As the Dream Team is still working on our re-imagined project, I want to take some time to reflect on the journey we’ve taken as a group. A lot has happened since week 4 and a lot has changed, and I want to go through these 7 weeks one more time to see where we started, and where we’ll end. I found these questions on canvas and I liked them. Thus (I feel so fancy using this word), I’ll use them as guidelines for this reflection.

What impact did you want your project to have on your audience?

When we started planning our project in week 6, we wanted to change people’s grim perception of the West and showcase it’s welcoming and friendly community. Even though that part of Melbourne has a bad reputation, most of the people who badmouth it don’t know the area at all and simply give in to the stereotypes without trying to figure things out for themselves. Our aim was to educate people on the matter and to shift the reputation of West Melbourne to the better. We were planning on doing so by basing our documentary around the Walker Close community centre. However, when it became apparent that this plan was no longer a viable option, we had to quickly change our project and its aims, goals and impact with it. When that happened, we had no time left to reflect on the possible impact and deeper meanings of our re-imagined documentary. All we had in mind was doing something, pushing forward, not failing the course. When I think about it now, I realize that the impact of our project didn’t change that much. It became less straightforward and compelling, but also more honest and lively. In our final piece, we were able to show the viewers real and unbiased opinions from the people who actually live in the West, and these time from the people who had no agenda promoting one thing or another. And I feel like this form of our project had more impact on the viewers than the first version ever could. Maybe it wasn’t all glamorous and pretty, maybe it was rough and chaotic, but it was honest and unbiased. And people can feel that.

What opportunities, people or knowledge has your documentary projects enabled you to engage in?

Oh boy. Where do I start? This studio was a real rollercoaster, and so far the most stressful and problematic course I’ve had. However, I am not complaining at all, because I could learn a lot from it and grow both as a filmmaker and a person.

First of all, hats off to the Dream Team. It was a privilege working with them and I took a lot from these friendships. Secondly, as I discussed in my previous posts, this course provided me with an amazing opportunity to learn to let go of control and emerge myself into pure exploration. In most of my previous courses, I would be in total control of whatever I was doing and my ultimate goal was to complete each assignment as perfectly as I could and get an HD. Of course, it would be good to learn something on the way, but it was always about the destination and not the journey. I would be lying if I said that high grades are not a priority to me anymore, they certainly are and I genuinely cried the other day when I got a DI. However, this studio, I was forced out of control, from behind the steering wheel and into the backseat. I think it was an extremely important experience for me and it’s something that will help me greatly not only in my future studies and professional career but personal life as well.

Lastly, I learned a lot about the concept of the documentary, both traditional and open space. Prior to taking this course, I never watched any documentary films and I didn’t know much about it at all.  I feel like my understanding of the concept of the documentary, how it’s made and consumed has really increased. Truth be told, it’s definitely not something I want to do in life, and I don’t think my path will ever cross with documentary making, but the knowledge and the experience I gained through this course is priceless nonetheless.

What conversations have you had or relationships you have built?

It’s funny how I’ve been stressing over this project for the past few weeks, cursing at all the issues we’ve endured, and now I realize that it was all of these troubles that I learnt the most from. The most important conversations we’ve had were those panic and adrenaline filled talks when we were deciding how to salvage our project back in week 9. It was stressful and nerve-wracking, but also incredibly meaningful and important. That was when I learnt the most and grew in every possible way. It reminds me of something Sigmund Freud once said:

One day, in retrospect, the days of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.

Sigmund Freud

I thought about it many times before. All of the most important, life-changing moments that shaped who I am today were not happy or carefree memories. And some of my most treasured memories are the ones of struggle as well. It’s not surprising that the most meaningful moments of this course were the moments of doubt, struggle and panic, – that’s when we get to learn and grow.

Why present work at the Living Museum of the West? What opportunities for engagement can an exhibition and event provide?

Firstly, I feel like our documentary really belongs in the Living Museum of the West. It explores the modern life of local people and it’s something that will be of great value in a few decades. Even though it is still an interesting film to see today, I think that it’s meaning and implications will grow in value as the time passes.

Secondly, I feel like the answer is summed up perfectly in this paragraph:

The distinct differences between these screenings and a traditional theatrical release, however, are threefold. First, with streaming video, the costly overhead of saturation booking and print striking for a commercial release was obliterated. Second, individuals had more incentive to participate because the screenings were free of charge and held in the comfort of domestic spaces and among familiar faces. Third, and perhaps most significantly, all the screenings took place in community and were accompanied by conversation and interaction. Individuals watching a documentary at the multiplex cinema, on television, or via a streaming media site rarely, if ever, strike up substantive, collective dialogue as the end credits roll.

Broderick Fox

By inviting people to the free screening at the museum and giving them an opportunity to engage with our project and discuss the topics they explore, we sparked a debate, a chance for original thought. Just like Fox said, people rarely give much thought to blockbusters they see on a big screen, personal computer or TV, the setting is just not right. Not to mention that many of these movies were not designed to provoke thoughts to begin with. They are a form of entertainment, they are something you watch when you are bored or in need of a quick dose of emotions. An exhibition like that, however, is a perfect setting for people to engage in a conversation and reflect on the meanings and implications of the projects. It’s a chance for them to talk and think about topics and issues that go unnoticed in everyday life. I think that this event is more than a university exhibition designed to show off our work. It’s a little getaway for people to take a step back and think. Which, as species, we don’t do very often.

In conclusion, this was a great semester. It had its ups and downs, but overall it was extremely productive and I got a lot out of it. Hopefully, the exhibition goes well and our guests can enjoy our work and maybe even take something from it.

Cited:

Fox, B. (2017) ‘Media: History, Theory, Practice’. Routledge, London UK