Title of Project: Where is Steel Pan in Trinidad and Tobago for 2012 Youths?
Target Audience: Youths 11-25 years
Description of Project
Introduction
The following is a narrative of elements associated with the concept of steel pan and its impact on the society of Trinidad and Tobago. The presentation of pan would take the form of a 30 minute 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.
Reflections of Steel Pan
It was the Friday of the 19th in February, 1999 and I remember looking outside my front porch watching the members of 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. They celebrated in anticipation that the band would be chosen the finals. 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.
It seems now pan has lost the feeling of community in 2012. Stories of the instrument are being forgotten and we are left with the memory from mature adults. During the carnival season steel pans seem to flourish, which stir the curiosity of the tourists as they yearn for more knowledge about the instrument. As a culture for this new generation it seems like we do not have the same curiosity as these tourists. The band rolling the pans outside my home is not a big event as before. I remain indoors as I listen to what appear to be noise coming from the pans, being tugged down the road to Panorama.
This documentary would now seek to answer the question as to whether the steel pan is lost. It would focus on youths that have lost interest in this national instrument. One main way the steel pan can be reinforced is if it is implemented into our educational systems. The documentary would go to one wining school of the pan competition. This would also encourage others to appreciate the instrument. The identity of the steel pan is not truly recognized by this new generation. Pan should come easy to those who want to learn it and this documentary would try to figure out why more youths are not taking up this art.
Steel Pan Origins
The pan became a voice for the people here in Trinidad and Tobago. Fletcher and Rossing (1998, p. 766) focused on the music pan created for others. They believed that shared cultures created a new form of communication in music. This made sound and dance into a new language of music, which gave Africans a collective identity (Davies, 2008, p. 742). The culture of pan has now spread beyond that of an African origin, from a time where it spoke to slaves. Steel island (2000, p.4) personified the image of pan with the culture of the Africans. The pan bore its origins during the time of slavery when slaves used drums as a form of communication. When the people were prevented from using drums, they made their instruments from bamboo. According to Steel island (2000, p.4) these forbidden drums survived a time of slavery to instill the steel pan into their hearts where “the drumbeat and the heartbeat became inseparable”. The history of the steel pan can now be defined on a deeper psychological level.
Once this documentary explores the history of pan, it would seek to educate those who want to learn more and others who have forgotten the meaning. It would try to explore the culture of the people during the age where pan was more popular and compare it with this generation. It would also try to see whether integration of the steel pan in our system can be accomplished.
Steel Pan – A Trinbago National Instrument
“Pan is in serious problems in Trinidad and Tobago” (Cardinez, 2011). Keith Diaz is the president of Pan Trinbago and is expressive about the steel pan and its relationship with youths in Trinidad and Tobago. He added to the statement provided in the Express Newspapers “Junior Panorama is in trouble. There is a problem with the Ministry of Education. The contracts for the tutors involved in the Pan in Schools programme are not being renewed, so there are instruments in the schools but no tutors.” Now the focus has shifted to the youths. After all those who grew up in a time where pan was prominent have gone, the youths are the only people that can give meaning to pan again. Keith Diaz would give greater meaning to this documentary. He has stressed the importance of implementing pan in school. Youths are lost in the world where other instruments have taken over their minds. Pan would no longer bare any significance to them and the meaning of pan would be lost.
Conclusion
This documentary would tie all these issues mentioned. It would focus on those youths that have an interest in pan and seek to discover whether they would appreciate the art of playing the instrument if given the opportunity. While attempting to discover the true history of pan, this documentary would seek to educate youths who have forgotten the national instrument. Further investigation would be placed into the whereabouts of pan in society today, while focusing on its history and impact on Carnival and Panorama. This final piece of information would then attempt to answer whether pan is still a strong competitive instrument for Trinidadians and Tobagonians, and whether there would be growth in the pan industry in the near future.
Action Plan
The Pre-Production Stage
This production stage involves the process of planning needed for the production stage. Here is where I act as director, production manager and location manager for this documentary production. I work on putting a team together that could assist with this production. Since this documentary involves real life events, there would be no need for a script. I would also ensure those people being represented in this documentary are available prior to filming.
I would also create paperwork for team members, locations and interviewees beforehand. For pre-production I would also work on assigning appointment dates within a two month period for all participants of the documentary and also list of all the music needed for the production to determine whether clearance would be needed in advance.
My responsibilities also lie in researching participants prior to filming, to ensure a best prepared interview based on the theme of the documentary.
This is a summary of my tasks for the pre-production stage:
Research – Analysis of newspaper reports. Reviewing books and catalogues associated with task. I would contact potential sources for the documentary, along with those who can act as a pure informational function. Similar projects by previous people would be accessed and analyzed.
Ground Work – Locating crew and cast. Here is where the filming aspect is planned. The documentary would need to have a camera and lighting team. These people would deal with lighting and camera while I focus on the interview process; questions and interviewees. The best locations to meet the main cast for the documentary would also be sourced here on their time and schedules.
Paperwork – Although the team for the production is still under review, the basic crew need to sign paperwork in order to continue working on this production. I would issue contracts for the crew and those involved in the documentary. Advance paperwork for equipments would be planned and sourced prior to filming.
Production Stage
During this production stage I would be responsible for the camera work and interviewing. I would have full care for shooting on location and handling equipment. I would also organize meals for crew on each day of production. This production requires the camera work to be of fine quality for the documentary. The project would utilize multiple angle shots, requiring at least two cameras on the production site. A camera kit including tripods, lighting, boom poles and microphones would be sourced. This would ensure the best quality for the project on the day of production.
Post Production stage would rely heavily on working with the computer and the associated editing software. I would control all elements of editing and would design the DVD covers for final delivery of project.
Team Members
Consultant: Board and Directors Member for Renegades: Philbert Alleng
Crew Members
Project Manager: Cavielle Mc Kenzie
Camera and Lighting: Matthew Vernette
Schedule:
Project due on: Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Pre-production completed by: Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Production completed by: Saturday, March 17th, 2012
Post-production completed by: Saturday, March 31st, 2012
Resources / Equipment Needed:
Canon Rebel T2i (x2)
Tripod Sunpak 7001 DX (x2)
Impact Lighting Kit
Azden WMS-PRO VHF Wireless Lavalier (x4)
Sony F-V320 handheld Microphone
Headphones
Computer
Hard drive Storage Devices (x2)
Boom Microphone
Dolly
Presentation Format:
On the final day the documentary would be presented in the form of a Digital Versatile/Video Disc (DVD). The DVD would require a standard DVD player for viewing of the documentary.
References
Cardinez, G. (2011) School pan in danger says diaz. Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved from: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/School_pan_in_danger__says_Diaz-113146624.html
Davies, C.B. (2008) Encyclopedia of the african diaspora: origins, experiences, and culture. ABC-CLIO, Inc: United States of America.
Fletcher, N. H. & Rossing, T.D. (1998) The physics of musical instruments. Springer Science and Business Media: United States of America.
Steel Island (2000) The history of steelpan. Steel Island Concert and Recording Quality Steelpans. Retrieved from: http://www.steelisland.com/history.asp
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