Everything happens for a reason....right?

This past weekend my partner Monique Mitchell lost her father due to a stroke. He had been in the hospital for the past few weeks, and it just seemed like his condition kept getting worse. What got me was that through the whole entire time, Monique was still so persistent in trying to get B-roll for our doc. I was just amazed at her dedication. I couldn't imagine trying to work on anything, knowing that a close family member is in the hospital. I was very proud of her and her will to believe that regardless of the outcome, it was in God’s hands.

Because of our unique situation, Professor Jones has given us the opportunity to submit our doc for the fall semester. There is a possibility that Fall 2010, doc night or SJGC Doc will air in Lee hall. That’s potentially 2,000 people and I am looking forward to that. As of now, I do have the scripts almost complete. And I feel that would make it even easier to find exactly what we need and where to find it. At the end of the day, God knows best and even through a very sad situation, there is some light. SJGC Doc, look out for ANTOINETTE PRODUCTIONS. SKIN DEEP: BLACK WOMEN VENTURING OUT.

Spotted Another Couple

Was in the Mall today and spotted another interracial couple in the mall!! They're actually from Ohio and are visiting their child who attends FSU. Its a white male and a black female. But the son appeared to be from another woman. I took down their numbers and I plan to follow them this spring break. After finding them I went to the mall to do some research. I found out some very interesting facts. I had no idea that just 43 years ago, the ban for interracial marriages just ended. It was with the case of Loving vs Virgina. This past following week has been a little hard. My doc partners father had a massive stroke and is now in the hospital under intensive care. She had to go out of town and it kind of put a hold on our doc. Professor Jones did say he will work with us in getting our things turned in at a later time. We all wrote in a card for her and I believe Georgia sent it off. I trully believe our doc will work out and it will be fantastic. Regardless of the issues, I am very excited!

The Search Continues.....The Search Ends....

February 12th about 6:24 pm. It was a Friday afternoon at the mall and was returing a few things and I ended up spotting a couple on the way to their car. It was an African American woman and a Hispanic male. It was raining but I stopped them as they got in the car and introduced myself and told them about the documentary. We exchanged numbers and email addresses and I told them I would be in contact with them. As I thought more about it, I didnt want to use them. I figured it would be more powerful to document a black woman who decided to date a white man. Only because I plan on bringing up historical facts on the relationship between black women and white slave owners. And It didn’t seem like they would bring the “wow” factor to my doc. I prefer to have a black women who is dating a white man. I think I still want to interview the female about her perspective of dating outside her race, but I’m still looking for a more probable couple.

Although I had prospective couples, I was still in need of a black female with different views on dating outside her race. This far in the game...I NEED to have someone by now...heck I should already have b-roll. Well the very next day, February 14, 2010 10:45 pm-1: 49 a.m. I almost called it a night because I was getting frustrated and overwhelmed with the test for this class. My roommate Karissa was trying to help me understand some of the things that may be on the test but after a few minutes I began to get anxious and felt bogged down. So I decided to go to bed and just wake up and handle this sometime in the day tomorrow. Karissa had a friend of hers come from Marianna, FL to see her. Karissa wanted me to meet her and she came to my room and we all started to talk. Make a long story short..I decided to bring up a question in my doc. It was very random, but I asked, "would you ever date a white man?" We all ended up talking for almost 3 hrs straight about the doc. I got her name and number and I plan to head out to Marianna this weekend with my partner in order for us to start filming. YEESS...THE SEARCH ENDS...

Inbox, Outbox, Sent, Draft

This week I was able to send out emails to prospective interviewees. I am still waiting on some responses. Here is the message to the following persons:
"Good Afternoon,

I would like to be the first to inform you and say CONGRATULATIONS! You have been selected from a pool of prospective couples and singles to debut in the documentary: SkinDeep:Black Women Venturing out. The mission/purpose of the doc is to"broaden the horizon of black women...to have them realized that love goes beyond skin complexion and that a man should be judged by content of his character and not the color of his skin". Filming for the documentary is scheduled to shoot and film early next week. Feb 14th (Sunday). When possible please email 1. confirming your participation. 2. A standard schedule of your day. Please include class schedule, institution you attend, job schedule, and work number (boss/manager) if Applicable. Thank you in advance for you participation and I look forward to a great award wining production.

Marsha Buchanan
Sr. Broadcast Journalism Student
Florida A&M University
407 247 8489
marsha1.buchanan@gmail.com

That was the email I sent to the follwing addresses:
tbrad1984@gmail.com
dlgallman@bellsouth.net
christopher1.normann@famu.edu
posaunemeister@gmail.com

YEES!! Possible Meat and Potatoes.

This was by far a very interesting week. This one incident sums up my entire week the best!!

I was starting to get nervous about finding an interracial couple (black woman and a man of another race) for my doc. This past Tues and Thurs (26th and 28th) in class Jones has been showing us documentaries and explaining "do's and don't s" In addition he was stressing that we should have some people already lined up for our doc's. I was able to find the chips and dip for my doc, just not the heavy food (figuratively speaking). But today was the day! February 2, 2010. I decided to go eat lunch with my friend who lived on campus. I live in the Oasis, which is about 15 min away. We were to go at 2:15, but around 1:45 the maintenance guy came to fix an order I placed in earlier that morning. For some reason he was taking forever and time was flying. My friend had to be in class at 3:30...it was about 2:45 and I hadn't left yet.

I finally leave and head straight to pick my friend up, head straight down appalachee to chick-fil-a and back to campus. I pulled up in front of BL Perry and put my blinkers on and was finishing up my meal when I noticed GOLD. I mumbled some inaudible words to my friend regarding the couple I saw walking. She kept asking me what I was saying, but by that time I had already rolled down my window in an attempt to get the couples attention. I had chick-fil-a sauce and chicken all over my hands, but I was determined to get this couple to hear my plea of getting an interview done. I introduced myself and was able told them what I was planning to do with my doc and asked if they would be interested in being apart of it. They both agreed and exchanged numbers and emails. I was so ecstatic because Lord knows..if I don't have an interracial couple (black woman/another race man) I would not have a doc. It would be just like the example he gave in class about Maria Osler, who did a doc on blind people. In her pitch she said she would have a little kid and an older person. Well when she mentioned to Jones that she wasn't able to find a little kid, all Jones could say was that she pitched it and that she would have to find one....or else that Doc would have been a F. So I'm just glad that I have at least found a possible candidate for the meat and potatoes of my doc!

Documentary Assignments (D-Day)

January 20, 2010

Today Professor Jones announced the documentary ideas and partners. It felt like the entire class was at a stand still. You could almost hear the heart beat of all the students next to me. I particularly saw the heaving of Brandon's chest, being that he was directly next to me. It was so intense! I recall Jones walking in with a new lavender shirt....we know every outfit Jones has in his closet...we see him everyday even weekends. It was a nice color on him. lol.

Jones went over our pitches last week and I learned what I did wrong and what I could have done better. As time progressed, he finally got down to naming the documentary ideas and partners. I could hear my heart in my head as I waited for my name. Jones called out a few names and stated the doc ideas...none of the names were me. At this point anticipation was so heavy that I couldn't hear Jones, just the thumping of my heart in my ears. I sat up trying to change the positioning in my seat in order to hear. Finally I heard Mar...but it was Marquaila. Again another false shock to my heart. These moments were intense.

Finally he got down to the middle, and said, "Skin Deep: Black Women Venturing Out" Reporter Marsha Buchanan, Videographer Editor, Monique Mitchell. Once I heard my title, I leaped for joy (in my mind of course) and in that same second I anticipated to hear who my partner was. I was secretly hoping it would be a few people, but when I heard Monique's name, I remember giving a "YES" gesture with my left hand under my desk. With the amount of excitement and adrenaline I could have possibly been a little obvious.

Eventually "D-Day" moment was over. That could have been the most nerve wrecking feeling I would ever experience in 2010. Either way, It was a great one! I love my doc idea, and I love who I'm working with. Cant nobody tell me God don't answer prayers!