Proposals, Part II

Here is part II. I can't put up part III until Monday, because I am out of Vimeo space for the week!

Proposals, Part II from Justin Nystrom on Vimeo.

Proposals, Part I

Here are the first four proposals. I only get so much upload space on Vimeo a week, so I downprocessed the video to 760NTSC. It makes you a little taller than normal, but took a 720p HD video from 800MB plus to about 250MB

The password is what I mentioned in class as being my dog's favorite treat. If you can't remember it, think breakfast. If you still can't remember it, email me.

Project Proposals for Student Documentaries: Part 1 from Justin Nystrom on Vimeo.

I'll post the rest of the interviews as they process / upload

Archive profile: Louisiana Division/City Archives at NOPL

You can get there downtown, and their collections and staff are excellent. The best part is that it doesn't cost you a thing!

I'm talking about the Louisiana Division and City Archives at the New Orleans Public Library. Be sure to take some time looking at the website. You can search the special collections including a great selection of historical photographs of subjects in and around New Orleans.

Plus you can always go down there and ask one of the helpful staff members by saying, "I'm doing a project on that and I want to accomplish this... where should I look?"

Guidelines for your topic proposal

This is a reminder that your topic proposals are due next Monday, February 1st. Just because you submit a proposal, it does not mean that you will end up doing exactly what is on your proposal. It may get modified a bit by me, but most likely it will be modified by you. At some level, doing creative research takes you in unanticipated directions. Seldom does the finished project match the proposal. Consider this to be a formal declaration of your starting point.

Be that as it may, here is what I expect you to turn in on Monday:

A one-page topic proposal (typed) that includes the following information:

1.) Names of the team members

2.) a "working title" of your project - this will change over time

3.) a paragraph or two explaining a) the subject matter of your documentary b) why this is an exploration of the immigrant experience in New Orleans c) some preliminary ideas as to how you plan to find information about the topic.

I'll be expecting these at the start of class to be considered "on time." If you are not in class for some reason, I'll expect you to get this to me BEFORE Monday. Absences do not extend your deadline.

Library today!

Just a reminder that we will meet in the library today for class. I'll be waiting by the circulation desk!

What can I do in 5 minutes?

Here are a couple of films that my students at Ole Miss did for the "Oxonians" project. Both are very different and can teach us a lot about ways we might go about telling our stories.

Proud Larry's: In Between The Scenes MAIN from Zack Thompson on Vimeo.

Phil Stone & Faulkner from Sarah Simonson on Vimeo.

St. Joseph's Day and Foodways

Below is a picture of a St. Joseph's altar (modern)

St. Joseph's Day is a religious and cultural celebration in which food and religious faith both play an important part.

What does the food represent?

Consider the ingredients, the preparation (where, when, how, why), the final shape it takes, how it is consumed.

How about the religious aspects?

Why an altar? What do the elements represent? What are the origins of the tradition? What are the expectations of the participants?

Here is a great website that discusses some of this material.

CSNO event: New Orleans in the '60s

The Center for the Study of New Orleans at Loyola will present "New Orleans in the '60s" on this coming Wednesday night, January 20. It takes place at 7:00 PM at Nunemaker Hall. More information is available here.

I will offer two grade points (2%) extra credit to any student in my 193 First Year Experience class who attends.

A morning at the Vietnamese market

I went down to New Orleans East very early on Saturday morning to take in the farmer's market that takes place there. It is organized by the Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church.

Fewer vendors showed up because of the rain, and I think the cold weather of the last two weeks must have ruined some of the more recently-harvested vegetables, because the market had primarily seafood for sale. Check out the video below:

New Orleans East Vietnamese Market from Justin Nystrom on Vimeo.

The Irish Channel and St. Alphonsus Church

The Old St. Alphonsus Church was deconsecrated in the 1970s. You might find some interesting information about it here that might even serve as the inspiration for a project!

Topic ideas

Here are some things to consider when selecting a topic:

1.) Does this topic engage the "immigrant" theme?

2.) What ethnicities does this combine with the New Orleans experience?

3.) What story do I propose to tell?