Korea Dreambus!

The view from up here

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:34:00 +0000

I've noticed a bit of traffic on this blog, so I thought I'd pop in and let people know that 1. Yes, I'm still making this doc and 2. I moved to Los Angeles in January, so my progress with editing was momentarily interrupted.

I can't express how amazingly awesome it is to be out of Ithaca, NY (which had 8 inches of snow on 4/22/12 -- suckers!), living the creative life in L.A. with sunshine, creative people and friends, and a high dose of both inspiration and motivation. 'Cause yeah, everyone here is making a movie and/or writing a script, so it's one helluva kick in the pants to get things moving. I've been focused mainly on scriptwriting, but I will be getting back to editing Korea Dreambus! as a welcome change of pace.

Having a new perspective on life is certainly helping me focus on what I want this film to say. The person I am today is due, in part, to the time I've spent in Korea as a oeguk. This drives me even harder to get this film made, supported by my filmmaker friends here in L.A.

Sometimes I do...

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:42:00 +0000

(republished from December, 2011 "Fred In The Can" blog, which is now closed to the public)

As you might imagine, I've had my eye on the situation in N. Korea and Hanguk in the South. All joking aside, I can't really add any additional insights to what's already been written and said in special reports, speculations, images and news analysis of N. Korea's situation current and past.

I will say, from the time I spent in S. Korea, what I know of the general attitudes of South Koreans toward the divided peninsula. The younger generation of S. Koreans - the ones who are facing their compulsory two years in the military - are afraid of armed conflict. They want peace at all costs. Perhaps this is because their lifestyle, compared to that of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents, is very cushy, very wealthy, very "first world." Perhaps they've become complacent, as it seems many Americans have, taking for granted many things and freedoms that were hard-fought and won. Or perhaps they are tired of the shadow of war constantly hanging over them and their future generations, which is easy to understand, given that the Korean War never actually ended - they are still technically at war with N. Korea with a 50+ year cease fire in effect.

Many of the parents of these younger generations, in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, fear reunification with N. Korea, because they believe it would destabilize the wealthy economy of the South. Paying for rebuilding the North's infrastructure, feeding everyone, and absorbing the millions who would need jobs would be extremely costly to the South. Among this age group, there is a feeling that Reunification would have to be very carefully structured on a gradual basis, if it is to happen at all.

The grandparents and anyone left alive who remembers the War first-hand and the times that came before that want nothing more than for the two Koreas to be reunified as one country. They are one people, with one culture and one language. Korea has always been homogeneous in this respect, with a very proud history, albeit one littered with repeated, harsh colonizations by the Japanese Empire. This dream of Reunification is idealistic, perhaps not realistic, and it is dying out as these older generations do.

Now with Kim Jong Il's son Kim Jong Un in power, his young governing hand guided heavily by his uncle, military leader Jang Song Taek, the world waits and hopes that something can be done with the isolationist nuclear power to draw them into the international community. Will Reunification happen? Can it happen? Perhaps it is N. Korea's only hope, or perhaps it is a pipe dream at this point. I will be following these events closely in the coming months and year, for sure, and will occasionally drop a Waegukin 's perspective.

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:45:00 +0000

It's been quite some time since I posted here. I've been busy over at Fred In the Can. And, well, I've been busy redefining my life this year.

My doc on Korea is still in the works, but it has taken a backseat. I am writing a novel at the moment, planning a move to L.A. in January of 2012, and working through some personal stuff that requires more of my energy than I'd like.

Keep checking back, though, because I'll have updates as things progress, however slowly.

Komapsumnida!

Editing Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 03:20:00 +0000

I'll be spending the next week at The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts to work on the film! I'm bringing all my tech, gear, DVDs, notes, and bits of memorabilia to inspire me. I'm hoping to have clips soon that I can put up on Vimeo, so stay tuned!

Don't forget to check my main blog, Fred In The Can Productions, for updates on other projects, news about my writing and teaching, and exciting announcements about The Rod Serling Conference of 2011 at Ithaca College, for which I am serving as Academic Coordinator.

New Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:13:00 +0000

I've overhauled my writing blog and added a few things, so please give it a look-see:

Fred In The Can Productions

Here we go again

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:22:00 +0000

As usual, the beginning of the semester has kicked my butt. However, it would seem my butt is a little resilient than in previous years. So far I haven't had a sinus infection or flu, although my allergies have gone wild. Point is, I've had time (!) to familiarize myself (with the help of a filmmaker friend and colleague at I.C.) with the vagaries of Final Cut Pro.

Luckily, we have a fall break coming up, but instead of traveling like I often do, I'm going to be editing.

Adventures of the Jade Monkey

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:50:00 +0000

Photos of my latest trip to Korea - still uploading so keep checking back!

Another visit to Korea logged and tagged

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:38:00 +0000

I returned from Korea last Friday with a much clearer vision for this film, at long last. I've struggled with what I really want to do with it, what I really want to communicate. I know it may seem to you, the reader, that I've just kept kicking this project to the curb. Au contraire! I've had three main problems keeping this film from being made:

1. What is it about? This may seem like a "well duh" question, but it's an essential one to answer. I've seen too many films where it's obvious the filmmaker didn't really know what the film was about, and in fact, my first documentary film fell into this category. Oh, it was lyrical and magical and mesmerizing, but no one knew a damned thing about what I was trying to communicate. I shall not make the mistake twice. Too much work goes into editing to have to re-do the entire thing when the finished product makes people go "huh?"

2. What does this button do? I had to admit I was afraid of the editing software, which I've never been trained on. I could muddle through perhaps, but already I'd experienced a great amount of hair-pulling and wailing and gnashing of teeth. I recognize that this is one of my limitations, not to say it can't be overcome, but it does need to be dealt with. Thankfully, one of my colleagues at Ithaca College is a filmmaker specializing in production and post, and he has offered to exchange a workshop in FinalCut Pro for dinner and a small stipend. This will be an immense gift to me - knowledge is power.

3. What did I do to deserve this? Feeling guilty that some of the interviews from '07 are unusable. Somehow I let that become a stumbling block. It doesn't need to be, and in fact, I also grabbed some amazing footage while visiting my old hakwon during my visit to Ulsan at the end of my time in Korea. I've got an interview with my old director and one of the foreign teachers - actually them having a conversation about what the most difficult parts of being a foreign teacher are. Gold! Pure GOLD!

My time in Korea was exceptional - the program at Hanyang University was intense but I was prepared and my classes went smoothly. I had some fine students, as well, which always make the job more pleasant. I got to see more of Seoul this time around than ever before, including Jogyesa Temple, Itaewon, the Han River, and other locales. I hit the sauna twice (should've been more - I wimped out on going alone one weekend and missed the chance to make it three times). I also visited Ulsan, of course, where I lived from '02-'03. That area has a special place in my heart - I actually enjoy it more than Seoul in many ways (not the least of which is the beach!).

Now it's time to get down to work with my new hard drive and footage. With two weeks before work starts for the fall semester, I'm pretty psyched to get this thing off the ground finally. I know what I'm doing, thematically, and soon will know what I'm doing, technologically. Chunbe!

Touchdown

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:12:00 +0000

I am once again in Seoul. Terribly jetlagged and with a cold to boot. Will write more when I am feeling more human.

It's good to be back!

T-3 Days

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:29:00 +0000

I leave for Korea on Monday, June 21st. That's three days from now, in case you were wondering. Am I ready? Mostly. Just a few more things to put together for my teaching packet.

Film stuff is ready to go. Packing is 93% accomplished. Passport with teaching visa is in my hands.

Going to try to relax this weekend, do some writing, and get ready for another adventure.

Journal excerpts

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:13:00 +0000

From my trip in 2007:

7/20 - I realize that I'm still processing what my year in Korea meant to me - and also proving to myself that it was real. It wasn't a dream.
7/21 - I feel isolated from real Korea - no children, no families. I'm just a tourist.
7/22 (on a bus from Seoul to Ulsan) Two people's phones rang simultaneously. They answered at the same time "Yoboseyo," just a hair off, then a pause, then exactly at the same time, "uhn." I have to laugh!

Teacher, teacher!

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:08:00 +0000

Now that the Spring semester is completely over, I'm creating the curriculum for "Understanding Media Writing," the class I will teach at Hanyang University this summer. It's essentially an introduction to screenwriting, a 3-credit class that satisfies Ithaca College's Screenwriting requirement, but the name has to match what's on Hanyang's books. I'm having fun with this syllabus, and I'm excited at the prospect of teaching this kind of course to international students with varying levels of English proficiency.

I've gone over the journal I kept when I was in Korea 3 years ago and gleaned some surprising understanding from those pages. It's all going into the film. I'll be bringing my media with me so that Chang I can edit and work on getting at least a rough cut done this summer. It's finally happening!

I have so much to do before I leave for New York on June 21 to catch my late-night flight to Seoul. Here's to making things happen!

The Return

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:58:00 +0000

Heading back to Korea this summer to teach screenwriting at Hanyang University! Since a few of my interviews from '07 are unusable (bad audio), I'm hoping to gain a couple replacement interviews with two of the EV Boyz, who created quite a sensation with their "Kickin' It In Geumchon" music video a few years ago.

I've also recently discovered Brian in Jeollanam-do that details what's going on with English education in Korea from a oeguk's (foreigner's) perspective. It sounds like the writer is heading home soon, but there is a lot to read up on. I need to familiarize myself with some of the more recent issues and problems facing English teachers and English education in S. Korea these days.

The semester is keeping me very busy, but I have a shining star to look forward to this summer!

New Breath, New Life

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:49:00 +0000

After an incredibly difficult 2009, the new year has dawned. Thus far it's been productive. Korea Dreambus! is in the "edit decision list" or EDL stage. I've made final decisions on structure, which helps me to select the clips I want to use.

Things are looking very good for me to return to Korea this summer to teach screenwriting at Hanyang University in Seoul. Still waiting on some finalizations, but as I said, it looks good.

I had a prolific writing retreat earlier this month which resulted in the completion of two screenplays and some other work that needed tending. I'm also now working with Powys Media as they release original fiction based on the television series "Space: 1999."

This semester I am teaching two sections of intro to screenwriting at Ithaca College, and I am now a permanent, part-time Professional Tutor at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). These opportunities to work with a variety of young writers are inspirational and certainly appreciated when it comes time to pay the rent.

Creating, producing, writing, teaching. Now THIS is the life!

The Crawl

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:18:00 +0000

Crawling through footage. I'm overwhelmed.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:50:00 +0000

I've recently been in touch with someone who will collaborate with me on getting the teacher orientation video marketed in Korea. This is a marvelous connection for both of us, as he is working as a teacher trainer and will be heading to either Korea or China soon. Thanks to Yun for putting us in touch!

The summer is officially here and I am officially working on the film, getting my hands dirty with editing, finally. Feels wonderful! I've got an editor friend in Minneapolis who's going to give me some feedback once I get a rough done up.

Things are starting to move again.

Working out 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:02:00 +0000

I spent the last week on a writing retreat at the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts and was able to clear a lot of writing projects (or pieces of projects) from my overflowing plate. Since Mom's death I've been trying to sort out my project priorities, what's easily finished and what will require more time and energy.

A "fine rough cut" of Korea Dreambus! will be completed by end of the year. By that I mean I will have the EDL finalized and will have most of it actually done, with the exception of any animations or more complicated post production effects. Sound may also require more time to finish off. However it is perfectly reasonable for me to get this much done in the next eight and a half months, given that I have logged the footage already and have written parts of the script.

I'll be blogging more regularly now, as well, and hopefully will have some milestones to report along the way.

Elsie Rose Cambio (1927 - 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:46:00 +0000

My mother passed away on Jan. 22, 2009 after a long illness and much suffering. I was with her when she passed peacefully. Words cannot express how much I miss her, but I know she is in a better place, probably cutting a rug with her beloved Angelo, my dad.

Elsie Cambio - Obituary

Me & My Hat Rack (My Hat Rack & Me)

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:05:00 +0000

One thing is for sure: after trolling through YouTube, I see a lot of the same stuff related to ex-pats in Korea. I am more inspired to write the script from the "KoreaDreambus!" metaphor, which is really how this whole thing began.

You know when you have a kick-ass idea, and then you run with it and it starts to morph into something else, but it's still not what you want, so you add bells and whistles and schpontoons and then next time you look at it, it's a huge blob of unidentifiable, transmorgified and completely overwhelming...stuff? Now you're afraid of it; you shove it aside, ignore it, put a hat on it and pretend it's a hat rack so you don't have to interact with it. But then you keep tripping on it. It follows you into the bathroom and stares at you when you look in the mirror. Then you know... you need to remember why you wanted to do this thing in the first place.

So you go back to that original thing, the thing that turned you on the first place, that brought you to the point of wanting to DO something. And you wipe the slate clean and begin where you left off...at the beginnig.

If you've felt that way, then you know exactly how I feel now. I am on a writing retreat and I'm dedicating a chunk of time to Korea Dreambus! This sucker is getting made this year if it kills me.

Kickin' It in Geumchon

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:53:00 +0000

This video just made me laugh and cry.

Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:17:00 +0000

I've recently formed a screenwriting group here in Ithaca, and at our first informal meeting I confessed that I was struggling with the direction for this documentary. Should it be a standard "EFL in Korea doco" or a more personal film. Immediately the response I received was to go for the personal film and use the interviews as extras. So in essence, make two programs - the main one my personal experience, the shorter one more of a "how to" that can go on the DVD. This seems a simple solution, one that I am very happy with.

So I am focusing my scriptwriting on my own experience rather than a "how to" or straightforward expose. My journal entries from my year there and my return in '07 have already provided a lot of great material - now for organizing it.

I coulda told you that.

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:16:00 +0000

According to this article on english.chosun.com, Korean kids don't get enough sleep. The final paragraph is of special interest:

The research team said, "We found that the more hours the children spend at private cramming institutes, the less satisfied they and their parents are with their performance; and the more obese the children are, the fewer hours they sleep." "Special attention is needed, because sleep deprivation has negative effects such as diseases, psychological instability, poor performance, and stunted growth," it warned.

Fall Update

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:13:00 +0000

We're well into November, now, and wereas I thought things would ease up a bit around here, they have not. Not in the least. We moved my Mom into an assisted living facility, then she went into the hospital after falling a number of times. My attention is still rooted in her care, and I haven't done much else outside of work.

However, there is something fun to look at - a new website for ex-pats in Korea who have asked to reprint my article. It's a new site and is sure to grow exponentially: The Yeogiyo.com. Give those folks a visit and tell 'em you found them through Korea Dreambus!

Happy Belated Chuseok!

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:57:00 +0000

The Korean harvest festival holiday was last week. It's often described to Americans as "Korea's Thanksgiving." You can read a decent entry about it at Wikipedia, as well as Korea.net.

I spent Chuseok 2002 with my roommate's family, who were so kind to share their holiday with me. The food was incredible (when is Korean food NOT incredible?) and we had a lovely day, including a trip to JinHa beach in the early evening.

Article on teaching in Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Elena Cambio Pizarro) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:06:00 +0000

I've published an article about making the most of your teaching experience in Korea. Check it out: Transitions Abroad article.

I have had to take a part-time desk job to pay bills while I scramble for teaching jobs. The upshot is working a lot of hours, plus still grappling with Mom's situation.

The good news is I've been working on the script for the film and I feel like it's coming together. Small steps, but they are at least in the right direction.