Racial Conflict in the USA

The United States claims many freedoms, one of which is freedom of speech.

Blend this with on-going racial tensions and anti-immigration sentiment and you get groups such as the National Socialist Movement going head-to-head with a cross-section of representative races.

This short video was captured while “embedded” with the NSM during an rally that the group held in the sanctuary city of Pomona, California, not far from Los Angeles.

Over the years I have covered a number of activities and events by white power groups such as the NSM, including other NSM rallies, and Ku Klux Klan meetings.  In all cases I focus on presenting what I observe – not advocating nor judging, but leaving it up to the viewer of my work to make up their own minds.

Updates – April 2011

It has been quite some time since my last blog update.  Why is that?

The frustration of needing to generate an income in order to pay not only for the basics in life, but also the projects that I want to do, projects that can genuinely make a difference to so many, caused me to realize that I cannot depend on hand-outs and the good will of others.

So I took matters in to my own hands and spent some quality time back in  my corporate role as a thought leader in sales and marketing based in the Silicon Valley area.  It is hard to be passionate about something that is purely a means to an end, but I am very good at what I do – www.TribalKnowledge.tv.

Now, with incredible relief, I am reaching a point where I can focus more attention on New Channel Media, and my One Life Project.  I expect to be traveling overseas again soon, probably to the Middle East, but not for any news story you have ever heard of.

I am also ramping up on a number of One Life Project activities here in the United States, as well as pushing production along for the Drugs for Life? movie.  See the blog page on Drugs for Life? and visit the web site.

Does Anybody Ever Ask Why?

Yes, I think it should be obvious, but others seem to miss the point.  I just read yet another invitation to join a documentary project (with low to zero likelihood of getting paid) that covers homelessness, unemployment, and hopelessness.  How uplifting!

The question is, why?  What will happen with this content?  How will it be edited?  Where will it be distributed?  What purpose will it serve?

A question that I regularly ask myself, especially when arranging to get access to sensitive or hard to reach subjects, is, “what is in it for them?”  Why should that subject spare the time, and make the effort, to step in front of my camera and answer a bunch of questions?  Unless I can articulate that to them effectively, and sincerely, I may just stay away.

The follow-up question is, “what is in it for the audience?”  Once I have finished shooting, completed the editing, added a soundtrack, titles, web site and so on, what then?  Why should an audience watch what I created?  Will they find it entertaining?  Educational?  Uplifting?  Depressing as hell?

So many times I come across projects that are not fully thought out.  Sure, they aim to shoot a particular subject but the reason why is clearly not figured out.  OK, so the need to “raise awareness” of a particular situation is the most common answer.  But who really cares?

The same goes for grants and funding.  I am surprised that grants and funds are given out to many projects on the basis of a proposal, which may frequently include a purpose to “raise awareness.”  Again, who really cares?  Who will see the finished work?  What difference will it make?  I advocate for a change to the grant/funding process based on performance measures.  Give 50% of a grant up front to cover costs, with the remainder being payable according to the measured value of the work that was produced.  Such an approach might also help a photographer/film-maker focus more on why he/she wants to shoot a particular topic.

With a plethora of self-proclaimed photojournalists and film-makers in the world, many of whom are clogging up the internet with absolute crap, the professionals can do a better job of standing out by being very clear about the purpose and desired impact of their next project.

Cine Bags Review – CB-01

If there is one thing that I find I have in common with many other photographers and videographers, it is the endless pursuit of the perfect bag.  And I am still looking.

Although I use a 5.11 Tactical back pack to tote my small camera kit around, it is a bit of a compromise and, I have found, can cause some bending of wireless audio antennae.  So I was recently looking at alternatives for day-to-day production use.

Porta Brace has some great offerings.  The company is considered an industry standard.  Their selection of bags has certainly grown and evolved over the years, and they offer everything from large production bags, to carrying systems for specific field mixers, to boxy-looking backpacks.  Porta Brace is also at the more expensive end of the price range.  Having spent thousands of dollars on a bag collection that is largely occupying closet space, right now, I am looking for a good balance between quality, function, and cost-effectiveness.

Think Tank bags are more suited to the still photographer or those who insist on using a DSLR as a video camera.  Although I appreciate the large sensor sizes and lens options that come with DSLR’s such as the Canon EOS 5D mkII, I really cannot deal with the many compromises that need to be made to make such a camera a truly, full functioning video recorder.  All the bolt-on crap that needs to be added to make the thing moderately easy to use just seems counter-intuitive.

Then I came across CineBags, from an ad in the back of DV Magazine (www.dv.com).  Quite nicely designed, roomy, and seemingly well-made, I paid less than $200 for their CB-01 production bag.

The day it arrived, I unpacked it half-expecting to find a sub-par piece of luggage that had more street appeal that utility.  But I was pleasantly surprised.  Apart from being well laid-out, with plenty of pockets and adjustable internal pouches, it also has a hard lid that can serve as a very useful working surface when closed.  Full, with the accompanying carry-strap, the bag is very comfortable to carry over one shoulder, despite its boxy shape.

In just minutes I had all my regular gear safely stowed away, with no risk of bent antennae, plus some room to spare.

Gripes?  All the pouches close with just velcro, not zippers.  The lid closes on two sides with zippers and the front, long edge with velcro only.  It is not so much of a problem now, while the bag is new, but as the velcro collects all the usual lint, dust, and other stuff, it will require cleaning or be less effective.

CineBags has launched a new production bag, the CB-30 which is two inches larger than the CB-01 in width, yet, from the photographs, appears to make more complete use of zippers.  Pricing is about the same as the CB-01.

The bags ARE well made and provide just the right amount of support and padding to protect a variety of video and audio gear.  I will be testing the CB-01 on productions over the next few months and, if all is well, may certainly consider adding a CB-30 to the collection.

CineBags are available from all the usual places such as B&H Photovideo.  You can get them from Amazon.com (shipped from Adorama), and even find them on eBay.

For more information, and plenty of photographs, check out www.CineBags.com.

Sony Crap

I am toying with an investment in a new Sony Pro Camcorder.    Sony has some great-looking video products but I am seriously concerned about build quality.

Why?

Because over the last month, I have had two “professional grade”  Sony items break way too easily.  The first was a pair of headphones.  These “pro” headphones had a slider mechanism to allow a user to adjust where the cups sat on the ears.  With too little effort, one of these sliders suddenly stopped locking in place.  Looking more closely at the flimsy plastic casing around the slider mechanism, it was clear to see excessive flexibility in the materials.  I broke the casing open along the seam lines and found a tiny (TINY) piece of bent metal that was, apparently, meant to act as a cam, holding the slider in place when the required adjustment had been made.  This piece of metal, made of material softer than that of a paperclip, was loose and bent beyond its original design.  I tried fixing it, and putting it all back together, but the plastic case was not going to stay back together for any length of time.  Nearly $100 in the trash.

Beware of vulnerable and difficult to repair antennae.

And yesterday, I found that my URX-P1 wireless mic receiver had bent one of its antennae.  Gently trying to bend it back in to position, the post broke.  This is when I found out that the antennae on these units are not easily replaceable.  On previous wireless mic packs I have owned, the antenna could easily be clipped on and off with a twist lock device.  This Sony unit would need a replacement $60 antenna plus soldering.  Pathetic.

So be warned.  Sony is a solid brand name but, as with Toyota’s car recalls, there is no guarantee that brand recognition = sustainable quality.