Approach Analysis
Step 1: My Chosen Approach
https://defineamerican.com/about/(Green), https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/documented-film-review-700464(Red), https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/documented-movie-review-jose-antonio-vargass-self-portrait-with-a-mission/2014/05/28/a5e5efd4-e2b0-11e3-9743-bb9b59cde7b9_story.html (Purple)
- Chosen approach: A Film/Documentary which brings awareness to various injustices that occur within immigration through personalized lenses
- Specific Approach/Film: “Documented: a film by an undocumented american”, a film about journalist Jose Antonio Vargas who become a crusader for immigration reform.
https://defineamerican.com/about/(Green), https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/documented-film-review-700464(Red), https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/documented-movie-review-jose-antonio-vargass-self-portrait-with-a-mission/2014/05/28/a5e5efd4-e2b0-11e3-9743-bb9b59cde7b9_story.html (Purple)
Step 2: Research
Who is Jose Antonio Vargas?
Who is Jose Antonio Vargas?
- Jose was born in the Philippines, and immigrated to the US when he was twelve to live with his grandparents.
- Grew up in the U.S without any knowledge that he was here illegally.
- He found out when he applied for a driver's license with false ID papers.Jose Antonio Vargas is an award winning journalist, filmmaker, and founder of Define American.
- He kept his undocumented status a secret while he pursued his career.
- It was planned that he marry his way into citizenship.
- Came out as gay while in high school.
- Define American:
- Nonprofit media and culture organization
- The power of story to transcend politics and shift the conversation about immigrants in a changing America.
- What it really means to be American
- Jose owns his own production company, Apo Anak Productions, named in honor of his grandparents and mother( apo means grandchild, and anak means child in his native language Tagalog)
- In June 2011, Jose publishes an essay for the New York Times where he chronicled his life in American as an “undocumented immigrant” (more appropriate than illegal immigrant which he was accused of being)
- He has made multiple documentaries including “Documented” and is currently working on another documentary series all about “whiteness” in the 21st century.
- He has testified at the U.S Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration reform.
- Challenged medias coverage of undocumented immigrants.
- Approximately 1,100 immigrants are deported every day
- U.S. government has deported nearly 2 million immigrants in five years
- “I firmly believe that to change politics of immigration and citizenship, we must change culture-- the way we portray undocumented people like me and our role in society.” (Jose Antonio Vargas)
- To Jose, this film is as much an artistic statement as it is a political one.
- “I'm not the “illegal” you think I am, and immigration is not what you think.”(Jose Antonio Vargas)
- If he leaves the U.S, there is no guarantee he can return.
- His mom was denied a tourist visa and waits for a family visa, so she can visit U.S.
- Jose was put on a plane and flown to the U.S at the age of 12.
- While editing the film he saw his mom the most in the past 20 years.
- “A broken immigration system means broken families and broken lives” (Jose Antonio Vargas)
- In the film he documented his life as an undocumented immigrant
- He also documented his mom and sacrifices of parents who make America what it is, then and now.
- Jose wants viewers to ask the question, How do you define American?
- Film is not false or forced, but hyper-aware.
- Vargas risks deportation.
- He believes the attention he draws will decrease his chances of being sent back.
- By staying in the spotlight
- Wants to raise awareness on the immigration reform issue.
- He had no contact with his mother since he migrated.
- “The film’s final section is its most emotional, featuring an interview with the bereft woman and a scene of his finally talking to her via Skype, for the first time in twenty years.”
- Film concludes with him testifying in front of congress on behave of his citizenship
- The film succeeds in putting an issue front and center.
- Using real stories and interviews from parties involved
- Vargas comes off as an articulate and sympathetic spokesperson
- Stand up for a cause which he still advocates for today.
Step 3: My Analysis
Strengths:
This approach is very relevant in our time, with social media, and many news organizations, this can be passed around and reach many different demographics. Its visually appealing and provides visual storytelling which is emotional, and relating. With cinematography and music, a film can draw the audience in and keep them hooked while still getting the main message across. A film can be done by anyone, you don't necessarily need a crew. If you have a message, and a camera, you can still create a very beautiful, moving piece of work.
Limitations:
A film can be very one-sided, especially if the filmmaker has personal experience with the topic they're using. In the film “Documented”, director Jose Antonia Vargas tells his story of being an undocumented immigrant. Thew film is all about him, while he still uses interviews from other immigrants, it's very one-sided. A film also takes time, and if time is important, this can pull you back a little bit. If you don't have an interesting enough topic, it'll be hard to draw the audience in, especially through sight, so the filmmaker would have to hook in pretty strong.
How might you apply aspects of this approach for your proposed solution?
This film used perspectives from several people, including the main subject, I would like to use this same tool in my proposal. I want to tell stories from multiple victims of this issue. At the end of this film, they invite viewers to join the cause through an organization created by the filmmaker, I would like to add this aspect to my proposal as well, encouraging others to take part in helping our society grow.
Strengths:
This approach is very relevant in our time, with social media, and many news organizations, this can be passed around and reach many different demographics. Its visually appealing and provides visual storytelling which is emotional, and relating. With cinematography and music, a film can draw the audience in and keep them hooked while still getting the main message across. A film can be done by anyone, you don't necessarily need a crew. If you have a message, and a camera, you can still create a very beautiful, moving piece of work.
Limitations:
A film can be very one-sided, especially if the filmmaker has personal experience with the topic they're using. In the film “Documented”, director Jose Antonia Vargas tells his story of being an undocumented immigrant. Thew film is all about him, while he still uses interviews from other immigrants, it's very one-sided. A film also takes time, and if time is important, this can pull you back a little bit. If you don't have an interesting enough topic, it'll be hard to draw the audience in, especially through sight, so the filmmaker would have to hook in pretty strong.
How might you apply aspects of this approach for your proposed solution?
This film used perspectives from several people, including the main subject, I would like to use this same tool in my proposal. I want to tell stories from multiple victims of this issue. At the end of this film, they invite viewers to join the cause through an organization created by the filmmaker, I would like to add this aspect to my proposal as well, encouraging others to take part in helping our society grow.