Group Five #3

This week has been our most productive so far, as our team finalized the plans for the film and began the production process. Seeing our concept transformed into tangible footage has been particularly exciting. While the filming process inevitably brings out unexpected ideas, our footage overall represents our individual struggles to find belonging within a world of constant travel and movement. One concept that has also emerged since we began production is how physical differences in our footage, whether shaped by the weather on the day of filming, the type of camera used, or each person’s individual style, highlight the ways we each experience belonging differently. Because our audio consists of a conversation among the four of us, it has been especially interesting to see how our visual shots also begin to form a kind of dialogue with one another. Similarly, the TED Talk on vulnerability raised an interesting point in terms of our project concept. As Brene Brown discusses, when people are asked about belonging, they often speak about moments when they felt excluded or did not belong. In contrast, our film places emphasis on moments when we have experienced belonging, allowing us to explore belonging in a way that’s not solely defined by its absence.The talk also served as a reminder not to approach research as something purely sterile or quantifiable, but rather to embrace its uncertainty and, above all, remain honest. This perspective was especially helpful as we began filming. While we went out with a clear shot list, we also allowed the inspiration from exploring our respective cities to shape our creative decisions in the moment. Another element of our film involves juxtaposing scenes from Chicago and Brno, which led to an insightful discussion during our planning process. As we considered where these two cities intersect, the Chicago team learned more about different landmarks and significant buildings in Brno, how people spend their time there, and how community is formed within the city. Moving forward, our group is focusing on collecting our last bit of footage and creating a rough cut that tests how the visuals and audio work together. Discussing which shots feel most meaningful to each of us will be an important next step in shaping the film’s final cut, along with polishing edits and adding more dynamic sound.