news peg: With the pandemic shutting down schools, especially schools that specialize in autistic kids it’s been a struggle for these kids to get their traditional learning. Several months later, being brought back to the classroom setting had many pros for them but being at home for so long, autistic kids still meet a few struggles and so do their teachers.
Pitch: I want to focus on the teachers teaching the autistic kids in this school right in my neighborhood around Staten Island. I want to focus on the main teacher and her struggles and I also want to focus on a teacher assistant that just started helping out this year and interview her to see if this is what she expected etc. i also want to get the kids opinion on being back in the classroom setting and if they’re any differences. I also want to know how they were able to adapt to regulations constantly changing etc.
I’d like to focus on the CAIR NJ team and what they are doing to serve the muslim community. I have reached out to the executive director of CAIR NJ and he has agreed to be interviewed if time permits. I am not sure about the angle, I think that will be more clear as I get to talk to him more. I might focus on the recent CAIR Ohio director spying on the organization and how that has affected the community. I might also focus on a specific case that is ongoing and relevant to the current work (a professor was recently fired for speaking out regarding Israel’s crimes.) I think the story will unfold as I go along with it.
Some people I would like to interview are any one that is present and working at the office, and maybe a victim that has been helped through CAIR NJ’s services. I might also speak to someone in the muslim community that is familiar with CAIR NJ and what they think of it.
News Peg: As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Muslim students at Baruch will begin abstaining from food and fasting as they take their in-person classes. Despite the shift from spending this time with their families at home two years ago, they seek comfort and correlation in a prayer room made possible by the Muslim Student Association.
Angle: I want this short doc to capture the sense of refuge and necessity that the prayer room at Baruch provides for Muslim students. Whether their gender, age, or background, students who share the commonality of their faith find this room to be a safe space they can retreat to between classes. A practicing Muslim prays five times throughout the day. These physical acts of worship need to be accommodated at specific times, so having a space to do so is essential in any work or educational environment. This doc will focus on speaking to students who use the prayer room as well as the MSA’s board members and the club’s history/background. It will delve into individual experiences of how these students find places to pray within a school or work setting and whether they have faced inaccessibility before.
Possible interviews:
Hadiyah Jalloh – President of Baruch’s Muslim Student Association
Jawad Chowdhury – Vice President of Baruch’s Muslim Student Association
Zoya Cheema – Co-Secretary of Baruch’s Muslim Student Association
Mahmuda Begum – Co-Secretary of Baruch’s Muslim Student Association
Brandon Nordin – Assistant Treasurer of Baruch’s Muslim Student Association
Lamya Serhir – Co-Events Coordinator of Baruch’s Muslim Student Association
Prayer room attendees, frequent and infrequent visitors
I’m still undecided about what I want to do for the short documentary because I haven’t had enough time to ponder it. One idea I have is to focus the short documentary on my mother. She’s been home for about 1-2 years due to a workplace injury, and she really wants to expand her apparel business. I believe that story will be difficult to convey, so I may refrain from telling it.
Another idea is to focus on a construction worker or a mechanic and show the process of having something built and worked on. My goal is to have the short doc be fast-paced.
News Peg: Are non-profits still thriving as Covid-19 slows down?
or Is funding an educational program a donor’s first choice?
Angle: This short doc will focus on non-profits (3) based in Staten Island ( unsure if I will narrow my focus to ONE) and their educational programs. I plan to focus on a few topics. Which are: How does a non-profit get started, what keeps a non-profit running, who funds their educational programs, why non-profits/the arts are important to our youth. how were they affected by the pandemic and how they’re doing now.
Possible Interviews:
Victoria Munro – Executive Director of Alice Austen House
Doreen Cugno – President/CEO of St George Theater
Karen Goldman – Founder/ Executive Director of Emma’s Place
With my visual poem, I wanted to capture my day-to-day with my core circle of loved ones whom I see daily/weekly. Seeing as Covid-19 restrictions just started to roll back, we are still getting back into going out to planned events. I wanted the home movie feel, and I am hoping I got that across. It wasn’t easy to execute this idea, however I am happy with my outcome.
News Peg: Eating disorders increased dramatically during the pandemic. Now, as concerns over Covid continue to dwindle, Americans have more capacity to focus on the other aspects of health.
Angle: This short doc will focus on one to two central characters who have experience with eating disorders and the concept of body neutrality. It will cover a little bit of their backstories, how they recovered from disordered eating, how the pandemic affected them, and their experience and views on diet, exercise, and body image. I think video is a great medium for this as the topic is inherently visual and it’s a great way to feature an inclusive cast.
CUE: Sunday, March 27th marks opening day for the Macy’s Flower Show 2022 located at the flagship store at 34th Street in New York City. Fashion design students from Fashion Institute of Technology created floral outfits specifically designed for the Macy’s Flower Show to display. Student designer, Jacob Caraccilo, 28, attended the opening with his parents. Images and soundbites.
HEADLINE: Macy’s Flower Show 2022 springs into action during it opening day
SYNTHE:
Jacob Caraccilo (man), Alissa Horton (woman)
SHOT LIST:
NEW YORK CITY, MARCH 27, 2022
SOURCE: JRN 4500
SOUNDBITE 1, Alissa Horton (woman), fashion lover and student (8 sec): “I think it’s beautiful. I love the perfume theme that’s going on around with all the different displays of those. It’s really cool.”
SOUNDBITE 2, Jacob Caraccilo (man), Fashion Institute of Technology student (8 sec): “It’s a dream. I mean, I worked really hard so I’m very happy with how it turned out. Very proud of myself.”
SOUNDBITE 3, Jacob Caraccilo (man), Fashion Institute of Technology student (8 sec): “I’ll always be interested in every Macy’s Flower Show so, I’ll probably try it again [in] the next show.”
SOUNDBITE 4, Alissa Horton (woman), fashion lover and student (7 sec): “We’ve had a couple of classes together, it’s awesome. He always does his own prints, which is really, really cool and unique. And very ‘him’.”
WS of Macy’s Flower Show Sign and outside of store
WS of inside the store with Flower Show attendees walking around
VAR of Flower Show attendees taking pictures
WS of Jacob Caraccilo standing with his piece
VAR of more Flower Show attendees taking pictures and walking around
