The news regarding the MCDM is indeed spreading. I met with a group of filmmakers from Qatar yesterday as they identify and visit various “hot-spots” for digital story telling and documentary.

These visitors are in the United States under the auspices of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Their program is arranged by World Learning Visitor Exchange Program and the World Affairs Council.  They outlined their objectives to me as follows:

• To gain an overview of documentary filmmaking and the independent filmmaking community in the US;
• To explore institutions that provide training, professional development, and support to filmmakers;
• To examine documentary film as a form of free speech and as a voice in public discourse on social, political, and cultural issues; and
• To observe how film festivals bring the filmmaking community together and support the development and distribution of independent films.

It is gratifying to know that the message about our good work is making its way around the globe as we prepare our curriculum and position our activities to better serve a “glocal” (global/local) constituency.Qatar

IndieFlix Play It Again Podcast with Masizakhe Filmmaker Scott Macklin Hosted By Lois Fein

“We are each other’s best and most powerful resource.”

A variety of different types of video formats were used in putting this piece together.

“Sondella” is a Xhosa word which means “come closer”. The footage was shot with a:

Panasonic GH1 Digital SLR micro 4/3′s sensor @ 1080/24p – AVCHD
Nikon D90 Digital SLR @ 720p M-JPEG
Panasonic DVX-200 Standard Definition 720/24p

The piece was edited together using Final Cut Pro 7 with a wee bit of color grading using Color and a sprinkle of optical flow filter using Motion.

Let me know if you can name which part was shot with what camera.

Through the use of digital media and social software artists performing in Seattle and South Africa are be-coming closer. This web-based offering is but a first step…for when these artists are able to actually be in the same time zone, zip code, and space they will manifest a movement that amasses major moves that matter.

As a new addition to the MCDM family, I’d like to introduce myself by posting a story regarding my recent travels to South Africa. Looking forward to many great happenings as the Associate Director of the MCDM.

Scott Macklin participated in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Diversity Conference – BREAKING BOUNDARIES, EMBRACING DIFFERENCES in August. Featured in the week of events included a screeing of his film, “Masizakhe: Building Each Other” and follow up panel discussions. This was the film’s homecoming.

“Masizakhe: Building Each Other” from Scott Macklin on Vimeo.

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