why three characters? how will your narrative move beyond illustrating issues above? is split-screen an effective or on obvious strategy in dealing with duality?
Characters: The choice to use 3 characters is a consideration for the length of the film, which has implications for the budget in many different ways. Actually I may have to limit the characters to 2 only in order to provide a good insight into some of the questions and issues I indicated in my draft proposal (posted on March 3rd ). However, I am open to suggestions regarding engaging more than 3 characters.
The main narrative for the film will be framed around exploring the characters and their situations in specific contexts/locations (public & private), involving encounters with family, friends, etc. The plan is to film at least 2 individuals whose experiences show a range of points of views and attitudes. With familial relationships in particular, there’s always opportunity to explore conflicting ideas, attitudes and opinions when it comes to first generation immigrants desperate to maintain certain aspects of their culture - What kinds of tensions are generated in families when first generation immigrants find ways to remember, maintain and express their Cultural Heritage in a new country, far away from Home?
As the development for the project continues, I will focus and limit my choice of characters to individuals who have deep and well established social and economic connections ‘here’ and at the same time have emotional and other connections back in the ‘homeland’. As an example, there is always a clash of ideas and attitudes between first and second-generation immigrants, and their outlook and feelings towards certain aspects of culture and identity.
Both characters and locations will provide valuable creative spaces to imagine and construct the complexity and multifaceted aspects of identity and belonging. I think that the use of split screen is more than just a strategy for dealing with duality. I am hoping it will provide a space to complicate, question and imagine the complexity of cultural differences and expectations as well as other less obvious dimensions that move beyond duality.
I am still thinking…
At this point in time, I am not able to provide very concrete situations to clearly define the narrative thread to the extent of saying specifically what will happen – as the film deals with real life situations; some things are uncertain. However, we will see the characters in circumstances that to engage the viewer both at an emotional and intellectual level, and through these, reveal the multifaceted complexities of identity and tensions of belonging ‘here’ and ‘there’
More as time goes by….
Florence
