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FINDING PEOPLE – an adventure in multiple parts

 

My least favourite part of documentary making – organising people to be in it. 

 

After settling upon interviewing one female taxi driver, one female Uber driver, and one Sheba driver, we are now into the phase of creating questions and contacting people.

 

PERSON 1: TAXI DRIVER 

 

Rohan has given us the great idea of interviewing a taxi driver he met in Ballarat who is apparently quite the character, and who he believes to be the only female taxi driver in the town.

This should also provide a great visual contrast with the ‘city’ driver of the Uber, and the ‘suburban’ locating of the Shebah.

We intend to call the taxi rank, pretending to have driven with her previously in order to make contact and ask her to be in the film.

Update #1: There are in fact many female taxi drivers in Ballarat. We are going to be in further contact and see who wants to be involved in the film.

Update #2: Several of the women from the taxi rank are willing to be involved. We are calling Elizabeth who is in charge.

Update #3: She is very nice, and will be in the film.

 

PERSON 2: UBER DRIVER 

 

This is the easy part, as Bradley has a friend who is an Uber driver.

 

Update #1: She is in fact a recently retired Uber driver. We think it will be fine to have her in the film regardless, so we are pursuing her for the film.

 

Update #2: Her name is Marz. Not entirely sure if she’s particularly excited to be in the film or if she would rather not. Bradley is in contact and I’ve said we can always do an audio only interview, or otherwise see if she knows another female driver who would be more willing to be involved.

 

Update #3: Marz is willing to be in the documentary, and as an old drama teacher is happy to be on camera, and comfortable here.

Update #4: Marz is unavailable until the 16th of May. We have locked in this date.

 

PERSON 3: SHEBAH 

 

This will be the most difficult of the three to secure, as it is a relatively small company and none of us have previous connections. We are emailing the company to see if they have any women who would be interested in being in the film.

 

Update #1: We have been in touch with a very nice man at the company, and he is talking to a few women about being in the film.

Update #2: Nice man at Shebah has said there is a woman who is interested in being in the documentary. We have sent further information about the film, and possible shooting dates.

 

Update #3: Not sure how this was conveyed, but the woman thought it was a phone interview, and has thus pulled out. Nice man at Shebah is finding another woman to be in our film.

 

Update #4: Another woman has agreed to be in our film! Hooray! We have sent a comprehensive description of the film and our approach, as well as possible shoot dates.

 

Update #5: She also thought it was a phone interview somehow! And has since pulled out. Nice man at Shebah is finding us another person, although I’ve said we can make it work with a phone / audio only interview if required.

 

Update #6: No reply from Shebah. Deadline approaching. We have decided to can the Shebah and focus on building a solid dialogue between the two other women, and focussing on the gendered discussion of the industry, whilst building up the contrasts of old/young, county/city, and the respective aesthetic palettes that accompany them.