It’s been a long journey to completing the You Am I project. Many months of filming events and footage and now, it’s coming together in a rough draft.

I believe editing is the heart of film making- it’s the place where all the footage is pieced together, and more importantly, where the story comes together.
With the exception of two important interviews, I have great direction and feel that the editing experience is positive. Actually, better than I anticipated. I think this is largely due to the fact that I shot the footage myself allowing a type of ‘pre-editing’ during the production phase.

Inspired we were. Suddenly books started to pop up in libraries and small budget films with an ethnic storyline appeared. In the eighties and early nineties, we(being the first generation in the west of South east Asian descent) were desperate for these stories, our stories and humour to be shared.

Bend it like Beckham was another great example of the Eastern issues in the west. But the humour and skill of it’s director, made it into an all time favourite.

I think both these directors have paved the way for future female directors and created an place where these types of stories, humour and diversity can excel.

Could it be because :

It’s a colourful kids show?

Or an educational show designed to teach children the alphabet, show how neighbours interact and sharing musical tunes?

Nope, safe to say none of these created the enduring affection I have for this show.

I realised a few weeks ago, when watching Australian television. There’s a local soapy called “Neighbours” and during an episode I noticed that things were a MISS! Neighbours, a long running soap, runs a very caucasian storyline with appropriate styled actors and little ethnic issues. Even though the show is shot in Australia’s most ethnic and multicultural city in Australia-MELBOURNE, it’s like we don’t exist!

Sesame Street is the opposite, they seem to have every shade of brown and showcase different cultures namely Hispanic, Indian and African American.  Why is that a kids show gives it’s viewers a more realistic image of the world than what we(adults) get from a drama that’s on air during prime time?

The website which has moved from just an online film festival to an online library for school and teachers. This change has  given filmmakers a chance to reach a wider audience.

Thanks to the advances in the internet and technology, our films no longer need to be made for ‘television’, we can make our programs in a shorter format that will reach audiences around the world. As film-makers, we can also earn some $$$.

My film was fortunate to be part of the current batch available in the documentary section. There are many impressive short docos online from Australia and around the world.

Check out the new Campfire site: http://campfire.org.au/

Film makers, no longer require the BIG funding contracts from networks to produce and distribute their works for screening.

To reach an audience, we can get our stories across in timely and direct manner. Last week, I came across a doco about Queen Rania of Jordan and how she is using a channel on YOU TUBE to speak directly to the world. It’s the first time I’ve seen a member of any royal family do this and she seems to be really taking advantage of this communication mode to dispel many myths about the Arab world and also, address facts.

Check it out :

Get out and support this film! Brought to Melbourne by the University of Melbourne Islamic Society in cooperation with Youth Victoria.

Where: Greater Union Cinemas, 131 Russell Street, Melbourne 3000

When: Saturday the 16th of July 2011

Sessions at the following times:

2:30pm – 4:30pm
Film screening + Q&A with writer/director Qasim Basir
5:00 PM – 7:00pm

Film Screening + Q&A with writer/director Qasim Basir

It was held at La Paella Restaurant in Melbourne.

This is dinner is part of the Aust/Indonesian exchange program that brings together Muslim artists from both countries. It’s an opportunity to network, interact and share works likes images, folio or samples of work.

The host for the evening was Christine Rafferty and the evening attracted a variety of artists. Photographers, film makers and painters just to name a few.

It was a great event. Female artists were able to meet, share their works and discuss past and future projects. One consistent theme was the love of art and Islam.  I don’t believe this is something often celebrated. So on that cold Melbourne evening in a small restaurant, we embraced the opportunity.

 (Sharing copies of my dvds with one of the talented Indonesian Photographers).

One is an American made, the other a local product. Different, and yet, both engaging.

Talhotblond, is a doco following the story of a teenage internet tease who plays mind games with people online.

The subject is something we are all familiar with, the internet and how this communications tool has changed the way we interact and behave. Sometime in ways unlike real life. It examines the addiction to the internet, but more importantly, the need for people to seek attention and love that is deprived in everyday life.

So begins the story of a young beauitful vixen online who falls madly in love with a young marine sniper. What I loved about this doco was it’s structure, the way the story unravels through photos, actual online converations shown as text on screen and interviews. The story is chilling, unexpected and sad.

What I love most about this film is that the director, Barbara Shroeder, wrote, directed and edited the doco. Compelling stuff!

The second doco is an Australian series called ‘Outback kids’. The story os about Brahminy Group which is a organisation that treats children with issues like drug, alcohol and violence.

The doco feels like it’s shot on the fly and that everything, in particular, the violence amongst the troubled youth, happens live. It has a seamless feel moving between storylines and shows the beauty of the Northern Territory and the dedication of the founders of the project.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201105/programs/DO0950V001D2011-05-19T213342.htm