You ever get the feeling like you are in over your head, well this is why I am taking this project seriously from the beginning so that would not be an issue. I arranged an appointment last week to meet with Ms Abraham of the St. Margaret's Boys School, to discuss the successes of her youth steel pan band. She is the administrator of this group and I thought it appropriate to target this group for the documentary because of their seven consecutive year win at the steel panorama finals for youths. Which would then lead me to ask, what is the secret?
Based on the proposal I should have started filming on Wednesday, January 25th. This was when the production stage began for me and of course on the 26th I began filming. Thursday was the most suitable day to meet with this band. I had a one on one with Ms Abraham and filmed the group during pan practice, also chatting with some band members. They were a professional unified band that loved this instrument. This was exactly the kind of passion I wanted to show on camera.
This reaches phase one of my plan to execute this project. Throughout the course of the week I would map out different phases of this documentary I would like to meet before hand. I want to begin editing as soon as possible. I have already interacted with possible candidates and would officially begin filming again soon. Until then I would keep you in the loop and try to include behind the scenes footage here.
Cavielle
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
A Working Progress
It just happened that I had everything planned for this day. The next step is the pitch to the project and it seemed as though all that practicing did not pay off. I did not reveal to my group ardent listeners everything I wanted them to hear. I hoped to have different news when I wrote in this segment.
*sigh* The proposal would fill in any blanks, but I knew I delivered outstanding pitches before. Be it for my job, peers or in a college classroom, I have grown to conquer pitches and win over a crowd for what I had to offer.
Right now I am in the process for arranging interviews for the documentary. The first meeting is with Ms. Abraham of St. Margaret's Boys School. She is the manager for this band that has succeeded six times in a row in competitions. I hope to hear more about that. I would try to document the behind the scenes footage for anything that stands out during the interview.
I have to confirm with my crew member but I have already gotten through the baby step process. Again I think I would put in detail the pitch I wanted everyone to hear so stay tuned. I guess everything is a working progress.
Cavielle
*sigh* The proposal would fill in any blanks, but I knew I delivered outstanding pitches before. Be it for my job, peers or in a college classroom, I have grown to conquer pitches and win over a crowd for what I had to offer.
Right now I am in the process for arranging interviews for the documentary. The first meeting is with Ms. Abraham of St. Margaret's Boys School. She is the manager for this band that has succeeded six times in a row in competitions. I hope to hear more about that. I would try to document the behind the scenes footage for anything that stands out during the interview.
I have to confirm with my crew member but I have already gotten through the baby step process. Again I think I would put in detail the pitch I wanted everyone to hear so stay tuned. I guess everything is a working progress.
Cavielle
Monday's Presentation
Where is pan in Trinidad and Tobago 2012?
I just looked up the meaning of pan online, they gave me a pot pan as reference. I then realized I had to be specific. The steel pan, when I did type 'steel pan', I also got a reference to the 'steel drum'. It was either when it came to the history of pan I was a bit rusty and I definitely had a lot to learn.
I am presently consulting with my pan specialists and booking the best time to meet up for their interviews. I would not reveal just yet. I also had a team member confirmed as my camera person for this event, I do need help in that area. If there was a special course for one week to go in depth and give insight into camera work I would be all in. They didn't really give us in depth skills or go beyond the primary basics for this project.
Not really making it an issue, the presentation for Monday would be precise. We are on a roll to getting our youths involved in this part of our culture, learning our national instrument. I would let you know how that turns out.
I just looked up the meaning of pan online, they gave me a pot pan as reference. I then realized I had to be specific. The steel pan, when I did type 'steel pan', I also got a reference to the 'steel drum'. It was either when it came to the history of pan I was a bit rusty and I definitely had a lot to learn.
I am presently consulting with my pan specialists and booking the best time to meet up for their interviews. I would not reveal just yet. I also had a team member confirmed as my camera person for this event, I do need help in that area. If there was a special course for one week to go in depth and give insight into camera work I would be all in. They didn't really give us in depth skills or go beyond the primary basics for this project.
Not really making it an issue, the presentation for Monday would be precise. We are on a roll to getting our youths involved in this part of our culture, learning our national instrument. I would let you know how that turns out.
Proposal Revised
I just added a little more meat to the narrative. The idea is to paint in your mind what the steel pan meant to me and how that would transpire in the documentary.
Reflections of Pan
It was the Friday of the 19th in February, 1999 and I remember looking outside my front porch watching the band from next door strut the steel pans down the road. It was a team effort and the entire neighborhood cheered them while others followed and helped monitor the pans. Big crates carried these huge pans, and strong men pushed them from behind. They began playing a local tempo unrecognizable to me at the time. People began dancing and cheering. It almost became a celebration that the band was going to play again that year in the Panorama Festival. It was the first time I was introduced to pan as a young girl. Although I did not pick up the art for playing the instrument, I still cheered my band. Others always complained about them practicing at nights, but on that day, it almost felt as though they were cheering heroes.
Reflections of Pan
It was the Friday of the 19th in February, 1999 and I remember looking outside my front porch watching the band from next door strut the steel pans down the road. It was a team effort and the entire neighborhood cheered them while others followed and helped monitor the pans. Big crates carried these huge pans, and strong men pushed them from behind. They began playing a local tempo unrecognizable to me at the time. People began dancing and cheering. It almost became a celebration that the band was going to play again that year in the Panorama Festival. It was the first time I was introduced to pan as a young girl. Although I did not pick up the art for playing the instrument, I still cheered my band. Others always complained about them practicing at nights, but on that day, it almost felt as though they were cheering heroes.
The Proposal
This is how far I have reached....
I would check back to make sure I am on the right track.
Title of Project: Where is Pan in Trinidad and Tobago?
Target Audience: Youths 11-25 years
I was thinking of increase this to Primary School age, the earlier the better; say 5-20 (Hey they do start learning really early in life - we'll see)
Introduction
The following is a narrative of elements associated with the concept of pan and its impact on the society of Trinidad and Tobago. The presentation of pan would take the form of a documentary that would focus on the making of the instrument along with its historical roots and whether it is still prominent in society today. Focus would be placed on the 2012 generation of youths and how familiar they are with the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Once a connection is made with these youths, attempt would be made to construct whether they can identify with the instrument and also how exposed they are to the instrument.
I would check back to make sure I am on the right track.
Title of Project: Where is Pan in Trinidad and Tobago?
Target Audience: Youths 11-25 years
I was thinking of increase this to Primary School age, the earlier the better; say 5-20 (Hey they do start learning really early in life - we'll see)
Introduction
The following is a narrative of elements associated with the concept of pan and its impact on the society of Trinidad and Tobago. The presentation of pan would take the form of a documentary that would focus on the making of the instrument along with its historical roots and whether it is still prominent in society today. Focus would be placed on the 2012 generation of youths and how familiar they are with the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Once a connection is made with these youths, attempt would be made to construct whether they can identify with the instrument and also how exposed they are to the instrument.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
The Pre-Production Proposal
A proposal for my advisers are necessary for this plot to grow. I need help. I said, I need help making this documentary and getting the title out there. Pan-No-Drama again. I am now working on my proposal.
Title: Where is steel pan in Trinidad and Tobago 2012?
Is this too plain. The idea isn't to limit the where is pan to only 2012, but to start now. We need to begin asking ourselves this questions. It is very simple. After the proposal I would begin working on the presentation for this project, but first I would begin the description / narrative for this project so I would have an ideal grasp on the concept.
Cavielle
Title: Where is steel pan in Trinidad and Tobago 2012?
Is this too plain. The idea isn't to limit the where is pan to only 2012, but to start now. We need to begin asking ourselves this questions. It is very simple. After the proposal I would begin working on the presentation for this project, but first I would begin the description / narrative for this project so I would have an ideal grasp on the concept.
Cavielle
Monday, 9 January 2012
What is this documentary?
You may also be wondering why would you want to watch it when it is completed. Well this is specific to Trinidad and Tobago nationals, but I also know that this instrument called the steel pan has a historical impact and meaning for our country and culture. Once it is established where pan came from I believe we can appreciate the instrument. Not only the adults, but the youths that have lost touch with the history. Let's face it we see history as being in the past and reminding us of it may be a bit of a bore.
This can all change. There has been several attempt to reintegrate the youths with the joy of playing the steel pan, also known as a steel drum. School compete yearly and associate themselves with the art of making music says a source. So the passion is there all we need is the access. Come on people of Trinidad and Tobago do we not love our national instrument, then essentially putting it in our school curriculum or even in our school auditorium could help imprint the beauty of this instrument in our minds.
Who else thinks this instrument only makes noise? Where it only seems as though this instrument is not that, but a one note item. Well imagine that concept changing your mind as we learn from specialist as to how the steel pan is made, where the steel pan came from and those youths that can actually change your mind about the instrument's beauty. If there are some youths that realize that then there must be hope.
There we go and I bet you have already hooked yourself into understanding the concept of this project. It wants to educate not only you but myself. I also fear that I may not know as much as I should, I want this documentary to fill my curiosity. I am starving for information on my national instrument. I need to be taught. SO join me as I take you through each process. So far I have a few key pan specialists in mind. Stay tuned as they are revealed in future blog posts.
Cavielle
This can all change. There has been several attempt to reintegrate the youths with the joy of playing the steel pan, also known as a steel drum. School compete yearly and associate themselves with the art of making music says a source. So the passion is there all we need is the access. Come on people of Trinidad and Tobago do we not love our national instrument, then essentially putting it in our school curriculum or even in our school auditorium could help imprint the beauty of this instrument in our minds.
Who else thinks this instrument only makes noise? Where it only seems as though this instrument is not that, but a one note item. Well imagine that concept changing your mind as we learn from specialist as to how the steel pan is made, where the steel pan came from and those youths that can actually change your mind about the instrument's beauty. If there are some youths that realize that then there must be hope.
There we go and I bet you have already hooked yourself into understanding the concept of this project. It wants to educate not only you but myself. I also fear that I may not know as much as I should, I want this documentary to fill my curiosity. I am starving for information on my national instrument. I need to be taught. SO join me as I take you through each process. So far I have a few key pan specialists in mind. Stay tuned as they are revealed in future blog posts.
Cavielle
Pan No Drama - Introduction
Welcome to the first post of my blog, if you have not read the introduction to the blog at the right side of this post, then I advise you take a peek. Well you should know after reading that I am making a documentary on Pan in Trinidad and Tobago for the youths of 2012. This blog would take you through each process of making this documentary. For the instance I would not be able to handle everything for this documentary, I have already consulted some people to help me along this drive through production.
I have prior experience to filming a documentary as my sister blog would show you, but I was often criticized for my camerawork. So I have already noted where I would need help. The Video above would introduce you to the concept for the documentary. Honestly since the pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago I think it is horrible that I know other instruments more. Some of my colleagues have not even seen the instrument up close in all their years and they have been residents of Trinidad and Tobago for all their teenage years.
I remember learning about the history in History class, but I do not know the origins by heart. If teens were to be exposed to this instrument at a young age, or to even have it implemented in the school's curriculum, maybe that would change the distance and loss of passion towards pan. If this unawareness continued to grow, maybe the significance of the instrument would be forgotten.
So this should give you an overall concept as to where we are with this. Further posts would go into detail as to what I intend to explore. I must be honest, I am not a super professional with filming, editing or anything that has to do with the making of a documentary, but I want this to look everything like a professional piece for others to take pan seriously.
Cavielle
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