Issues on Teen Pregnancy

December 14th, 2010

Jessica’s documentary is moving towards teen pregnancy and how it has a few facets. She has been interviewing teen mothers in Baltimore City. Jessica has also gathered groups of teens, their parents, and their children and would then follow them around.

Critique:
Travis Masingale: “The questions: how they see themselves providing or being in the real world. The development of these children could be an extensive documentary. You should ask beyond “Frontline” questions.”

Sunday Ballew: “Werner Herzog’s ‘Encounters at the End of the World” has a great example of how to interview someone that doesn’t want to open up. Herzog dealt with a hermit living in Antarctica and his method of talking to him was to make him talk about the penguins. This was in an effort to get the man to talk about himself.”

Miranda Lichtenstein: “The choice of filming her daughter; were you going to speak to her grandmother also?”

Jessica Gibson: “I interviewed her separately as a technical choice.”

Miranda Lichtenstein: “’7-Up’ is a documentary that reveals a lot in specific circumstances.”

Lloyd Lowe, Jr.: “Secondary footage should focus on the actual life; waking up in the morning – going to school – changing diapers.”

William Pace: “The footage of the mom/kid crying should be included because it reflects on the reality of the situation.”

Miranda Lichtenstein: “But having her speaking only there is an interesting disconnection. The mom talking about going back to school is a great point. ‘Killer of Sheep’ another documentary about Los Angeles inner-city black culture in the 1970′s is another film to watch.”

Kim Llerena: “I want to see more of the personal. The voice-over manipulates the angle to an unknown degree. Is it possible to make it more of a personal journey?

Jessica Gibson: “I would interview my own extended family with a voice-over. I believe that would encompass that aspect of it.”

Timothy Druckrey: “However it oscillates, what kind of documentary do you want it to be? Do you want it to be a judging documentary? A PBS special about teen pregnancy? Are you scripting the questions for everyone? Because the questions could reveal the pitfalls of the educational system or with the parents. To highlight the actual problems. It is currently premature to determine what it will be, the film will be determined with the footage. But the questions and the approach needs to be determined first.”

Miranda Lichtenstein: “The ‘Mark of Cain’ is another film you should see. The strength of your piece is the role / intimacy that you have with the people you are talking to.”

Timothy Druckrey: “You need to father the evidence before you decide to concretize your filming endeavors. Its a danger to switch from image-to-image without forgetting the basic message. TO have your pediatrician tell you that you are pregnant, that is tough.”

Recommendations:
7-Up (The Up Series) – Film
Killer of Sheep – Film
Mark of Cain – Film