At a SOAS rally calling for the return of the suspended students, I met and spoke to one of the main speakers, Alex, who agreed to do an interview with me later on.
While at SOAS, in a final desperate attempt to speak to the suspended students, I approached students from the Arab Society at their fundraiser in hopes that I would be able to reach students at Palestine society through them, however, they refused to tell me anything.
Some of the footage was filmed on a phone, as I actively rushed around vigils and protests for months. Sometimes I wouldn't have my Lumix GH5 camera on me (understandably so). However, I believe the different types of cameras used add to the film's homemade feel. At the end of the day, I was documenting what I was a part of. The cameras show that aspect. In terms of filming style, I was heavily influenced by more intimate documentaries and interviews.
Later on, at a vigil, I met a british-palestinian entertainment lawyer and musician who goes by the name Bint7alal. After telling her about my film and asking her to potentially collaborate, we discussed the possibility of me using her music in my film, as I needed to get the copyright approval from her. However, I am unsure yet whether I will need music to score my film.
With more hope for my story, I began looking at more films and art pieces to inform and inspire my work, as well as to further immerse myself in the movement.
Mosaic rooms visit:
I was inspired by how the artist‘s words were the focal point of the pieces.
Jean Luc Godard’s 2004 film Notre Musique (Recommended by Alex):
Foragers by Jumana Manna: The latter shows intimate moments of everyday life under occupation. This film shows the effects of bigger contexts on a smaller scale, such as foraging. It shows how living life a certain way is in and of itself a revolutionary act. This has inspired my documentary on so many levels: I wanted to show the small within the big, the individual in the crowd: Palestine and those who advocate for it are not an amalgamated body of terrorists.
Expedition content by Ernst Karel: https://youtu.be/M7zLgXLSoLI?si=8QoDla-7OhD9bHxy
“An immersive marvel of sonic ethnography, EXPEDITION CONTENT draws on audio recordings made by recent college graduate and Standard Oil heir Michael Rockefeller as part of the 1961 Harvard-Peabody Expedition to Netherlands New Guinea that set up tents among the indigenous Hubula (also known as Dani) people. In their nearly imageless film, Ernst Karel and Veronika Kusumaryati document the strange encounter between the expedition and the Hubula people. The work explores and upends the power dynamics between anthropologist and subject, between image and sound, and turns the whole ethnographic project on its head.” I watched this film for tips on anonymity.
The Palestine film festival is held here in London at the Barbican Center. I went to some of their events, however, many were sold out due to the ongoing massacre/war in Gaza. Many people wanted to show support for Palestinian filmmakers and artists.
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