Writing Degree Zero

My group short documentary project is at a standstill. One group member dropped out of the project altogether and another isn’t interested any longer. So, now I’m flying solo on a separate project. My focus is now on a local New Smyrna Beach poet, Rob Dunning.

Rob chain smokes, has the growl of a sailor, and suffers from schizophrenia and PTSD. Many people intentionally avoid contact with him because they don’t understand him. They don’t want to understand him. And the emotional maelstrom is evident in his poetry. Rob is a recovering alcoholic who traded in a gin addiction for words. He wrestles with demons which is evident in his poetry. Rob explained to me that a poet documents humanity. Rob Dunning’s poetry may never end up in the Norton Anthology of contemporary poetry, but  I’d say that he deserves the title of poet. While filming today, Rob generously and honestly granted me access to his inner darkness. He showed me the grace of humanity.

Here is a poem from Rob Dunning’s recent book of poetry “Auditory Hallucinations.” And an unedited excerpt from today’s interview.

Unnoticed

I can’t control my dubious mind.

Christ’s words echo in my ears.

I breathe alone in the morning

Darkness and huddled in my blank corner.

Imminent vibrations bleat according

To my depth of mood.

I stand at the crowded bar

And hear the ecstasy from the flashing

Jukebox.

Your red lips seem too precious to touch.

The radiance of your hot body

Entertains me like a burning and blessed

Tornado.

The underpaid language of childhood

Means long-forgotten chances.

I am a mortal who deals with divinity

And immeasurable sadness.

A drunken God kneels like a fallen child

And a twirling heavenly body.

In a nameless country I go unnoticed.

Tonight, I enlisted my man to participate in an impromptu interview. I didn’t have a prepared list of questions, nor did I set up the proper lighting conditions for the space. Shame on me. As an amateur photographer I know better. I was in too much in a hurry to get my subject in and out of the chair because it was a late night favor. I have to say  photography is so much different from film. Well, at least in terms of the video camera that I am using for this project.

I learned some important lessons from this practice shoot. For one, lighting is extremely important, even for a midnight practice run. The LCD screen on my camera is deceiving. I may have to take a photo first and upload it to my laptop to double check the image quality.

Regrettably, I didn’t allow enough silence between my interview questions. I realized this once I began editing with my consumer movie software. There is only so much one can fix in post production. This silence is extremely important for transitions.

I also didn’t have B-roll footage. But I realize it doesn’t matter. Had I prepared proper interview questions, I could have teased out moments of intensity that could have been used to shape the narrative arch.

Overall, I’m not pleased with the final outcome of the footage, but I’m glad I took the time to practice. I’m not going to be Errol Morris anytime soon, but I’m encouraged.

I’m currently enrolled in an intensive documentary workshop with a focus on the interview. We have 5 weeks to plan, shoot, and edit a very short profile documentary. Consider this space as a placeholder for ideas, reflections, and problems that I encounter while producing the short film.

My group has decided to interview a young woman about the strained relationship she has with her mother. Of course, most mother-daughter relationships are complicated, but this particular relationship includes the conflict of religious principles and practices. The young woman’s mother is a devout Jehovah’s Witness. My aim is not to make a spectacle of the Jehovah’s Witness beliefs. Rather, I’d like to highlight the tension the young woman feels about the orthodox beliefs and practices of the church and her mother.

I don’t know much about the religion. Though, I do know that my monthly hand delivered copy of the WatchTower Magazine makes a good litterbox liner. It is so thoughtful of the Witnesses to bring it to me.  It should be interesting to see how this narrative pans out.

I’m currently enrolled in a documentary workshop. The first assignment was to interview a person on the fly. We tried to agree on the type of interview questions we would ask a random person, but nothing came and we were losing time. That is when I decided to try the bartender at the Boathouse. I’ve talked to her several times while consuming after semester pints of Blue Moon. I remember her telling me how she is fascinated by reptiles. How quirky. I thought she would be perfect.

Unfortunately, she turned us down, due to management policy. Damn. My group walked away dispirited. Time was running out and we had no interview. Then suddenly, in the distance I saw a young man with an orange ball. My radar was locked and loaded. I ran toward him introduced myself and asked if I could get an interview. He was fantastic! He was a juggler/theatre major who could recite Shakespeare. What an opportunity.

We walked away, thinking we had the best guerilla style interview EVER. But then, when we returned to view the tape we realized we had no image. Are you fucking kidding me!? What a bummer. How could it be? Rule number 1 is to check the video, right?

Here is the result: