Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Yep agreed 100%!
Rebel With a Cause - Isara doc - Official Announcement
- Thread starter thartley
- Start date
thartley
Veteran
Well, a sticky! :dankk2: To kinda update people on what's going on currently, PK has started a "Pick Up the Trash" campaign, and no, its not about prostitution. (ba-dum-dum) I'm going out with the cameras and filming him and a couple other volunteers daily while they hang signs written in Thai on tuk tuks. The signs are meant to encourage people to basically put trash in the street bins that are placed here and there throughout the city.
I was not sure if it was the fact that I am hanging around with the camera recording that was making every single driver agree to have the signs tied to their tuk tuks, so today, I rode up after PK got on scene, parked my bike down from his and shot from behind for a while. He still has not had a single driver decline to request to have the signs placed. That's pretty cool. Lots of times here, if there is a camera around, people will do and say what they think is expected. At least that is my opinion. And no one wants to look bad or difficult on camera, at least not here. But even when they had no idea that they were being filmed, they still graciously agreed to hang the signs. :thumbsup:
I was not sure if it was the fact that I am hanging around with the camera recording that was making every single driver agree to have the signs tied to their tuk tuks, so today, I rode up after PK got on scene, parked my bike down from his and shot from behind for a while. He still has not had a single driver decline to request to have the signs placed. That's pretty cool. Lots of times here, if there is a camera around, people will do and say what they think is expected. At least that is my opinion. And no one wants to look bad or difficult on camera, at least not here. But even when they had no idea that they were being filmed, they still graciously agreed to hang the signs. :thumbsup:
ConspiracyPenguin
Nosey Penguin
Hey thartley, thanks for the update. I think that is another cool campaign from a cool organization. Hope you're having a great time out there!
thartley
Veteran
I do have to say that my life feels pretty balanced now that I have internet access, even if its tentative. :2vrolijk_08: My life hinges on the a/c in my room, the 7-11 around the corner, and having internet access when I cant sleep. Oh, and knowing how to say "no meat" in thai. :undecided Mai ow nuon! 
rogar-BigGrin(DBG) Prob not spelled right at all..... but its more important to know how to say it, anyway.
I've never traveled abroad, so this is all very new to me. I have not exactly hit the floor running over here...well, I hit the floor running to the bathroom. haha! But I think that was because half the water system ended up in MY system during the first day of Song Kran. They dont use filtered water when they throw it at ya! LOL!
And getting my internal clock to go upside down has been no overnight (overday?) process either. But that is pretty good now, too.
And then there is the heat. This place is beautiful. I mean, its gritty and raw for the most part. Its stripped down. Anything I've ever seen on film of places like this have not done it complete justice. Because there is an atmosphere and an element that is missing unless you've been to a place like this, you won't really understand. The heat and humidity here is enough to be a cinematic character all its own. It knows its people, and it marks outsiders. I have personally become every character in every movie ever made where there is that one person, usually dressed in white, sweating their ass off and constantly wiping their forehead and neck with a cloth while struggling to communicate with the locals. Sooner or later, I will either dry up or adapt to some extent. But people's lives are pretty much designed around their environment here. Native thais are accustomed to the heat and weather, but there is a great element to their existence that is just in harmony with it. In the states, we change and control the spaces we live in to suit us. If its hot, we flip a switch. If its cold, the other switch. Hot water comes to us on demand, cold water is cold. But here, if you want cold water, you have to get up at 6:00am and hope it was a cool night. Hot water, that's all you're getting from the tap most of the day.
I remember in the movie Identity, in the BTS on the DVD, the DP (I think) talked about how he used water as an actual character in the film, the movement of it, the intensity of the rain, the way it would pool in some places, how the light would play off it. I can very much relate to how such things can suddenly seem to have life and breath and a pulse, and move things forward or bring things to a standstill.
Heat is the diva of Nong khai as far as I'm concerned.rogar-BigGrin(DBG) But we are beginning to see eye to eye on many things and we are learning how to work together. I need to learn the thai word for 'siesta'.
rogar-BigGrin(DBG) Prob not spelled right at all..... but its more important to know how to say it, anyway.I've never traveled abroad, so this is all very new to me. I have not exactly hit the floor running over here...well, I hit the floor running to the bathroom. haha! But I think that was because half the water system ended up in MY system during the first day of Song Kran. They dont use filtered water when they throw it at ya! LOL!
And getting my internal clock to go upside down has been no overnight (overday?) process either. But that is pretty good now, too.
And then there is the heat. This place is beautiful. I mean, its gritty and raw for the most part. Its stripped down. Anything I've ever seen on film of places like this have not done it complete justice. Because there is an atmosphere and an element that is missing unless you've been to a place like this, you won't really understand. The heat and humidity here is enough to be a cinematic character all its own. It knows its people, and it marks outsiders. I have personally become every character in every movie ever made where there is that one person, usually dressed in white, sweating their ass off and constantly wiping their forehead and neck with a cloth while struggling to communicate with the locals. Sooner or later, I will either dry up or adapt to some extent. But people's lives are pretty much designed around their environment here. Native thais are accustomed to the heat and weather, but there is a great element to their existence that is just in harmony with it. In the states, we change and control the spaces we live in to suit us. If its hot, we flip a switch. If its cold, the other switch. Hot water comes to us on demand, cold water is cold. But here, if you want cold water, you have to get up at 6:00am and hope it was a cool night. Hot water, that's all you're getting from the tap most of the day.
I remember in the movie Identity, in the BTS on the DVD, the DP (I think) talked about how he used water as an actual character in the film, the movement of it, the intensity of the rain, the way it would pool in some places, how the light would play off it. I can very much relate to how such things can suddenly seem to have life and breath and a pulse, and move things forward or bring things to a standstill.
Heat is the diva of Nong khai as far as I'm concerned.
rogar-BigGrin(DBG) But we are beginning to see eye to eye on many things and we are learning how to work together. I need to learn the thai word for 'siesta'.
thartley
Veteran
While we've been out shooting volunteers hanging signs, word has gotten out that the white dude is doing another project. haha! The tuk tuk drivers are very interested in having a sign placed on their vehicle and today, there were some who were actually looking for us so they could have a sign, too. And as we walked past the hospital, the uniformed guard got up and asked if he could have a sign to place in the parking lot because so many people throw trash on the ground there. PK gave him one of our signs....
In all of this, as the days go by, the people are getting used to seeing me walk around with the video camera, I'll take still shots here and there, and as people are watching PK, I am getting footage of people on their motorbikes right in front of the traffic cops' kiosks on the sidewalk, unmanned in the middle of the day as people with no helmets load their no helmet wearing kids on the bike with them and take off. People who are riding with so many people on one bike that they are actually holding their babies nearly at arm's length to the side of the bike. As a mother, it makes my heart stop to see this, and I see it everywhere.
Well, its Sunday here and I have photos to start editing, finally. We'll post some screen shots hopefully this upcoming week.
In all of this, as the days go by, the people are getting used to seeing me walk around with the video camera, I'll take still shots here and there, and as people are watching PK, I am getting footage of people on their motorbikes right in front of the traffic cops' kiosks on the sidewalk, unmanned in the middle of the day as people with no helmets load their no helmet wearing kids on the bike with them and take off. People who are riding with so many people on one bike that they are actually holding their babies nearly at arm's length to the side of the bike. As a mother, it makes my heart stop to see this, and I see it everywhere.
Well, its Sunday here and I have photos to start editing, finally. We'll post some screen shots hopefully this upcoming week.
Kirk Gillock
Rebel with a cause
Let's not forget that thartley is also a volunteer. So when she's not recording us doing projects she's also helping put the projects together. Last Friday she even helped us teach our classes here at the ILC.
thartley's been doing a great job documenting everything. Yesterday we had both HV20's recording all of us walking around town hanging up signs. (It's just the first part of a larger campaign.)
One problem that keeps coming up is that I'm not use to being followed by a camera crew so I forget to comment to the camera about what's going on. Sometimes we'll be walking some where or doing something and thartley will say, "Kirk, what's going on?" Which is her nice way of telling me that it's time to communicate with the camera. Also, some of the conversations recorded are in Thai and I forget to translate. When that happens thartley will say, "Kirk, what did he say?"
Ohh and I had a chance to play with the lights that Vidled donated and I've got to say that those lights are amazing. Not only is the packaging cool but the lights are very well built and throw a lot of light. Thanks, Vidled.
thartley's been doing a great job documenting everything. Yesterday we had both HV20's recording all of us walking around town hanging up signs. (It's just the first part of a larger campaign.)
One problem that keeps coming up is that I'm not use to being followed by a camera crew so I forget to comment to the camera about what's going on. Sometimes we'll be walking some where or doing something and thartley will say, "Kirk, what's going on?" Which is her nice way of telling me that it's time to communicate with the camera. Also, some of the conversations recorded are in Thai and I forget to translate. When that happens thartley will say, "Kirk, what did he say?"
Ohh and I had a chance to play with the lights that Vidled donated and I've got to say that those lights are amazing. Not only is the packaging cool but the lights are very well built and throw a lot of light. Thanks, Vidled.
Last edited:
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
Let's not forget that thartley is also a volunteer. So when she's not recording us doing projects she's also helping put the projects together. Last Friday she even helped us teach our classes here at the ILC.
thartley's been doing a great job documenting everything. Yesterday we had both HV20's recording all of us walking around town hanging up signs. (It's just the first part of a larger campaign.)
One problem that keeps coming up is that I'm not use to being followed by a camera crew so I forget to comment to the camera about what's going on. Sometimes we'll be walking some where or doing something and thartley will say, "Kirk, what's going on?" Which is her nice way of telling me that it's time to communicate with the camera. Also, some of the conversations recorded are in Thai and I forget to translate. When that happens thartley will say, "Kirk, what did he say?"
Ohh and I had a chance to play with the lights that Vidled donated and I've got to say that those lights are amazing. Not only is the packaging cool but the lights are very well built and throw a lot of light. Thanks, Vidled.
Looking good PK! This is such awesome work you all are doing. Glad to see it being documented as well.
Dont you just love those screw together giant bolt shaped cases vidled has - I played with just the case for quite a while one day. Its was a slow day...
thartley
Veteran
The signs translate kind of awkwardly in English. They say "Love Nong Khai. Love Clean. Please Put Trash in Bins"
Maybe PK can give us a transliteration...
ConspiracyPenguin
Nosey Penguin
Excellent, good to see that things are going well over there. I am happy that you are updated this thread as you get pictures and stuff as it makes me feel like my clicks are actually doing something! Great job guys and good luck!
PS: Drink lots of water!
EDIT: But not TOO much!
PS: Drink lots of water!
EDIT: But not TOO much!
Kirk Gillock
Rebel with a cause
Here's the Public Service Announcement we just had made for the trash clean-up project. It will be played on all the local radio stations.
MP3 - 815kb (Right click the link and "Save as")
http://www.isara.org/media/Rok-Nong-Khai.mp3
Translation:
Boy: Hello, Kwan.
Girl: Hey! How was your trip to Australia?
Boy: It was excellent. Their country is very clean and livable. But I'm happy to be back to our country and I want to make our country cleaner and more livable too.
Girl: That's not difficult at all. When we see trash on the ground we can pick it up and put it in a bin. And if we have trash in our hand don't throw it on the ground but put it in the right place.
Boy: Yes, you're right. If everyone can do this our country and our town will be more clean and livable and more people will come to travel.
Boy/Girl: Don't forget! Love Nong Khai. Love cleanliness. Throw trash in the bin.
We had them say "Australia" because it's like a neighbor to Thailand and Thais can visit Australia much easier than they can the USA. We also wanted to have a small inside joke to LOST. (In the script the boys name was "Jack" but the DJ deleted that audio clip because there's another DJ in town named Jack. D'oh!!!)
If the response is good then we'll make other versions for other areas of Thailand.
MP3 - 815kb (Right click the link and "Save as")
http://www.isara.org/media/Rok-Nong-Khai.mp3
Translation:
Boy: Hello, Kwan.
Girl: Hey! How was your trip to Australia?
Boy: It was excellent. Their country is very clean and livable. But I'm happy to be back to our country and I want to make our country cleaner and more livable too.
Girl: That's not difficult at all. When we see trash on the ground we can pick it up and put it in a bin. And if we have trash in our hand don't throw it on the ground but put it in the right place.
Boy: Yes, you're right. If everyone can do this our country and our town will be more clean and livable and more people will come to travel.
Boy/Girl: Don't forget! Love Nong Khai. Love cleanliness. Throw trash in the bin.
We had them say "Australia" because it's like a neighbor to Thailand and Thais can visit Australia much easier than they can the USA. We also wanted to have a small inside joke to LOST. (In the script the boys name was "Jack" but the DJ deleted that audio clip because there's another DJ in town named Jack. D'oh!!!)
If the response is good then we'll make other versions for other areas of Thailand.
thartley
Veteran
I tagged along with PK and Ming so I could shoot the recording process for the PSA. It was 9:30pm local time and I am usually long in bed at that hour, but I got up and rode my bicycle over to the Isara Learning Center, quickly put a "road kit" together for what I thought I would need. It was just sllightly drizzling outside but the temp was still a balmy 90+. So I waterproofed the gear (wrapped in thick towels, tied up in plastic bags, buried it in a canvas bag, and put it in the basket on my bike and was ready to go. PK and Ming ride on his motorbike while I did my best to keep up on my "manual" mode of transport. Thank GOD the radio station was not too far away!
Once inside the place, which looked like a duplex-type apartment building, the recording room (or whatever you call the little glassed in space the DJ broadcasts from) was about 4 ft x 10 ft, maybe. If that. It had all his equipment in it, plus four people now. And I am there trying to put my gear together quickly as we didnt have a large window of time to do this. And the whole time, I am just sweating bullets because I am so hot from the bike ride over. haha!!! But there was air conditioning in there. In that little oven of a room, there was a wonderful little a/c just humming along. My first thought was "We need to turn that off." My second thought which really overtook the first thought completely was "Hell with that, this is a documentary....Let there be ambient noise!" :grin::grin:
The DJ was too shy to do his part of the recording with us all there, so Ming recorded her lines after a couple practice runs and playbacks, the DJ looked over into the camera, grinned and gave me a peace sign a la rapper style, and it was over. I think it was all about five minutes. I got my stuff packed back up and the rain had stopped, but one of the nocturnal stray thai dogs that wander the night in search of prey acted like he wanted a piece of me as I started pedaling to get back out to the main road. haha!!!
Anyway, the wide angle will come in handy when we get that puppy. That PSA was a tight shot getting PK, Ming and the DJ all framed in that little room.
Later guys!
Once inside the place, which looked like a duplex-type apartment building, the recording room (or whatever you call the little glassed in space the DJ broadcasts from) was about 4 ft x 10 ft, maybe. If that. It had all his equipment in it, plus four people now. And I am there trying to put my gear together quickly as we didnt have a large window of time to do this. And the whole time, I am just sweating bullets because I am so hot from the bike ride over. haha!!! But there was air conditioning in there. In that little oven of a room, there was a wonderful little a/c just humming along. My first thought was "We need to turn that off." My second thought which really overtook the first thought completely was "Hell with that, this is a documentary....Let there be ambient noise!" :grin::grin:
The DJ was too shy to do his part of the recording with us all there, so Ming recorded her lines after a couple practice runs and playbacks, the DJ looked over into the camera, grinned and gave me a peace sign a la rapper style, and it was over. I think it was all about five minutes. I got my stuff packed back up and the rain had stopped, but one of the nocturnal stray thai dogs that wander the night in search of prey acted like he wanted a piece of me as I started pedaling to get back out to the main road. haha!!!
Anyway, the wide angle will come in handy when we get that puppy. That PSA was a tight shot getting PK, Ming and the DJ all framed in that little room.
Later guys!
thartley
Veteran
I thought I would share some still shots with you guys....first a few from the PSA the other night.....That is Ming, DJ(I forget his name), and PK.
And here.....what REALLY goes on in the Isara English classes...
Totally kidding in the last four. The kid were writing and acting out scene scripts and one group had written "HO!" instead of "OH!" in their dialogue. So PK was just telling them one was good, the other "not so good". And of course, the next ones are the fight scene in the street. :nads: LOL!!
And here.....what REALLY goes on in the Isara English classes...
Totally kidding in the last four. The kid were writing and acting out scene scripts and one group had written "HO!" instead of "OH!" in their dialogue. So PK was just telling them one was good, the other "not so good". And of course, the next ones are the fight scene in the street. :nads: LOL!!
Larry Rutledge
Fest Master
Cool updates ... fun to see what you guys are doing over there. Keep it coming 
JasonFox
Internet Sensation
And here.....what REALLY goes on in the Isara English classes...
Is PK teaching the kids the meaning of "ho"? Oh my.
ConspiracyPenguin
Nosey Penguin
"And once a car pulls up next to them they get in and..." Nevermind.
Thanks for the updates, good to hear things are buzzing along. I really like seeing pictures of what you guys are doing. It reassures me that you aren't just sitting in a small room in East L.A. making up crap to deceive us. Good luck and be careful!
Thanks for the updates, good to hear things are buzzing along. I really like seeing pictures of what you guys are doing. It reassures me that you aren't just sitting in a small room in East L.A. making up crap to deceive us. Good luck and be careful!
thartley
Veteran
I have only recently figured out how to grab stills from the playback mode in the HV20. Very cool feature, though the quality isnt that great compared to the actual footage being played back on a tv. But it will do for posting purposes.
One of the biggest problems over here is that the people in charge simply do not do (or even PRETEND to do) their job. The helmet campaigns that PK does are not so he can try and institute some new law over here. There is already a helmet law. The police and officials just don't enforce it. There is a fine of either 250 or 500 baht for not wearing a helmet, but you see the cops themselves riding down the road with no helmet on. Children are not supposed to be allowed on school property without a helmet, but the school admin waves them right on thru. And this surprised me so much I almost have to see it in official writing somewhere, but there is a law against more than one passenger on a bike. It is absolutely NOTHING to see one bike with five people on it at one time. In the U.S., I don't see that many people riding in minivans!
PK has a surprise for the schools next week when the new session starts. He is going to go to about ten area schools with contracts in hand for the principals and school admin to sign stating they will do what they are supposed to do in enforcing the helmet laws on school grounds. I will be there getting the video. I totally expect to be ejected from school grounds at some point or at the very least I may be asked to stop recording. I will be sending PK in to talk to school officials hooked up with a wireless lav, so I can get audio if they tell me to leave with the camera.
I have not read the contract, but I doubt that there are any real ramifications in it for the school should they not do what they are supposed to do, but it is meant to be a reminder that there are rules and laws in place, and they simply should do their job.
I'll get more stills posted soon. The weather has been pretty wet and rainy here the last couple days and I left my gear at the ILC so it would not get soaked since my mode of transport is my bicycle. I can't pedal fast enough to avoid the raindrops yet.rogar-BigGrin(DBG)
One of the biggest problems over here is that the people in charge simply do not do (or even PRETEND to do) their job. The helmet campaigns that PK does are not so he can try and institute some new law over here. There is already a helmet law. The police and officials just don't enforce it. There is a fine of either 250 or 500 baht for not wearing a helmet, but you see the cops themselves riding down the road with no helmet on. Children are not supposed to be allowed on school property without a helmet, but the school admin waves them right on thru. And this surprised me so much I almost have to see it in official writing somewhere, but there is a law against more than one passenger on a bike. It is absolutely NOTHING to see one bike with five people on it at one time. In the U.S., I don't see that many people riding in minivans!
PK has a surprise for the schools next week when the new session starts. He is going to go to about ten area schools with contracts in hand for the principals and school admin to sign stating they will do what they are supposed to do in enforcing the helmet laws on school grounds. I will be there getting the video. I totally expect to be ejected from school grounds at some point or at the very least I may be asked to stop recording. I will be sending PK in to talk to school officials hooked up with a wireless lav, so I can get audio if they tell me to leave with the camera.
I have not read the contract, but I doubt that there are any real ramifications in it for the school should they not do what they are supposed to do, but it is meant to be a reminder that there are rules and laws in place, and they simply should do their job.
I'll get more stills posted soon. The weather has been pretty wet and rainy here the last couple days and I left my gear at the ILC so it would not get soaked since my mode of transport is my bicycle. I can't pedal fast enough to avoid the raindrops yet.
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)
Last edited:
thartley
Veteran
I am quickly learning that whenever I show up at the ILC, I need to be ready for anything. One day last week, I pedaled over expecting a slow day, maybe some interviews with PK while he worked on the website, etc. But he says that he was asked to go to a farang's (white man's) funeral who had recently died, to take pictures. I decided to tag along, although I did not bring what I thought was appropriate funeral attire in my baggage this trip. I never thought I would be going to a funeral while I was here in Thailand, so there is nothing black in my wardrobe. I was wearing khaki capri pants and a very cheery pink top with flowers on it. PK said it was okay, so I went and just decided to roll tape while I was there. Was it morbid of me to do that? Probably. Did I NEED it for th doc? No idea....but I have it if I want it, right? May not be another chance to get this.... I have never seen a Thai funeral. They burn the bodies on a funeral pyre.
In this shot, you can see the monk is leading the group in a ceremonial walk around the actual funeral pyre which is on the center platform.
PK getting some shots...
Money is thrown to the crowd in attendance...not sure why.
And lastly....
In this shot, you can see the monk is leading the group in a ceremonial walk around the actual funeral pyre which is on the center platform.
PK getting some shots...
Money is thrown to the crowd in attendance...not sure why.
And lastly....
ConspiracyPenguin
Nosey Penguin
Wow, that's pretty intense, Thartley! I think it was probably okay that you dressed like that, given that you didn't have the proper attire. Pretty interesting system, overall, I find it fascinating how other cultures differ so greatly from ours. Keep up the good work, I love the shots!