Tag Archive for: Documentary film

Posted by:  Cathy

Remember in May where I showed you how the script was evolving on the wall of our spare bedroom?  Well, the evolution continues!

Is it a script?  Or could this be a quilt? 

As I work with Rita Meher on a rough cut of THREADS, one way that is helpful for me to visualize the different parts of the story and their relationships with each other is to take soundbites of the film footage transcript, color code them for which part of the story they represent, and see how they can best fit together.  This format allows me to move segments around relatively easily and to visualize better how the story flows.   In some ways, it reminds me of setting out the patterns and colors of a quilt.

Everyone has their own way of organizing the story they are telling.   What is your favorite method?

 

 

Posted by:  Len

Here is a link to our latest film newsletter.  We have made a lot of progress, but there is still more to do so that Threads: the Art and Life of Surayia Rahman can be launched to the world in 2013.  With your help we will make it!

 

Posted by: Cathy and Len

We recently had the chance to say “thank you” to our Seattle-area supporters and show them a “sneak preview” of some of the footage shot in Bangladesh over the past 12 months.  The event on Mercer Island was a lot of fun for us and gave us an opportunity to talk with supporters, some of whom we had not met in person before.

In addition to a big thank you to those who have donated money, time and encouragement to the film project, we also want to say thanks to our friends who brought the delicious Bangladeshi food and tea, and to those who had so many good things to say about the film and about the importance of supporting independent film.  As always, Rita Meher did an excellent job of editing the most recent footage into a beautiful seven-minute clip.

We could not have come this far without the help and support of a lot of people.  Donations of money, time and services have gotten us to where we are today.  The outpouring of enthusiasm and encouragement keeps us going.  As we continue with our fundraising efforts we sincerely thank everyone who has helped and look forward to thanking those who will help in the future!

 

 

Posted by:  Len

Note:  Unfortunately the link to the article on the Key Peninsula News website has expired.

The last few months have been filled with work on the film and other adventures, so our blog posts have fallen behind.  We will catch up, however, and bring everyone up to date on progress.

We were pleased to see that  our community newspaper just published a very nice article about the film project, complete with one of our favorite photos of Cathy, Len and Surayia, taken by Anil Advani when we were in Dhaka nearly two years ago.   We  were showing Surayia some clips from the very first footage that Mishuk Munier had filmed of Surayia and the women who worked with her.

That photo brings back a mix of emotions: happiness from our time with Surayia and sadness recalling Mishuk’s untimely death.  It is always amazing how evocative a single image can be.

 

Congratulations to Mary Lance on the completion of her new film: “Blue Alchemy: Stories of Indigo.”  The first screening will be at the International Symposium on Natural Dyes in La Rochelle, France, during the week of April 25.  Mary will also be showing the film to benefit the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market July 6th at 7:00pm at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe.  Tickets will be on sale soon.  If you are going to be in Santa Fe in July, help fill the theatre to see a great film and support a great cause.

We first heard of Mary and her indigo film from Ruby Ghuznavi in Dhaka, one of the most eloquent and tireless proponents of natural dyes in the world.  We’ve since watched several of Mary’s other documentaries and admire her work.  Can’t wait to see “Blue Alchemy” next.  According to Mary there will be  a film website coming in late May or June.

Shades of indigo. Silk and cotton kantha shawl hand dyed from Aranya Bangladesh. Photo copyright Kantha Productions LLC.