why or why not?

5. Name any people in your life that you feel built you up or invested in you.

6. How do you think that investing in others builds community and why is that important?

7. What role does life in a coastal community play for you and how does it influence your  involvement?

8. Do you have any doubts or concerns about this new chapter in your life?

9. How do you conquer fear and apprehension?

10. What are you expecting to get out of this experience?

Interview Outline:

Background –

           + Growing Up

           + Family

           + Religion

           + Influences

Goals as Young Adult –

           + Plan of Action

           + Ambition

           + Diversions

Major Life Events –

           + Later Influences

           + Career

           + Community Involvement

Next Chapter -

           + Boat Life

           + SeaMercy


Church Member (TBA):

1. When did you first meet Rick Rogge?
2. What impressions do you get from Rick?
3. In what ways has he been involved in your life?
4. In what ways has he been involved in the church community?
5. What was your reaction to his decision to do medical missions in the South Pacific?
6. Are there any stories or memories you have of Rick that illustrate his person well?
7. How has he been able to influence the community at church?
8. Is there anything I did not ask that you would like to discuss?


Co-worker (TBA):

1. What is your first memory of working with Rick?
2. How would you describe his relationship with the other realtors?
3. How would you describe his work ethic?
4. How does he treat his clients?
5. What is Rick's influence on the office?
6. Are there any stories or memories you have of Rick that illustrate his person well?
7. How did the office receive his retirement  announcement?
8. Is there anything I did not ask that you would like to discuss?

Getting Started

I spent this week getting in contact with Rick, the subject of the film and trying to set up an initial meet so we can discuss the film and how he can expect to be involved. We have planned a meeting for next week after he returns from a trip to New York. 

I also researched different committees and organizations that he is involved with like the Pleasure Island Parrot Heads. Which is a Jimmy Buffett influenced social club that comes together on environmental and community projects. This among other things lead me to some events that would be  great additions to the film, like the annual Beach Sweep on September 27th were they get together and clean up Carolina Beach. 

The following is the treatment for our film:

Legacy Treatment

    The impact another individual can have on a person’s life can be immeasurable. Even the smallest moments can make a lasting impression. What a person imprints on others, or the impact they make in lives is the legacy which they create. Legacies come from individuals rooted within their own personal values– someone who demonstrates self-awareness and possesses enough faith in themselves to challenge the status quo. It finds it’s footing within a deep compassion for others and a desire to build them up. Legacy is not grandiose and unobtainable, neither does it come without risk. It requires ambition and the determination to continue.

    Rick Rogge is a realtor and long-time resident of Carolina Beach, NC currently transitioning into his next life chapter– becoming a medical missionary in the South Pacific. In past years, he has built his business on integrity and honesty, beginning in construction, moving on to real-estate development and finally settling on real-estate investment. Rick has also spent countless hours in service to his community, sitting on 4 local committees. All of his endeavors focus on improving the quality of life for those around him. He has built his reputation by becoming a valued member of his community.

    This film will follow Rick as he transitions to this new life chapter. It will explore the legacy he has created by showing his influence on the Carolina Beach community through the lives of the people he has impacted. It will also highlight the challenges faced by those transitioning to life on a boat. The goal is to look into the life of an individual who demonstrates legacy and find in it truths that help make life meaningful.