Ten Days until the Film is Due!

Patrick and I have been sitting down in three hour periods, sifting through the footage, and attempting to place it in (roughly) the most logical order. The folks that I interviewed said a lot of really wonderful and interesting things, so it feels somewhat of a daunting task to imagine breaking down what was originally four hours (and is now two hours), into ten-to-seventeen minutes of film.

A rough outline of what the movie is going to include:
- what does it mean to be Jewish?
- what does it mean to be Jewish specifically in Maine?
- and what draws folks to being Jewish in Maine?

Through the interviews, we uncovered some very specific drawbacks to living in Maine as a Jew, some positive aspects and uniqueness to living in Maine as a Jew, general ideas about what it means to be Jewish, some wicked cute answers from kids, and some lovely footage of peoples' various pets. Though somewhat tedious to watch the same footage over and over, it is exciting to make connections between what different people have said, and to place the clips into an overall more-encompassing narrative about what it means to be Jewish in Maine. 

Editing Underway!

So far editing has consisted of sitting down, probably with cups of tea, and watching through the hours of footage. Patrick (my co-editor) and I spent a couple hours last night watching through the Levey interviews and a handful of others. So if you were one of my interviewees, I've likely been watching your face (in footage-form) a whole bunch over the past couple of days.

Once we're done watching through the interviews, Patrick and I are going to compare notes (we've been taking notes while we watch; paying attention to things like overarching themes and well-expressed sentiments and funny and/or touching moments). It has been nice to have another pair of eyes watching the same footage and likely seeing things differently from what I see. I am confident that our collaboration is going to elicit interesting results, at least! It's also very helpful that Patrick's background in Judaism is limited; that means that he provides a perspective as someone who may not as readily pick-up on specific references. So whereas my exposure to Judaism might cause me to assume something to be common knowledge, he can point out that the same something might require more explanation.

The editing process has been a bit more tiring than I anticipated, but it has also been quite fun to watch through the footage and to make connections between different folks and their perspectives and experiences. I'm excited to see where things go!

Thank you all for reading, and I'll update you soon as the editing process continues! Happy almost Chanukah, too!

Stop! In the Name of... Editing

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I apologize for my slowness in updating all of you lovely folks regarding the movie - I recently acquired employment! Hooray! As what, you ask? A crossing guard for the Portland Public Schools, of course (basically my dream job). The job has brought on new changes in my life, such as getting out of bed before 10am, which is not something I've done for at least a couple of months. But I'm adjusting! Slowly. And so, unfortunately, I've fallen a bit behind as I acclimate to a new schedule.

So! Updates! I have completed the filming. Hooray! Last week I interviewed another Rabbi, and two community members who are congregants from local temples/synagogues and who are involved in the Jewish community in different manners.

My friend Patrick was a big help, as he filmed the interviews. I'm looking forward to having him by my side as a part of the editing process.

Editing. Ugh. I mean, the interviews were super interesting because I was able to learn many things about different people's experiences and perspectives regarding Judaism in Maine. I was able to talk to neat folks from the area! But... editing. During editing, I'll just be watching the same clips over and over and trying to figure out where they belong so as to make the most sense. Right?

Maybe not. I was speaking with one of the other crossing guards last week (his name is Mike), and he suggested otherwise. Mike happens to be a retired musician (of sixteen years!) who has experienced positive things during the editing process of his musical recordings. He mentioned that it is during this section of creation that one's uniqueness is able to stand out - the piece becomes a collection put together by individuals, instead of simply a conglomeration of bits and pieces. It becomes reflective of the people who are creating the narrative of the piece.

I think that Mike is on to something. Or at least, it'll be worth my while to keep an open mind about what the editing process is going to be like. Plus! I will have a friend wandering through the process with me. I'll keep all of you updated to let you know how it goes!

I hope that everyone has a pleasant Thanksgiving! Eat turkey. Or tofurkey, if you're vegetarian. Or neither of those, if you're vegetarian and also sensitive to soy. 

Two Rabbis Down!

I am going to be honest here, and just say that Rabbis, and spiritual leaders of all kinds, intimidate me in a way that few other things can.

Now, I don't want to delve into the deep-seated psychological reasoning behind this, but instead just say that it's been totally awesome to be interviewing local Rabbis as of late, despite that they nearly frighten me.

In school I studied Jewish Studies, so I am familiar with the differences in denomination, but what I learned was just set up in a fact-in-a-book-kind-of-way. So aside from these interviews with spiritual leaders being super applicable for the film I'm making, it's also been interesting to just be in a situation where individuality can be lent to the facts I learned previously.

So - two Rabbis down, one to go! And by that, I mean that I have interviewed local Rabbis representing two of the three majorly identified Jewish denominations from the Portland area, and hope very much to secure an interview with the third (if not even more Rabbis! You can never have too many Rabbis, right?).

Other news! I've recently switched to a new camera-person - my friend Patrick is taking over the filming for Zach, who is working on other really neat projects (like puppet shows!). Patrick has also kindly offered to help with the editing process, for which I am very grateful. It's so helpful to have another person's input and viewpoints while creating a narrative from clips of film. The editing process begins mid-November! And so I will continue to scramble to complete the interviews before the end of next week (hopefully).

I hope that everyone survived the bit of snow we had yesterday, and that November has started out well.

Cat! Click here.

Kids and Cats!

The interviewing has been going smoothly! On Friday afternoon I was able to meet up with a bunch of really great students from Levey Day School in Portland. Not only were the kids wicked cute, but they also had a lot of insightful and interesting things to share about being Jewish, living in Maine, and attending Levey.

Here are some production stills from the Levey students I interviewed (there were eleven in total, and I would love to show you pictures of them all, but you'll just have to wait until March to see all the kids in the final product):

This is Dora.

This is Nathan.

And this is Milo.

In addition to speaking with the Levey students last week, I was also able to interview a member of the Portland community, Lauren. She had many interesting experiences to share about growing up Jewish in New York, and then moving to Portland, and, while still identifying as Jewish, not necessarily participating in the same manner with which she was raised.

 Lauren during the interview.

Lauren's lovely cat (whose name I unfortunately forget)!

This upcoming week seems a busy one for folks. My birthday is on Wednesday (also, Halloween!) and the impending storm has discouraged me from scheduling any interviews for that time period. So this week will be a nice chance for me to write thank-you notes to my interviewee participants thus far, to look through some of the footage, and to set up the final interviews for the film. I would say that I'm at least halfway done with filming! I'm hoping to interview Rabbis in the community and a couple more community members by the second week of November, so that the remainder of the month can be set aside for editing. 

I hope that everyone stays safe during the storm! Here's hoping the sump pump at my house continues to function through hurricane Sandy.

More Production Stills! Audio is the Worst.

I have begun interviewing! So far it has been mostly successful, except for a couple problems with less-than-preferably-audible-audio, and then when I accidentally deleted some of the audio I recorded separately. Oops.

But check out these awesome production stills! I've been gathering a bunch of really great footage of really great folks, who have been so willing to share their stories with me.

Anne looking at some photographs

Karen holding up a photograph

Rachel, during the interview

Some of Stephanie's books

Cat Segment?

Re-watching the footage of myself in preparation for interviews this weekend. Conversation goes as follows:

Voice off-camera: who are you looking to interview for this film?
Rebecca: I'm hoping to interview as many individuals (looks off camera, pauses). Can that cat be in the shot?

Here's hoping my interviewees have few cats, because cats are one of few things I cannot resist (or, maybe I could just have a "cat segment" in my documentary).

Interviews Soon!

I have been sick! Oh no. For the past couple of days I have been doing things like
sleeping,
sitting under blankets next to purring cats,
& waking up every so often and feeling confused about which day/month/year it is.

I'm beginning to feel better, though! Which is great timing, because at the end of this week I have quite a few interviews lined up with some lovely folks from around the Portland area.

Next week I have a couple more interviews, and I am especially excited to interview some of the students who attend Levey Day School in Portland. I have heard that Levey is a school that gathers students of a variety of Jewish backgrounds and identities, and allows them to further solidify their individual ideas of what it means to be Jewish. Which, besides sounding great in general-identity-terms, will be super applicable to my specific search of finding out what exactly it means to be Jewish in Maine.

Additionally, it seems fit to mention here that the Maine Jewish Film Festival provides opportunities for young folks to be involved - when I attended Hebrew school, I participated in the MJFF Free Youth Program (and it was kind of great. Granted, I was infatuated with it because I probably was able to skip a class or two to attend the film, but as an adult I'll look back and say that it was, in actuality, a very valuable experience).

Anyway, I hope that all of you in internet-land are feeling well and enjoying the loveliness of October thus far (Autumn is so wonderful in my mind. Maybe this song is about winter but it's still kind of great). There will be many updates soon, post-interviews!

Interactive Displays

Earlier today I attended an interactive art installation in Winthrop, ME, beautifully constructed by Amy Stacey Curtis (information about the installation found here, her general website here).

As my friend and I drove the hour + back to Portland, with Marina & the Diamonds serenading us all the way, I spent some time thinking about how special the installation had been. It is not often that I have the opportunity to interact with art in any unique way. I have been to the Portland Art Museum many times, and have wandered through the Old Port during First Friday Art Walk. However enjoyable these experiences are, they do include an awful lot of standing and looking and pondering, and maybe some discussion with the person standing nearby.

What is lacking, however, and what was so plentifully available in Amy Stacey Curtis' exhibit, is physical interaction.

Throughout her installation there was movement, sound, touch, picking up of pieces (with hands covered in white cotton gloves provided). There was a need to comprehend the instructions presented, and friendly folks available to answer any clarifying questions.

I found myself reacting with surprise and enjoyment as the nine sections of the installment drew me into experiences in unique and interactive ways.

You may be wondering what this has to do with my entry for the MJFF. This is it:

On her website, Amy Stacey Curtis writes that "without participants my work is incomplete". While traveling home from Winthrop, I thought much about how the unique set-up of this particular installation allowed for me to experience another person's ideas in a different way. By walking through, and physically touching things, my perspective shifted and I became more enveloped in the artwork than I would have been otherwise. No, if you're wondering, I will not be bombarding my interviewees with hugs and other such physically interactive displays.

However, I believe that it will be important to keep in mind that I am making something; a film, a collection of other people's ideas, concepts, and stories. How it is really the experiences of these individuals, all reacting in unique ways to the same list of questions, that will make the collective experience more remarkable. How it would be so neat if I were able to gather these folks' stories in a way that allowed for deeper interaction than simply gazing at them as they are interviewed.

I will do my best to stay true to these folks' experiences, to depict them as they express themselves. Because, just like Amy Stacey Curtis suggested, my work would definitely be incomplete without participants. This film may be in part a way for me to discover deeper meaning in my own Jewish identity, but I consider it an additional goal to portray my interviewees as the unique individuals that they are. Because all together, these individuals create an interactive community displaying the variety of Jewish identity in Maine.

Production Stills! Today I Interviewed Myself.

Or rather, today my camera-clad pal, Zach, interviewed me.

We filmed some preliminary footage, mostly discussing why I'm making the film and what my intentions are. I also talked some about how I relate to Judaism, and what it means to be Jewish specifically in the context of my life. I'm hoping to very soon film my mother to provide more context about my own Jewish identity, in addition to learning more about hers.

After finally filming something, I'm becoming overall more excited, and much less nervous. I'm especially looking forward to speaking with some younger folks about their Jewish identities (!!! kids are so cute!). Having Zach interview me was a positive experience in two ways: firstly, it gave me an idea of what my interviewees are going to be feeling like when I'm talking with them (potentially, a bit nervous, or awkward, or silly, because that is how I felt). Secondly, it helped me to figure out which questions are going to work well in the interviews, and which questions are not. My overall goal is to provide folks with the opportunity to tell stories; I hope very much to ask questions that are going to lead to more in-depth answers.

Here are some production stills from my interview:

(cat!)

I'm looking forward to sifting through the footage of myself over the next couple of days, so as to determine a more finalized list of the questions I will be asking my interviewees! And if you'd like to be one of my interviewees... you know where to find me (here. Or at rwohlpollack@gmail.com).

I hope that everyone had a swell, albeit rainy, Thursday! Until next time, Internet. 

Film Details/Check Out These Talented Folks Who Will be Working With Me!

Hello, everyone! Happy New Year, if applicable, and I hope that everyone has had a swell beginning to the Autumn season thus far.

I wanted to write a quick post about the details for my entry in the Maine Jewish Film Festival.

As it stands, these are them:
1. My film will be no more than ten minutes.
2. I will be interviewing different individuals around the Portland area about what it means - in their experiences and from their particular backgrounds - to be Jewish in Maine (as a side-note, if you or anyone you know would be interested in participating in the interview process, please, please, pretty please contact me by sending an email to rwohlpollack@gmail.com).

Currently, I'm in the process of scheduling interviews with as many folks as possible, and formulating the interview questions regarding identity. It's a bit of an overwhelming process because I am absolutely terrified that this film is going to be sub-par.

Seriously. This is a big deal! I would have to say that, at this point, I am equally absolutely terrified and very, very excited. I have worked on other people's films, but I've never been entirely in charge of one. Luckily, I have some really awesome people who will be helping me out.

Zachary Rohman has agreed to do the filming, which is great, because he is swell in many ways. In addition to his film-making endeavors, he's currently working on a play called "The Hare and the Hedgehog" (based on a story from the Grimm brothers' "Tales for Young and Old") that will be performed in November at the Mayo Street Puppet Slam. He is the lead puppeteer in a puppet production of the German opera "Hänsel und Gretel" which is being put together by Paperbull Puppets, and VOX Maine. More information about  these performances can be found at the following pages:
The Hare and the Hedgehog
Paperbull Puppets
VOX Maine

I will be using some original music in the film, composed by a talented local musician, Will Gattis (check him out right HERE because he's definitely worth a listen). At 9pm on November 1st, Will is releasing an EP at Empire Dine and Dance in Portland. This lovely guy may also make an appearance or two in the film, along with a possible guest appearance by my guinea pig, Tyra Banks.

(Everyone should definitely check out these talented folks, just saying.)

Alright, that's it for now, I'm leaving my computer to finalize some interview questions and to contact more folks. More updates will follow as I move through the interview process!

But before I go, a cute cat can be found here: Fluffiest Cat.

Identity! Introductory First Post

Jonathan Safran Foer, one of my favorite authors, has written many words in a lot of pleasant ways. One such nicely-put-together sentence of his is as follows: "I regret that it takes a life to learn how to live" (from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close).

Although I do not quite share the sorrow expressed, I do love the sentiment: that it takes a lifetime to learn how to live. In particular, I'm quite fond of the concept of identity, and the fluidity of identity, and how even though it probably takes a lifetime to learn who one is, that's likely most of the fun.

My identity has shifted many times throughout my (nearly) twenty-three years thus far. I grew up in Portland, Maine, where through most of elementary school I was likely too shy to concretely identify as anything but just shy. High School was better, but still I was struggling with deciding who I wanted to be, how I wanted to act, and what it was that I most cared about.

In college, at the lovely Clark University (home of the Freud statue), I learned more about myself. I became involved in fun things like student film-making and radio show hosting. And through taking many, many introductory and 100-level courses, I began to sift through topics to determine what I most cared about. And finally, after suffering through things like The History of Math and Quantitative Methods in Geography, I realized that what I love, really, is people.

Psychology was an easy choice to make for a major, but still I struggled with deciding on a minor. Women's Studies? Sociology? Peace Studies?

It was around Sophomore year that I realized I was taking an absurd number of Jewish Studies courses. Not only was I infatuated with course offerings dealing with modern topics like American Jewish Life and Women in Jewish Culture, but I found myself also drawn to courses covering biblical and midrashic topics.

Let me backtrack, because my religious education began long before Clark. In elementary school, I was one of those kids who was "the Jewish one", and so my mom would occasionally come into a class or two to talk about Jewish holidays. And throughout middle school and high school, it remained exciting to be one of very few students at my schools who was missing class for Yom Kippur.

My parents gently urged my siblings and me to include Reform Judaism in our lives. I successfully completed my Bat Mitzvah, my confirmation, and attended Religious School at my synagogue while attending public school, additionally taking part in a Conversational Hebrew course for high school credit. Fairly regularly in my youth I attended Shabbat services, and on Friday evenings my family and I would light Shabbat candles and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

So I grew up Jewish, but I didn't quite feel Jewish. When I arrived at Clark, I attended one or two Hillel Shabbat services, but then gave up entirely. Judaism was a part of who I was, because I had grown up with it. I cared very deeply for it, but not quite in the observant way I'd been raised.

So when Judaism was re-introduced to me as an academic endeavor, it was absolutely wonderful. Here was a topic that I knew loads about, that was interesting to think about, and that could be applied to another topic that I care very deeply about: people.

Through studying with fantastic professors (Everett Fox and Shelly Tenenbaum as wonderful examples) I discovered two topics within Jewish Studies that were very close to my heart: dealing with suffering, and feminist issues. Post-graduation I planned to continue being involved with both of these. And in minor ways, I have pursued one of these endeavors: in the Spring I plan to teach a course at my synagogue (Congregation Bet Ha'am) regarding Midrashic texts, and I plan to use some wonderful feminist texts as examples (shout-out to Judith Plaskow who is a Clark alumni).

Yet the Chaplaincy/Hospice work I initially planned to pursue while learning about coping with suffering with a Jewish lens feels like something I would love to do in a bit more time. It's serious work, and important work, and at times I feel too naive to possibly know what to say to someone who is suffering.

Or, really, to anyone at all. Those who know me will know that I am quiet. Which is why this endeavor, of film-making, of interviewing my community members, of figuring out my Jewish identity through listening to others discuss theirs, feels like such an exciting and terrifying thing to do. I am not sure where this project will lead, or what I will discover about identity, but I am so excited to begin and to see where this journey takes me.

So as I work on this short film for the Maine Jewish Film Festival regarding Jewish identity in Maine, you can follow along! Read my thoughts about this project and see things like stills from film-shoots (oooh, fancy!) and probably I'll include some links to cat videos because cats are just, really, the best thing ever.