Journey with Janelle » Media

#5: Blog This

Janelle K. Eagle — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:39:00 +0000

While many an item has recently been checked off my “Life To Do List“, I’ve obviously been behind on updating the blog. Upcoming news includes the following items being crossed off my list:

#3: Hike on a trail outside CA
#13: Go Wine Tasting
#36: Choose to drink fairtrade coffee when available
#45: Collaborate on an original project with a mentor

The feature of this particular entry will be the completion of goal #5 of the list: Get paid to Blog.

Considering that it’s almost been a full year of dedicated writing and readership, I love that this item is checked off now. Theoretically, I could have checked it off when my article “How to Host an Inauguration Party” was ranked in the top 10 articles on eHow back in November.

It didn’t feel right then. But being paid to create, manage, and host the blog for the film I am working on now is exactly the type of work I was hoping for when I posted #5 on the list almost a year ago.

The blog is hosted at “www.amarinestorymovie.com” and features my writing, photography, and video contributions, as well as those of the rest of the producing team. This type of behind-the-scenes, first person storytelling is a dream for me.

The journey here has been an interesting one. It started with interviews of full-time bloggers like Esther Kustanowitz (of www.myurbankvetch.com). Then I googled everything from HTML coding, picture and video embedding, and just. kept. writing. I learned more about my writing voice, how I wanted my personality to come through my words, and the ways in which I could build an audience.

Recenlty, I took the blog a step further by actually buying my own address (www.journeywithjanelle.com), and setting up a partnered email newsletter that would keep readers engaged. I regularly upload my entries onto sharing sites such as facebook and reddit. I twitter. It’s all media all the time!

I am super proud of this particular accomplishment, but am mostly grateful. My friends and family and mentors have continued to offer me feedback and encouragement; that’s been the driving force behind dedicating myself to this particular career goal. Onward and upward (a crossed fingers!) to continuing to get gigs like this!

On Set with "A Marine Story"

Janelle K. Eagle — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Dreya Webber, the star of "A Marine Story"

It’s been an amazing journey (a la Journey with Janelle) to be on the crew for “A Marine Story,” the new film by influential producer JD Disalvatore and writer/director Ned Farr. These same talented peeps brought you “Shelter” and “The Gymnast.” This new film provides the platform for an important and relevant conversation about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that currently exists in the United States Armed Forces.

As an LGBT activist, and a former employee of GLAAD, I always pay attention to how our stories are portrayed in the media. When I left the company back in August of last year (almost a year ago!), I said I was leaving to become a “starving artist” and to go make films that would be worthy of a GLAAD Media Award.

Suffice it to say, less than 12 months after my departure, I am smack dab in the middle of the world that I want to be in. Huge thanks to JD and the team for providing me the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing project.

My good friends on set as extras

One of the perks of working on such a small project is that I get to dabble in multiple areas of production. It’s really all hands on deck, all the time! Some of my responsibilities have included creating a blog for the film (www.amarinestorymovie.blogspot.com) and taking on set behind the scenes photography (which you’re looking at in this post) and videography for the Producer’s vlogs (below). When the producer found out that all of these side jobs are a secret passion of mine- it sealed the deal!

I feel spoiled that I am literally swimming in opportunities to combine my passions. If you’re interested in following the film and learning more, Check us out on:
Facebook
Twitter
Website

Really, Fox? REALLY?

Janelle K. Eagle — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:22:00 +0000

American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert

Briefly, I need to comment on National television. Specifically, Fox. It’s unsurprising that two big events have happened in the last week that continue to prove that Fox is disinterested in supporting, uplifting, and encouraging equality for the LGBT community.

The first big occurrence is probably obvious… Adam Lambert lost American Idol to the also-talented, Kris Allen. While I can appreciate that Kris has a future, is marketable, and happens to be just plain adorable… I wanted Adam to win. He’s an entertainer on par with some of the best. I’d pay hundreds to see him in concert. I’d immediately buy his album. He’d easily headline a Broadway show that would be a smash success.

And oh yeah, he’s gay. Whether you support the fact that he wasn’t an “out” gay man, he never failed to state that he was proud of who he is. With pictures of him all over the internet proving what many teeny bopper girls and bible thumping parents feared, he focused on the singing instead of his personal life.

If he had won- it would have been a HUGE moment. Not only because America would have gotten it right, but because they would have chosen to support a gay man. In fact, to idolize him. While I am saddened that he lost, I think he still made a lasting impact on national media and continues to be a shining example of the courageous gay community.

If there’s any question about whether or not he’s a rockstar, let’s think about the finale for a moment. On the solo performances of each finalist, they were paired up with a celebrity musician for a duet. Kris Allen was paired with that one guy, Keith Urban. Who did Adam get paired with????? KISS. That’s right… KISS. He’s already a rockstar. Check it out in case your TIVO wasn’t set:

More incendiary is a moment that occurred on last night’s season premiere of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Nigel Lythgoe, one of the show’s creators as well as the most prominent judge proved last night that homophobia (even in the DANCE world!) is still prevalent. Fox also proved that it won’t edit out such disgusting comments and by proxy, doesn’t mind homophobia. Encourages it perhaps? Here’s a video of the unfortunate moment that was nationally televised on one of the most-anticipated premieres of this summer season:

After seeing the moment, I had to stop the DVR and take a breather. It actually depressed me and made me want to boycott one of my favorite shows. I immediately thought of my former employers over at GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and hoped they were in the midst of writing a press release as I went to bed last night. The good news is, they were.

To check out their commentary on WHY this is so defamatory and upsetting, and to also TAKE ACTION to tell Fox we won’t stand for this, click HERE .

In the mean time, I’m going to continue working on changing hearts and minds.

No related posts.

Why I do what I do

Janelle K. Eagle — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:31:00 +0000

Movie Poster for War Dance

A girl and her mother walk through head-high bush. The path to their destination is not laid out before them; they are guided solely by memory. As they walk, they stumble in sudden ditches and ignore the itch of the brush as it tickles every crevice it meets as they pass.

Suddenly they arrive at their destination. A cross has fallen into the mud and is overtaken by the new brush growing from the grave buried there four years ago. The two women are composed in silence. And then they are not.

The young girl falls to her knees and then cuddles into the ground housing her father’s grave. Her mother tries to raise her, but she bellows with pain and asks to be able to lie there with her Daddy for a moment.

As I watched this scene, I began to cover my eyes. I wanted to look away, to avoid the truth. In fact, when the scene ended and the women return to their refugee camp, I stopped the documentary film called “War Dance” and took a break. Just needed to cry it out. To work through the emotion. To imagine.

And then I remember why I do what I do. Why I make films and take pictures and explore the world. I do it so that audiences can experience what I did today when seeing and feeling a world that is not my own. I do it so that we can remember that the world is large and that others are in need and that we can do something about it.

“War Dance” is about more than just these sad scenes playing out against a backdrop of war-torn Uganda. It is about the inspiration that guides young children who are fatherless, motherless, and without brothers and sisters who once played in the fields with them. This film is about the music and dance of their ancestors and the pride they feel when they compete in the National Music Competition in Uganda. It’s about defying the odds. And it moved me.

As some of you may heard, I have been supporting my dear (and genius) friend Maital in her film project tentatively entitled “Whatint Abafazi: When You Strike a Woman.” Again, I am drawn to the project because it tells the story of those who refuse to be a statistic. Who persevere over hardships I can never imagine. They teach me to be a better person and it is THEY who are the heroes. I look forward to traveling with Maital to South Africa this fall to help her continue telling her amazing story so that others can be inspired as well.

And also exciting, a developing project that would have me traveling to an orphanage in Nepal to document the exchange of stories, love, and education between American families and 17 young girls overcoming the odds to excel in a country where they would otherwise be child slaves. As we apply for funding, work out the details, and make the ends meet- it is the potential of the gut wretching reactions that an audience might have that inspires me.

What a blessing to learn from the stories of those who seem so far away. What a gift to have them share their strength when it seems that they should have none to give. They make me want to keep doing what I do.

Get on board!

Janelle K. Eagle — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Dear Reader,

I am embarking on a HUGE adventure and I really need your help! I have applied to be the 2009 STA World Traveler Intern. This position has me visiting 10 countries in 3 months and the job is to blog, photograph, and videotape my adventures! The goal is to encourage other students/young people to travel abroad!

It’s literally the PERFECT job for me. It combines my passions for media, traveling, ambassadorship, and creating projects that inspire action.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am always out of town on some trip either nationally or internationally. I’ve got my camera in tow and blog about it like crazy.

This would be the job of a lifetime for me and could really give me a huge step forward in my career path to become a journalist/documentary filmmaker.

Please take a moment to WATCH MY VIDEO, rate it with 5 stars, and leave a comment of love and support!

Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uni2EiXR63E

The number of views, stars, and comments that I get is CRUCIAL to my chances of winning the competition.

Please and thank you in advance. It takes only a moment… but if you’d help me out it would mean the world to me.

Thank you,
Janelle

Gettin’ Cultcha’d

Janelle K. Eagle — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:05:00 +0000

One of my favorite parts about the Life To Do List is that it includes items that expand my knowledge of culture. In particular, #33 (Watch 25 of the last 10 years’ Academy-nominated Documentary Feature Films) and # 67 (Read 15 of the “Big Reads”) have really expanded my reading and viewing pleasure. Both lists include material that I’ve always wanted to be able to devote the time and energy to absorbing. The list keeps me in check!

For # 33, I’ve watched the following Documentaries:
1. Winged Migration (YouTube It)
2. Born Into Brothels (YouTube It)
3. Capturing the Friedmans (YouTube It)
4. Prisoner of Paradise (IMDB It)
5. Spellbound (IMDB It)
6. An Inconvenient Truth (YouTube It)
7. Deliver Us From Evil (YouTube It)

The topics that these documentaries cover are nature, impoverished children photographers, Pedophilia and Criminal Justice, Holocaust, National Spelling Bee, Environmental Responsibility, and Church Impropriety. With each story I learn something. I feel more aware of the world around me. I carefully note the camera angles, editing choices, and musical accompaniment of each shot so that I can consider these options when I make my own artistic choices in the future. I am studying while being entertained.

For #67, I’ve read the following novels:
1. Pride and Prejudice 2. Catcher in the Rye

Reading obviously takes longer. Especially for me. The only times I can really fit it into my life is right before I head to sleep. When I crawl into bed and snuggle into the sheets, I love to end my day wondering around in the world created in the mind of other artists. To forget my day and escape into the mind of Elizabeth Bennett or Holden Caulfield. Sounds ridiculous when I read that paragraph back to me, but it’s true.

Next on the list, I will be watching “Sicko” by Michael Moore. I’ve already seen it, but that was before I started this project. It was before I had my “documentary filmmaker” goggles on. Next on the reading will be “To Kill a Mockingbird” followed by “Wuthering Heights” (which I am particularly looking forward to re-reading).

I really recommend this To-Do List thing. It’s been a wonderful way for me to force myself to indulge. I feel more capable of joining in conversation with my peers. As they bring up these films or as these novels are referenced in pop culture, I feel I can participate. Really, I’m just getting prepped for Trivial Pursuit.

ABC Family- Redefines family

Janelle K. Eagle — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:33:00 +0000

The ad campaign for Secret Life

As a civil-rights activist and consumer (and creator) of media, I take notice when change is a’brewin. And tonight I was incredibly impressed with ABC Family for including a story line featuring Gay Adoption. This “refuses to be equated with Disney” channel has taken a big leap. The executives have decided to use their platform to challenge the definition of family.

If you watch “The Secret Life of an American Teenager” (it’s ok… you can admit it), you already know that the show is a bit risque. Young people having sex. Teenage pregnancy. Drugs. Divorce. Sexual Abuse. It’s really run the gambit of topics that traditionally are not discussed in shows running on a network who’s name includes family in its title.

Today this network went even further with its risque-ness. ABC Family chose to include a discussion about how two grown adults in a loving and committed relationship are the best option for parenting a child. While this may seem no-brainer material, the shock was that the option that everyone agreed upon was TWO MEN in a loving and committed relationship. They weren’t just an option, they were considered as the ideal option.

Amy, a 15 year old who got pregnant at band camp (at the same time she lost her virginity) has been facing some tough decisions. She has a boyfriend (not the baby’s father) who wants to be in her life but is conflicted about his role as a potential parent. Amy’s own mother and father are divorcing (and show a nice juxtaposition against the happily-committed gay couple). Mom and Dad are split in how they’d like Amy to deal with her “dilemma.” The baby’s father, a classmate of Amy’s, is himself a product of a broken family and is against an adoption.

After all of these players put their prides aside and begin to discuss what is best for the child (wouldn’t it be an amazing world if all parents did that!), the prospect of giving the baby to the gay couple is proposed. It was done in a classy, constructive manner. Not only in the delivery of the story line where Amy’s father (a straight man) himself learns to push aside his assumptions of homosexuality, but also in how he chooses to broach the topic with his daughter.

To see the clip I am referring to, check out the YouTube below. You can see some of the other racy material that the show includes (no promise of good acting included in this recommendation), but the scene with the gay couple starts at 6:26 in the timeline.

Bravo ABC Family! Thank you for challenging the notion that a family has to be cookie cutter. That young people can’t make intelligent decisions. That love and commitment are terms reserved for an elite few. That parenting is a “right” and not a “responsibility” or “blessing.”

Thank you ABC Family for showcasing an important topic like this while some states (here’s to you Arkansas!) are writing laws into their constitutions that prevent loving and committed couples from giving a child a home. I’m impressed.

Oh Media

Janelle K. Eagle — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:33:00 +0000

So when I worked at GLAAD, I spent three years learning about the power of words and images. I learned about marketing a point of view, an idea, a concept so that it was well received by an intended audience. I learned about the responsibility that we all have to be honest and true in the stories we write, the movies we make, and the commercials that we use to advertise our products and our beliefs.

As we get closer to election time, the advertisements are coming out in droves. Every independently financed 501(c)4 that exists to support some proposition or another is using all of its money now to invade the airwaves with their messages about why you should or should not support them.

Though the ad for No on Prop 8 has been out for a week longer- the proponents of Prop 8 have just began to share their views about why CA voters should support Prop 8. Apparently you should support banning gay marriage because your children will be educated about equality. OH NO!!!

The best advertisement I’ve seen in the past two months has nothing to do with politics. And yet it has one of the most powerful messages I’ve seen. It’s about fathers taking responsibility for their children. It teaches family values in a way that makes so much more sense to me than the “family values” that the proponents of Prop 8 seem to think are threatened by gay marriage. Have a look:

Check out the comparison between a NO on Prop 8 ad and a YES on Prop 8 ad:

NO ON PROP 8

YES ON PROP 8