Being There

I'm sitting in the first class of the video senior class, and I'm going, what am I doing here?  They are asking what your favorite film was and favorite director.  They are showing experimental avant guard films that drove me crazy when I was younger.  Folks are commenting on the hidden meanings or altered reality or the message.  I'm seeing crazy people that may be affected a little too much by consuming illegal pharmaceuticals.  Really, this is a guy who has trouble sitting through a full length movie in a theater.  I'm ready to leave after the previews.  I haven't paid to see a feature film in years.  It is easier to watch it in bits and pieces on TV.  I can get up and go to the bathroom at any time with the knowledge that the film will be replayed over and over again.  I still haven't seen the first Star Wars movie all the way through.

I am a fan of 60 minutes.  I have been watching that show since it's inception.  I am fascinated that they can delve into a subject for 20 minutes.  And yes I loved the Mike Wallace ambushes and his confrontational interviews.  "some people say...., not me of course, but other people........"  Before that, I used to watch the documentary series CBS Reports.  My reason for being at the senior video class is to document people's stories, especially those that get overlooked.

I'm finding the focus of the class is slowly shifting.  The heart of the program is shifting away from the stories.  The simple stories of life.  But I'm finding I'm also there to improve my story telling. to make it more interesting than just watching talking heads.  I still feel guilty that my first video did not turn out that well.  I am almost ashamed to have folks view it.  I know every mistake, every spot where I could have done better, areas where if I had short some other footage, etc.  I was hoping to do better for those who consented to be interviewed.

I'm also finding that I'm being connected or exposed to other areas of the community other than basketball.  There are a lot of issues out there that affect our unique community.  Little Tokyo still exists, our unique history that influences our local communities, the aculturalization of the fourth and fifth generations.  The huge issue between us and the other JA communities up and down the coast and across the nation.

Can my voice make a difference?  I'm not sure, but at least I may be able to let people access stories that are often ignored and overlooked.  There is an endless list of possibilities.  I guess I'm sticking it out another year.