Just a Normal Place & The Start of the Documentary

(ordinary scene now)

The honeymoon phase is over. Things are ordinary and familiar now. I know where the hot spots are now, and I know where I can find my favorite chow mein, mushroom mutter, and omelets. The school cafeteria meals are no longer exciting, but now I can look at the menu and either rejoice or complain.

So what do I do now? Well, I guess I can research the best sequencing of my many blankets in order to create the maximum warmth, based on the laws of thermodynamics and insulation. Whatever. Or, I can try to communicate with my ayah some more. I guess I was getting her name wrong too, it's Shivchandi, not Sheepchandi!

Here is a picture of my beloved electric oil heater. It is basically my only source of heating inside my 40 degree Farenheit apartment. Some of my colleagues have already turned off their refrigerators because they don't need them anymore.

(beloved heater drying beloved long underwear)

But what can I get most excited about? The documentary! Here is a picture of some of my documentary team:

(Enthusiastic students and teachers!!!)

We have 20 girls on board, and a whole bunch of teachers. Chris Starr who works in Alumni Relations is the cinematographer and editor extraordinaire, and gave us a training session on the new professional equipment that I recently brought back from the US. We are going to apply for some grants soon and/or seek funding from individual supporters.

(explaining the buttons)

(The rule of thirds; golden mean; 1.6; fibonacci's sequence)

We will try to visit the villages every few weeks and film interviews and daily activities. This blog will turn into mostly the process of making the documentary, because that's what I'll be doing!

Currently, we need to secure film permissions for appearances and locations, so that we can insure the possibility of distribution later on. We will be approaching the Pradhans or the leader of each village, to give us written permission.

Sanjeev has agreed to be an Advisor! The message will be, how will the villages survive?

(Grandma and her daughter Rita)

Oh, how do we know what we're doing? Coincidentally, I worked in the film industry for 5 years and Chris worked in the film industry for 10 years. We probably lived within a few minutes of each other. We both bring in different experience and knowledge, and our friends in Los Angeles are majorly helping us out with advice and encouragement! Thanks!