What I Knew, I Learnt Again

Hey, this is really great. We have to keep this going even after all of you graduate! And I'm all for keeping you guys around! What a great resource for you guys after you disperse...

So, I came here to share. In my last post I mentioned going out to shoot with my first photography teacher, Warren Thompson.



On Friday we went on Old Route 66 as much as we could from Algodones to Gallup. We left at 9:30 am and returned at 1:30 am. Long day. Jackson and Warren's wife, Patty, went with us. I have to say, they were both troopers. Gallup is a 6 hour round trip and we took 16 hours to make it. So that's 10 hours of shooting (and eating). That's a lot of photography for a 3 year old and a high school math teacher!

We went to Albuquerque on Saturday. This is the part you guys will like. We found this great sign for the Ponderosa Mobile Home Haven on Central. It was probably made in the 50's and it's one of those classic Route 66 neon signs, complete with an "Adults Only" on the side.



Warren got out to shoot and was gone for a long time. I parked Patty and the sleeping Jackson in the shade and got out to see what he was interested in.

There was some great white cinder block architecture all around the place,



an abandoned pool, and those weird trailer park trees...I think they are junipers but they grow straight up and just don't look normal.



So I got out the "real" camera (you know, with film) and started shooting. I guess you just never really know what's going to happen when you go out and shoot. What happened next is a classic example of being able to "lose yourself gloriously in the moment of being exactly where you are and being led", (thanks Laurie and Don).

While I was shooting, a guy with a grocery bag asked me what we were taking pictures of. After my introduction of "I teach photography at CSF", I told him we admired the architecture, and the sign. He said he liked it too and that he liked living in a trailer. He told me that the park was in probate and that most of it was unoccupied, but that some people lived in the back of the park and the landlord that they paid rent to gave all the money to Albuquerque Public Schools. We chatted a bit more about how great it is to live in a trailer because you don't have too much stuff, and life is simpler. (I lived in a 26 foot travel when I first moved to NM, so I have a real affinity for trailers and their occupants!)

He went to his trailer and I shot a few more frames. Warren was ready to go and asked if I would drive through the occupied portion because we might see something good. I guess we had already been there over an hour. As we were driving through the park, we all spotted this great old Thunderbird under a carport. We drove around to it and Warren and Patty were telling me that when they first got married, they almost bought this same kind of car. We pulled up in front of the trailer that belonged to the carport and got out. The owner was the guy I had talked to!

The car was cool, but even cooler was the guy, his wife, and his grandson, Julian, who was playing in the hose. We spent about another hour and a half talking to them. His daughter and son-in-law came back from Wal-Mart with an inflatable pool for Julian. Great photos just unfolded in front of us.









Down the way was a great trailer all decked out for a 1 year-old's birthday party. We asked to photograph it and the people said "yes". Jackson even got a goody bag from the party.



I plan on taking prints back and asking to talk more to the guy and his wife. I'd like to do an interview and some still pics, maybe some video. His trailer is about the size of the one I lived in and I could only do it for a year. It seems like they have been there for a few years.

So, what did I learn? Getting out there is half the battle, and from what I see on this blog, you guys are out there!

Also, I've been inspired to start my own blog http://photomamma63.blogspot. We had a scary thing happen this weekend, so that's my first entry. I would send it to you guys in e-mail, but for some reason when I include the link in an e-mail, it won't send.

i sleep in a drawer

so spending the night in a car wasn't so bad but i certainly wouldn't want to do it everyday. i was reminded that i have it really, really good in life. about 4 other women were parked in the same lot, but i didn't get to meet any of them. the dynamic was interesting. i felt very much like i was intruding. one of the women approached me to tell me that i couldn't park there. after i explained that i had permission, i tried to introduce myself, but she didn't respond and ended up walking away. the scene was very odd. the lot is at the old santa barbara mission...on the top of a hill...overlooking a stunning rose garden and million dollar homes...weird. i actually slept somewhat decently, other than being cold!
today i'm meeting with a woman who is the night manager at a local grocery store and living in an rv. i have to say i'm doubting my ability to put all this together. i know i'm not getting all the footage i need, but at times i find it hard to pick up the camera because it just doesn't feel "right." i'm sure i'll come home with huge gaps in material, but i'll just have to work with what i have. i'm beginning to identify with agee and evans in that somehow video footage just doesn't seem to completely cut it. how do you communicate the intangible? and what the hell am i doing anyway? i'm more confused than ever about what i'm trying to accomplish with all this. grrrrrr...

sunday pm

good day so far...met shaw talley who coordinates the safe parking program here...interviewed a man, guy trevor...53 years old originally from london with two kids...his ex wife has custody...once earned 6 figures and lived in palm springs...after divorce, job loss, etc, was sleeping in his car...just paid $5000 for a 1978 rv...i'll sleep in my car tonight...it's only 5 pm and i'm already completely exhausted. more later

made it!

no fiery balls of flame falling from the sky so i'm feeling much better...spent the night in oc last night....now going to pick up a rental car and head up the coast!

Leaving for the airport!

ok all. i'm off to the airport. i'm not a big fan of flying, so i've been a little nervous today. i've left strict instructions with micah that if my plane crashes into a fiery ball of flames, he is to turn my journals over to my cousin, who will either destroy them or publish them anonymously. oh, and he has to take care of bud and crash until they enter the spirit world.
i'm sure everything will be fine. it's kind of ridiculous. i spent 4 years in so cal when i was in school, after all, so i don't know what i'm so nervous about.
anyhoo, i feel a bit like george costanza on seinfeld...you know how he always pretended to be an architect? that's me...pretending to be some kind of storyteller.
ok, i'll have an in n out burger for each of you and post when i have a chance!
thanks for ALLLLLL your love, support, help, encouragement, etc!

Checking Regularly Now

Oops. I didn't follow my own advice and check this regularly after it was created (granted, it was pretty hectic finishing up the SITE documentary project). But all these updates are great. Laurie, hope we don't lose you to jury duty...

Jennifer's no doubt having a great time out in SB now, making some good connections, fostering trust on the fly, and getting some good material.

I know Marga's hard at work capturing footage this weekend (hopefully all of it!), and thanks again to Cristina, she's made contact with Albert Cata for some music. Definitely an important element to think about as we're all putting together cuts, etc.

I'm going to CCA this afternoon at 5:30 to see Standard Operating Procedure, if anyone happens to read this before then and wants to meet up there.

Check your email for an exciting (and potentially paying -- I'll update you soon) documentary gig for the Mexican American Law Students Association.

Yeah, Missy!

Marcella rocks!

Marga conquered South Dakota.

CM remembered to turn on the Zoom and press the little red record button on the biggirl camera 99% of the time. 

The Doc of the Documentary will be shown tonight in class 6/23;  Only 5 minutes long; Marga doesn't want to monopolize the class.........

Thanks for the updates, news, and notes. This is great. I'm so excited about all your work, and your amazing persistence and progress. It's great to watch you go, and to see such camaraderie among and between everyone. There's great synergy. You go girls!—and Will, you too...

Adventures, Mikes and Jury Selection

Hey guys,
We are blogging now! I love that word. So, my week. Went up to Espanola last Wednesday to interview the teacher of the CV Middle School class that hosted us all to watch the trailer and talk about Carlos. It was a very sweet time. Got to meet her dogs, discuss lots of different topics, and got the interview. After I left her, I took the still camera out to capture images of other items on my lots-of-scraps-of-paper-geesh-I-need-to-organize-these "to do" list. Had one of those times when you lose yourself gloriously in the moment of being exactly where you are and being led on. The kind of moment that Don has talked about being addicted to. You know, when you feel so grateful that all you had to do was be willing to go somewhere... and then things open up. Geesh, do I feel like a Santa Fean writing that. Another adventure yesterday. Had to go down to Albuquerque, and stopped in at Grandma's Sound and Music on Coors. Hint if you go down there, the store is nestled in a corner of a stripmall on the east side of Coors. I think maybe the only way to get there is to take the Paseo exit, exit right (south) onto Coors, go past the stripmall to the next traffic light (there is a Chevron station there), take a right and follow the road down behind the strip mall towards the Enterprise CarRental place. Grandma's is on your right. Really knowledgeable, helpful, non-condescending folks working there... and very generous 5+ days return policy. I bought a mike and a mike stand... that I can't quite believe I bought. Finally, I got a Jury Summons (my first ever) for 7/31. Yikes. I wrote a request for postponement until after 8/15 - but it was denied. I am not sure what that will mean. Certainly, it is a HUGE incentive to get things going sooner rather than later. Gathering with Andrea and Carlos's friends tomorrow... Hey... happy last day of work Deavours! Looking forward to hearing about Eagle Butte. Peace, Laurie

A couple final notes... watched "Southern Documentary" (a doc) - about a female-to-male transsexual living in rural Georgia and dying of ovarian cancer, and more so about his chosen family. Interesting, and for me what was really interesting was watching an interview with some of the participants in the film... who had risked their jobs, homes, physical safety to participate in the film... but who ended up traveling with the film to a large number of festivals and speaking... and loving it. They described the film as "our film." What a great tribute to the filmmaker.

I thought this blog could use some photos!

Eliot stole my thunder!

Damn! I was hoping I would be the first to say, "Why didn't we think of this earlier?!"

I'm terribly sad to think that in just short 8 weeks we will be all done with our little (read "big") adventure. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. Our time together has been so enjoyable/inspiring/laughter inducing! Eliot...as "graduates" of the program, will we get a free pass to sit in on the next round of classes? I think we should be installed as the elder stateswomen of UpStream! we could be like the jedi roundtable thing in star wars! I want to be yoda!

By the way, Errol Morris' "Standard Operating Procedure" opens today at the CCA. I can't make it over there today, but I'm going tomorrow at 12:30 PM. Anyone want to join me?!

And is anyone going to be in the lab this weekend?! I've been going through my FCP user's guide and I think I've done my log and capture all wrong thus far...not wrong, necessarily, but not in the most organized fashion, which I'm afraid may come back to haunt me when i head to post in july.

Oh...good news. I contacted an old friend in Ft Worth yesterday and she agreed to produce a segment for my film! I've been struggling with the idea of what to do for additional subjects. I'll pick up one or two in California, but I really wanted to have subjects from different regions of the country, soooooo...i'm working with homeless organizations in the dallas/ft worth area to find a good "mobile homeless" subject. my friend, patti, will then go conduct the interview for me! i would LOVE to go home and do it myself, but time and money are limited at this point! anyhoo, patti is a dear friend and truly one of the most talented producers i know! catching up with her on a personal level was great (we spent 2 1/2 hours on the phone!), but working with her "professionally" is going to be even better!

is it obvious that i'm trying desperately to kill time at work?! work is for the birds!

and is anyone really going to read this?!

if so, let me know if anyone has access to the lab this weekend AND if anyone wants to go to the movies with me tomorrow!

xoxo

jen

Why Didn't We Think of This Earlier?

Thank you, Laurie, for always being the one to step up and take actions on these kinds of things!

This is a great idea, and if we all check it regularly can be a way for us to all keep up with what's going on.

So, we're approaching the end of June already (!) and I just want to offer time to all of you as many will be starting to put rough cuts together (Will, Laurie, Cristina), logging and capturing footage from South Dakota or Paris, or putting together writing, narration, photos, etc.

If you get a chance and have a decent internet connection, you should check out the project I've been coordinating the past few weeks with a group of students and recent graduates from CSF, IAIA, and Highland University. They've done an incredible job documenting this year's SITE Santa Fe Biennial exhibition, which has a public opening this coming Sunday from 12-5pm (after that, it's free on Fridays, as usual, and will be run until the beginning of next year). The students' documentary work is not only on the web, it's also being displayed on 20 screens in SITE, as part of the exhibition. Very exciting.

Check out the online version of their project here.

Eliot

Wow! This is my first time contributing to a blog! I feel I need to say something important and maybe even profound. After all, once this is posted, it will be forever preserved in cyberspace. So, here goes.....ahh, it's too late and I'm not feeling profound at all.

So I'll just say that I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's final projects and that working with you guys has been inspiring and fun. It's great to work with dedicated people!

I'm off early in the morning to travel Route 66 with my first photography teacher, Warren Thompson. www.warrenthompsonphoto.com I'll try to post some pictures from the trip!

Blog on mon

Welcome to the blogosphere, blogumentarians. I hope you'll all use these to share triumphs and anxieties and everything in between...

Birth of the Blog

We are up and running.