Which would you choose?

[next-tarantino]

Alright my fellow Mogulers, I've got a very serious question for you. Now, I wasn't quite sure of where to put this thread, but decided that "Chit-chat" was the best place for it. Anyway, I want your opinion as to which option you would choose for your summer filmmaking experience.

There are the three choices (as of right now), and I'll give you a brief run-down of each.

1.) Paid teaching position - I have the opportunity to teach filmmaking techniques at a school in Chicago. Basically, I'd be paid $1,200 (in addition to room&board) to teach high school students how to make short films (write, direct, edit, the whole nine yards). More info at northwestern.edu/nhsi/

2.) Internship in LA - I don't know the specifics of this one, but basically I'd be interning on several shoots out in LA with expenses fully reimbursed up to $3000-$4000. (I've also got friends out there, so the fun factor would be through the roof.)

And finally...

3.) Africa - Wow. So, I'd pretty much be traveling to Africa to assist in a kind of art camp at the Maisha International Orphanage, wherein we'd teach the kids about music, painting, and basic photography. We'd also be interacting with and aiding these children in other ways who have all, in some way or another, been affecting by AIDS (whether it be through loss of parent, etc.). Also, I'd be making a documentary of the whole thing. This would be an amazing opportunity to help try and bring some light into the otherwise fairly grim lives of these unfortunate children who've been given an unfair start in life. There's a lot more detail to this one, but I'll just leave it at this for now.


So, which would you pick? I've almost got my mind made up about 90% as to which I'm going to do, I just wonder what you guys would choose. And if you've got any questions about any of them, please ask.

:)

[NaziActionFigure]

3 becuase i've never been to another continent.

[ciwi286]

ooh...Those are some awesome options..Not sure whether I'd got for internship or Africa.

[bridboyross]

Id do Africa, I'd rather make a good documentary that was mine than assist on someone elses short film

[New Spark Films]

Africa.

It'd be a great experience for the African kids and you.

[kpb730]

Africa would be fantastic

[GhostOfAllie]

I want to say Chicago, because I live here, and Chicago needs more Mogulers...

[uhrisuh]

I want to say Chicago, because I live here, and Chicago needs more Mogulers...


I agree!

[GhostOfAllie]

I agree!

We should kidnap mogulers and bring them here <_<

[New Spark Films]

We should kidnap mogulers and bring them here <_<

I wouldn't mind, I love Chicago. Although I love where I'm at already.

[Steve Nelson]

I voted for Africa, but it really depends on where you are in life.

[next-tarantino]

I voted for Africa, but it really depends on where you are in life.


Well, I'm graduating from college in a few months and will be looking to start a career.

I know that "where you are in life" denotes quite a bit more than just "I'm graduating," but my fingers don't have the constitution to type out my life story... :D


And also, now that a lot of you have said "Africa," here's another little tidbit: it would cost me a little over $4000 to go and help with this art camp and document the goings-on for three weeks. That includes everything from the travel visa I'd have to get, to airfare and living expenses.

[speekerphone]

2 i would like LA

[next-tarantino]

Id do Africa, I'd rather make a good documentary that was mine than assist on someone elses short film

Couldn't agree more. I would love the teaching job (and the $$$), but it just doesn't have the same kind of resounding awesome-ness that going to Africa does.


Africa.

It'd be a great experience for the African kids and you.

Africa would be fantastic


Those are the kinds of responses I wanted to hear. :)

And yes, for those of you that haven't guessed by now, I'm pretty sure I'll be going to Africa. It's going to be pricey to get there, but with the fund raisers we plan on doing, I don't think it will be a problem.

From what I've been told, the project already has a lot of support (both financial and otherwise), so it's not going to be too hard to realize this project.

[cronaldo]

I would pick #2, work my way up, make movies that are recognized, then go to Africa and make a documentary that would be publicized. Unless in #3 the documentary's already going to be recognized.

[etentertainment]

3 for sure.

[mrsiefer23]

id do the internship in LA for the experience of working with pros

[b-smitty323]

I'd go to Africa. It can be a spiritually stimulating experience, getting to work with those kids. And you'll be working on documentary, which is always a plus.

[next-tarantino]

I would pick #2, work my way up, make movies that are recognized, then go to Africa and make a documentary that would be publicized. Unless in #3 the documentary's already going to be recognized.

That's the thing about this though, it's going to be recognized. We're going to be putting on exhibitions, as I was told.


id do the internship in LA for the experience of working with pros

So, you'd rather work as a production assistant who'd get absolutely no experience and gain hardly any knowledge as you ran frantically back and forth taking orders for coffee? No thanks.

Three words: Screw. The. "Pros."


I'd go to Africa. It can be a spiritually stimulating experience, getting to work with those kids. And you'll be working on documentary, which is always a plus.

My thoughts exactly. :)

[gcubedproductions]

Well, you can intern in LA anytime you want. Have fun and go to Africa... But whatever you decide, good luck!

[WesScog]

Personally, I would work in Africa, real world field experience.

No better experience than keeping your equipment operational in a harsh real world environment, it calls forth a kind of discipline out of you rarely encountered in film school.

Not to mention Africa is awesome, and dealing with Kids is always great, I would love teaching and sharing the arts with a new generation of film makers in another country and culture. It could be so enriching for both you and them.

Also, think of how this is going to look on your resume. When you get back to the States and you're looking for a "Real" job, most people will have been fetching coffee for executives for the last year, while you'll have "Documentary/Academic Experience in Africa".

Think of the stories you'll have to tell, that's not just something you can tell your grandkids, it's something you'll be able to tell some executive who'll hire you.

Look at it this way, whose he going to hire, the guy whose been running around getting coffee the last year instead of holding a camera, or a guy whose been working on his own documentary and TEACHING other people how cameras work for the last year? IN AFRICA!?

Come on.

[next-tarantino]

Personally, I would work in Africa, real world field experience.

No better experience than keeping your equipment operational in a harsh real world environment, it calls forth a kind of discipline out of you rarely encountered in film school.

Not to mention Africa is awesome, and dealing with Kids is always great, I would love teaching and sharing the arts with a new generation of film makers in another country and culture. It could be so enriching for both you and them.

Also, think of how this is going to look on your resume. When you get back to the States and you're looking for a "Real" job, most people will have been fetching coffee for executives for the last year, while you'll have "Documentary/Academic Experience in Africa".

Think of the stories you'll have to tell, that's not just something you can tell your grandkids, it's something you'll be able to tell some executive who'll hire you.

Look at it this way, whose he going to hire, the guy whose been running around getting coffee the last year instead of holding a camera, or a guy whose been working on his own documentary and TEACHING other people how cameras work for the last year? IN AFRICA!?

Come on.


You're right about a lot of things, Wes, and this is one of them. I'd choose this experience over any internship in LA. I don't like getting my own coffee, let alone taking orders for some stuffy douchebag who isn't going to appreciate it.

I think this trip to Africa is going to be such a great opportunity. But, it's going to be a little different than what I assume you're thinking of, Wes. We'll be immersing these kids in the very basic elements of music, painting, and photography (not film, as it would be too difficult to provide equipment and knowledge to that many kids of such diverse ages) for two weeks (I think) so they can learn to use art as therapy and as a way to express life. I'll just be there as a videographer to produce a documentary of the whole thing, while also helping in the teaching process at the same time. But still... yes, very awesome.

But, I'm really glad to see that there are a lot of like-minded people here who would much rather take this opportunity than the "internship in LA." I'd rather produce something of significance with the potential to really touch lives, and it's comforting to know that there are those here who agree.


Also, I just found out today that, due to the schedules, I'll be able to go to Africa and do the teaching thing in Chicago. So, "yay" for that!

:D




(Sidenote: And because of the trip to Africa, I'll also be purchasing a Panasonic AG-DVX100b. So, another "yay!")

[delish23]

http://www.vimeo.com/645436

There will always be other jobs and internships. The third option is selfless and inspiring. Go with 3.

[spicysmoke]

A new camera, Africa and teaching, sounds like youre in for an awesome time. I cant beleive some people have said internship though, thats ridiculous, there wouldnt be anything to learn.

[next-tarantino]

http://www.vimeo.com/645436

There will always be other jobs and internships. The third option is selfless and inspiring. Go with 3.


That was an awesome short! It's stuff like that that really makes me want to get into the documentary film world.

And thanks for the input. :)

[cronaldo]

I would go with the third hands down. I'm just saying, if initially going with 2 raises people's awareness for a potential documentary in Africa later. I'd do it. Other than self-betterment, experience, and impact on locals there's no point in doing a documentary on Africa if it won't be recognized when you get back.

[_ray_biddle_]

If I didn't have other plans i'd pick 2, just for the contacts.

1-Is very cool, but not as cool as 2

3-I don't want to go to Africa right now, but it is still cool.

Alright my fellow Mogulers, I've got a very serious question for you. Now, I wasn't quite sure of where to put this thread, but decided that "Chit-chat" was the best place for it. Anyway, I want your opinion as to which option you would choose for your summer filmmaking experience.

There are the three choices (as of right now), and I'll give you a brief run-down of each.

1.) Paid teaching position - I have the opportunity to teach filmmaking techniques at a school in Chicago. Basically, I'd be paid $1,200 (in addition to room&board) to teach high school students how to make short films (write, direct, edit, the whole nine yards). More info at northwestern.edu/nhsi/

2.) Internship in LA - I don't know the specifics of this one, but basically I'd be interning on several shoots out in LA with expenses fully reimbursed up to $3000-$4000. (I've also got friends out there, so the fun factor would be through the roof.)

And finally...

3.) Africa - Wow. So, I'd pretty much be traveling to Africa to assist in a kind of art camp at the Maisha International Orphanage, wherein we'd teach the kids about music, painting, and basic photography. We'd also be interacting with and aiding these children in other ways who have all, in some way or another, been affecting by AIDS (whether it be through loss of parent, etc.). Also, I'd be making a documentary of the whole thing. This would be an amazing opportunity to help try and bring some light into the otherwise fairly grim lives of these unfortunate children who've been given an unfair start in life. There's a lot more detail to this one, but I'll just leave it at this for now.


So, which would you pick? I've almost got my mind made up about 90% as to which I'm going to do, I just wonder what you guys would choose. And if you've got any questions about any of them, please ask.

:)

[GhostOfAllie]

Also, I just found out today that, due to the schedules, I'll be able to go to Africa and do the teaching thing in Chicago. So, "yay" for that!



You should defiantly come to Chicago.

[next-tarantino]

You should defiantly come to Chicago.

If I can get a position with that camp/school-thing, I most definitely will be.

This summer is going to be crazy-go-nuts. :D


(If you got that reference, then you are awesome.)

[FyceDesigns]

Africa all the way. Poor kids. :(