This has been our third shoot and I must say it has been the most fun as well as the most interesting. Apart from playing with Samaria swords dressed in robes while french farmers drive by in bewilderment Divorce papers plays an intriguing role in questioning the relationship of our personal lives and relationship to those we create through social networks. For those who have seen the original update in which this weeks video was based from (which can be found in the Inspiration category of this page) you will notice that this particular post sparked quite the debate, some expressed support and even celebration while others choose to take a more defensive approach while still trying to remain neutral. While others feel completely uninhibited in their comments there are still few how choose to address the statement with sensitivity, yet the urge to comment on issues in which one is even indirectly affected seems to be human nature. From a directorial and writers point of view this was a very interesting shoot, mainly because one of my lead actors was in fact the person who made the initial update. I don’t want to say that the first update used was easier to apply to a new situation because it wasn’t, the it certainly was a lot more impersonal, not only was this weeks update dealing directly with a huge aspect of someone’s life I am left with the responsibility of directing that very person with my interpretation of their own life.
I included this screen shot because it highlights the irony of facebook. As always I post my scripts here before the final video because I want viewers to be able to follow the development of how a creative thought evolves from start to finish. My actors posted a link to the strangestatus page and we got an interesting response to the script, from someone who wasn’t even involved in the initial update. It would seem that he found the script enjoyable and dare I say even impressed at how a simple facebook update could evolve into something far beyond it’s intentions, yet keeping the real names of those involved seemed to be unethical. I must say as a director I did feel a bit strange with this level of involvement in someone’s life but to change names of those involved would be an injustice to this project, and I can only assume I’m going to catch more heat once people start viewing the video. But that’s the point isn’t it, to invoke a reaction, I’ll like these to be entertaining but it’s not the over all goal, whether or not people like it is irrelevant, so long as it is provoking a reaction. Who knows, facebook will be forced to rethink how they structure their content due to this project, or at lease the people who provide the content.
Anyway this was by far the best shoot we have had and production will only continue to get better as I continue to hone my craft.
