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Hungry For Peace


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I stumbled into CodePink during their hunger strike for peace outside Diane Feinstein's house. With signs and shoes draped all over her garden, ladies sat peacefully protesting Feinstein's vote for further war funding. Currently, they are camped outside Nancy Pelosi's house urging her to demonstrate her power to help bring an end to the war in Iraq.
jennadorn

26 responses // Hungry For Peace

  • I liked how your voice over was casual and the serendipity of the whole event was wonderful.

    My only suggestion would be to not do so many fade in dissolves, it seems to force an emotion. These ladies are out there on a hunger strike on the streets, it should be raw and rough.

    I love this piece though and you did a great job!
    sarahbelle
  • This was a good TV-news report-style experience of running into a powerful story, shooting as much as I could in limited time, and turning it around to a solid edit within a few days. Thank you to the ladies who are still outside Nancy Pelosi's house hunger striking as a peaceful protest to Diane Feinstein's recent vote for war funding.

    severshed, I do see what you mean about the fade in dissolves. I went a bit overboard. The footage needed a boost to keep our attention on the ambiance of the event and I sure was in love with my lens flares... :)
    jennadorn
  • Any thing to bring attention to this is good, but we should hurry Bush might outlaw impeachment soon. I'm considering writing all the states Senators, as a concerned citizen of the United States.
    covelogibbs
  • another good one jenn. Great flow, and I loooove the ending.
    say_raw
  • another good one jenn. Great flow, and I loooove the ending.
    say_raw
  • Great job again!
    Cowgirl51
  • Excellent job with the very casual voiceover. I am going to try to incorporate that style into my own work as well. Went a bit crazy with the fade-ins, no? :)
    russell_wetanson
  • Great piece!
    and what a brilliant cause to apply all your talent to... just think, there is a whole world of films out there waiting for you. Make them!
    Jakijaki
  • GL The disconnect between elected officials and voters is created by corporate monopoly & interference created by corporate campaign financing of both parties. Who do our politicians listen to? Follow the money.

    Check out Andre's Custom Shoes.

    DavidGeorge

  • GL.
    My only neg comment: I like the idea behind the singing, except it could be poked fun at, and I'd hate to see that. Without the sweet, but off-key singing there's strong stuff there.
    Something to consider... but good editing job!

    Hanala
    and thanks for greenlighting "DOG FUNCTIONAL"!
    Hanala
  • Yeah, I was torn about the ending too, but I decided to show Becky's creative side with the songs she wrote and very proudly performed at the peace rally. I think it certainly makes them seem vulnerable as so few people would sing to a camera if it wasn't on key, but this isn't American Idol. The caroling was a big part of their passionate protest so I decided to keep it in but save it for the end so it didn't distract from the message of the piece. :) Jenn
    jennadorn
  • I looked at this again because the out of tune song at the end was bothering me. I agree with Hanala that it might distract from the serious message.

    I always ask myself if I cut something out how will it affect my overall message. If you don't miss anything salient, cut it out. Shorter is always better. What do you think?
    DavidGeorge
  • i like your message, but all the singing has to go...i thought it was pointless and almost painful to watch.

    Also, you should swing back by feinstein's crib and film at least two other people that have something important to say about why they are protesting.

    there's no need to make that lady (missed her name?) the central figure and focus of the pod...what about all those other people?

    then put some appropriate music in the background. check out current's APM library.

    smorrisey
  • smorrissey,

    1.) i am planning on cutting out the song at the end as it doesn't add to the pod.

    2.) when a filmmaker stumbles upon a story, she/he tries to pick the best storytelling moments with the best audio quality. i had audio issues since i had not planned on shooting interviews out on the street and becky provided the best audio while at the same time told me why they were there.

    3.) to omit all of her songs is not sticking true to their actions that day. it was a huge part of their demonstration. i don't need music when i have their carols. and i do already know and love the APM libary.

    4.) i am planning on stopping by their camp tomorrow to get a follow up that i will tag onto the end of the new version.

    5.) thanks for the red light! message heard loud and clear. :) jenn
    jennadorn
  • davidgeorge,

    i do so love your way of giving constructive criticism. i definitely hear you about the ending and i do plan on uploading a new version that also adds an update on their progress as they continue to hunger strike, this time outside Pelosi's house who refuses to speak to them.
    thank you for the feedback,
    jenn
    jennadorn
  • i couldn't make it out to this event, but here's an update on the ladies and gents on hunger strike day #11.
    jennadorn
  • I understand why you are attached to the singing and how it was important to your experience that day.....For me though...I still feel like it undermines a more important story.

    I personally am very attentive to and interested by the politics of war and peace....I had no idea that people were camped outside feinstein and pelosi's houses.....great news.

    When I first started watching, I was thinking...wow...I want to know more about why these people are so motivated to actually pickett their representatives.

    ...then it went downhill and totally delineated into stereotypical hippie / flowerchild antics....that which I think gives peace-mongers like me a bad reputation......

    thank you for being responsive and keeping the dialog going

    smorrisey
  • Jenn Dorn did an excellent job on that video. It was true, powerful, and conveyed the strength of a small group of people working for real change.
    vibeka
  • This is great!
    I am really impressed by the courage of all the hunger strikers, and I love the impeachment carol at the end. What a unique way to protest - this is a work of a genius! More and more people should sing these songs on the street, at the parties, etc. The power of music to the power of people!
    And I really appreciate Becky's explanation of what's going on - it definately sends a clear message to the viewers like me.
    Thank you all - Code Pink and the producer of the video.
    peterartist
  • The singing is hilarious - hilarously terrible! Forget those who say remove the singing! They're missing the whole point of life and news. News is about capturing what's happening. These guys were singing and you captured it - that's called news.

    Are you trying to present what actually happened or are you trying to manipulate it?

    Life/news ain't pretty and its full of offkey notes - remove them and sure you have something a little more perfect yet at the same time bland and unreal. Give me life/news warts and all.

    Your pod represents what Current should be about - instead of these set-up half-scripted polished pods, we should be seeing more of these moments of life captured on camera. I like that you stumbled on the event rather than had it planned out - that's life.

    And forget embarrassed peacemongers like smorrissey. The actions of the few should not be weighed against the many - besides at least they were doing something.

    I would keep tthe singing at the end as the fading out piece and do a voice over saying something along the line of - "CodePink's heart might be in the right place but their singing apparently could use a little work"
    SamuraiDave
  • SamuraiDave

    I revisited this to see if Jenn made any changes and read your comment about the singing.

    Re: "Are you trying to present what actually happened or are you trying to manipulate it?"

    I had to respond to this - of course it sounds noble to present things as they happened but as soon as you turn the camera on and frame an event you are already manipulating what the viewer will look at at, whether or not music is used and what effect you want to have etc. In my opinion all art is a manipulation to create as closely as possible the effect the artist wants to create.

    When we accuse someone of being manipulative it's rarely a compliment, but when it comes to filmmaking, writing, sculpting, etc. manipulate away!

    That is the work - it's absolutely unavoidable.

    Peace.
    DavidGeorge
  • Interesting piece, my only suggestion would be to put in more of the motivation behind the group and their actions. I understand they're anti-war, anti-bush, but are they coming at this from any interesting angles? It's not really a criticism, I just would have liked to see more of the protestor's personal stories. GL all the way.
    seattleuntimely
  • David, I'm not accusing her of manipulating the pod but asking what is her purpose here. I'm supporting her original decision to leave in the singing because that's what she caught on her camera - ie that's what the protestors were doing.

    Sure the singing is bad but it's heartful. Keep in mind, a part of my comment about manipulation was directed towards morrisey who wanted the singing removed because it made people like him look bad. I felt that was using unnecessary pressure to get the producer to change their pod unlike yours and others who simply felt the singing didn't belong.
    SamuraiDave
  • good stuff - singing and all!
    jeffeagar
  • beautiful and informative pod.

    wow...beautiful song, visuals, and message!
    thanks for good work!

    here's a quote from Martin Luther King:

    It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love
    peace and sacrifice for it.

    and one of many solutions?:
    http://current.com/items/88802683_breakin_bakin_a_call_...
    TheTaoLive
  • ps...i think the singing highlights who this group is...heartfelt, creative, and fun...just regular people who are committed to making change happen...All power to them!
    TheTaoLive

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