I've been working on tracking down solid subjects for my story, and I think I've finally found someone who will work. I spoke with a guy named Steven Hebbard who is running a program through Mobile Loaves and Fishes that is trying to create jobs for formerly homeless by growing and selling organic produce. Basically what they do is get families from the community to agree to let them plant a vegetable garden in their yard (the families pay for the costs, and the people in the program do the work). Then the produce is split 50/50 with the families and sold at the farmer's market. So the people in the program get a job and get access to fresh vegetables. I'm meeting with the group on Friday to make a plan for the project and to start shooting. There are lots of opportunities for video, since they work every weekend either planting or selling, and a few times during the week as well. Its a very new program and a pretty creative idea, so I think it will be interesting to see if its working, and what it actually accomplishes.
I also have a contact with Sustainable Food Center who has tracked down a family that is participating in their program called Sprouting Healthy Communities, where the kids and the adults are learning about growing and cooking healthy food. I should be meeting them next week, so that could be a back up or secondary character in the film.
Still trying to figure out who my "main" character is, and haven't started shooting yet. Will have more info after Friday.
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Thanks for posting this. I'm glad you have located a group to follow-- obviously the next step is to ID specific characters, start thinking about what sequences/scenes you can shoot to show a narrative unfolding. Is Steven a good character? The best way of course is to show present-tense change unfolding in front of us, so perhaps following a family as they start this program, and then seeing if it's successful for everyone. It seems like there are a few types of characters, if I'm understanding correctly-- the families, the workers in the program, and the program staff-- is that correct? So you have a few options here, and could show the impact on each of these groups through interviews along with observational sequences/scenes.
ReplyDeleteLet us know how Friday goes and what your assessment is of the characters, possible stories, and scenes to shoot.