Pre-Prod Update

I have begun to re-think, or maybe just think more deeply, about exactly what film I want to make. I still want to create an orientation video for new EFL teachers, but I'd also like to make a more personal film about the full experience of teaching and living in Korea, more of an existential journey about self-discovery in another land. Those are two distinct ideas. Can they be melded? Should they? These questions I am pondering now.

As it stands, I will be creating a promo for a recruiter in Korea (more info on that later). That recruiter will help me connect with hakwan directors and teachers for not only the promo, but the film(s) I am making independently. The recruiter has expressed interest in an orientation video so at the least, that is a go.

I think the personal film could incorporate the entire experience - of going to Korea, living there, coming home and experiencing re-entry culture shock, carrying on life in the States, then having this opportunity to revisit, both literally and psychologically, the experiences of life there. It can incorporate making the training video, even, since that project came to me out of my personal experiences as a new EFL teacher there. It can and should all be part of the personal film which would be about much more than just "life in Korea as an ex-pat."

These are my thoughts right now. It's becoming a bit overwhelming, because I went from making one film to making two films plus a promo.

The other overwhelming aspect is that I don't yet know exactly how I'll be getting to Korea this summer. There is a good possibility that I will be going to teach a cross-cultural documentary class, but I don't want to provide details until it is finalized. If that doesn't work out (because not enough students enroll to open a second section, which I'd be teaching), the recruiter has promised to place me in a good summer EFL program. This would allow me to make the film(s), but it would be more challenging for me to acquire the use of production equipment. But we'll see what pans out. One way or another, this project will happen this summer.