Drift Reality > Washington, DC > January 2004

A lot has happened this past month. I've launched the new site, dropped the sections of the old site that were focused on creative writing (sorry Amber and Rachel), analytical essays (sorry James), music (sorry nobody), and instead selfishly focus on my travel writing and videography. I've also finally dropped the black background with white text and attempted to utilize a more friendly color scheme. God, sometimes I step back and think that I sound so gay. If there were a "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" For Web sites, I would probably have to be on it.

Back in September, a friend of mine approached me about collaborating on some sort of documentary project. We found an appropriate subject area, planned the shoots, and went through three months of shooting.

The good news is that after three months of shooting in DC, combined with footage from two weeks in Iran, I have enough footage to create something special that examines both Iranian and American culture. The bad news is that my team and the main subject have seemingly deserted me so it's pretty much entirely in my lap. But now that I think about it, maybe that's good news also.

Originally, we created a synopsis that was primarily focused on the subject. In retrospect, I think we made a naïve assumption that the subject would be a) interesting and b) willing and committed. In retrospect, I think we were wrong on both counts.

My style has tended (due to both technical and attention-related constraints) to involve the creation of smaller vignettes that culminate in the conveyance of some overarching theme. I don't think this project will be any different and I've already completed the first vignette, a piece shot in the subway that in no way relates to the subject but pretty much focuses entirely on the environment. Although many of the vignettes will focus on the subject, I have a feeling that when all is said and done, the aggregate will be far less about answering the question, "Who?" and far more about "What?"

In working on the subway piece (click to view), I have attempted to take my time and pour a little more effort into creating a more professional final product than before. I think I'd like to screen this one eventually.

In other news, I've booked a flight to London for April, and I’m planning on getting some material that I will use to create some content for a London section of the site. Seeing as how my first real abroad experience was in London, I feel like it's something I probably ought to do.

That's all I can really think of for now.