Author: MADINA AMBER

https://madinaamber78.myportfolio.com/

My idea for breaking news is to over the Muslim Student Association’s annual Eid Banquet at Baruch. This will be a wonderful opportunity to interview and record the event and have the opportunity to talk to students from various backgrounds on why they are in attendance and share any reflections they have about Ramadan and looking forward.

Pitch: This documentary follows a Muslim spiritual leader and their time in the US as a delegate for the UN during the month of Ramadan. This will cover about the recents events that are happening in Gaza and his home-place of Kashmir and the importance of making meaningful actions to support the amends for peace. This documentary will cover a week of his stay in New York and the various events he attends at the UN and at his Mureed’s (followers) homes. This video will cover the question, what is different about this Ramadan? And what should the youth do to step up and take the role towards unity through their spiritual background.

Characters: Pir Syed Muhammad Ali Raza Bukhari, Spiritual leader, CEO & Chairman of the Sufi Peace Forum & The Raza Foundation

Mohammad A., fellow mureed (follower) and coordinator of the Sufi Peace Forum & The Raza Foundation

Shooting Plan: 

Shoot shots at the UN, shoot at Iftar dinners at others homes, the airport, driving on the road, religious events, getting the subjects in view and following a 5 shot sequence to capture a calm and inspiring environment.

Shooting Timeline: 

Shooting is currently going, and will wrap shooting once the guest leaves back home soon.

Storytelling plan: 

Starting when he is picked up from the airport and then taken to a host house he spends his fasting time there, having iftar dinner and suhoor morning. Him doing the call to prayer. Trips to the UN, trips to homes of mureeds. The documentary will end with the guest leaving back home with an overlay of his mission for the future.

Theme: 

The themes of spirituality and its connection to the importance of humanitarian & social welfare work.

My pitch revolves around following a day in a life of a religious scholar/mentor since it is the start of the holy month of Ramadan. I want to follow their activities and tie in what this Ramadan means to them and the non-profit work they do to help those in need.

While watching the documentary 20 Days in Mariupol by journalist Mstyslav Chernov brilliantly showcases the siege of the city of Mariupol done by Russian forces. While watching, I was able to grasp the full extent of the situation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how its citizens remain united.

The opening clips show the tension of smoke and tanks rolling into a once peaceful city now surrounded by debris. The shaky camera and dialogue of those speaking shows the theme and the filmmaker’s motivation to show how war is destructive to homes/neighborhoods yet it cannot damage the bond the people have with their homeland. The video showing clips of vertical and horizontal shows how these attacks are occurring within reach that we can take out our phones and record. There were clips of news anchors and them describing the events, having that included was helpful as it puts into context what was going on but also shows the raw extent Chernov wants the world to see.

The story circle we learned is displayed in this documentary where first is getting shots of the neighborhood and the people and them expressing their feelings. And later on as the days passed on the rising action shows the various events of the city being under attack. For me the climax was when the hospital was giving chest compressions to a toddler which made me reflect on what happened toward the beginning where Chernov recorded families and their kids, showcasing their feelings and frustrations not being able to enjoy their life. Even though the story ends with the journalist returning safely it brings awareness to what the people living there have to go through and how we must take action to keep their families safe.

This documentary was powerful, showing the side that people don’t tend to see, I was able to understand the resilience of the Ukrainian people and how we should have their stories told.

My pitch is taking shots of the city, representing the chaotic nature of moving around the tri-state area.

Another idea is having a religious figure and following their day doing activities such as praying, meetings at the UN, and have a shot of iftar dinner.

Another idea is making sweets & cooking and showing the process of making it, showing the tension for striving for perfection in making sure all is going right yet have a ominous story behind it of who the subject is and their activities