Thailand & Vietnam
Thailand & Vietnam
November 7-21, 2009
Filmmakers: Billy Luther, Miss Navajo & Steven Starr, Flow: For Love of Water
Expert: Sandra Ruch
Delegate Report - Thailand
by Sandra Ruch
The American Documentary Showcase delegation to Thailand (filmmakers Billy Luther and Steve Starr and myself) was well organized, productive and very rewarding. It was a success due to the outstanding programs planned by the US Embassy staff: Natalia Petroni and Dr. Kanittha Navarat, our diligent, incredibly informed, hospitable and energetic, partners throughout our trip.
Billy and Steven were a great team with whom to work and travel. They were tireless, enthusiastic, generous and entertaining, and they engaged with every audience. They enjoyed sharing their knowledge, personal experiences and anecdotes, as was evident in their discussions and workshops. As in other countries, most audiences are shy at first to participate in Q&A sessions. Billy and Steven won them over with their charm, warmth and openness. After almost every session, students would surround the filmmakers to ask more questions and for autographs.
The variety of venues, partners and audiences for the screenings and discussions of Miss Navajo and FLOW: For the Love of Water that the delegation attended were excellent choices and well attended. They were in three Thai cities: Bangkok, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Chonburi.
Bangkok
While we were on our screening tour, the Embassy held screenings of eight other showcase films at the Thailand Knowledge Park in central Bangkok:
Another Day in Paradise
The Hobart Shakespeareans
Traces of the Trade
Made in LA
A Man Named Pearl
Craft in America, Part 1
One Bridge to the Next
The Betrayal
Monday, November 9:
We attended a networking meeting with the Export Promotion Department, Ministry of Commerce and Thai Filmmakers. This was a great way to begin, as we had an opportunity to talk about the showcase, meet local filmmakers and see several of their short films. This provided an opportunity for all of us to discuss their films and talk about American documentaries. Their comments and questions were great: “What makes a good doc?” “What do foreigners want to see in docs from Thailand?” This lead to the issue of truth in the doc genre; we discussed the freedom we have in the US to make independent films about social, political and economic issues and tell personal stories based on our individual points of view.
In the afternoon we visited, the prestigious, Chulalngkorn University and screened Miss Navajo to a full house of workshop students, undergraduate media and communication student followed by a discussion and Q&A.
The film raises questions about American Indians and minorities and the audience was curious how it relates to minorities in Thailand. The students greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn move about American culture and history through documentary film. They were very surprised to learn about the Navajo Nation and that, in the US, there are a number of minority groups.
At all the screenings of Miss Navajo, the students had a similar reaction to the content. The subject of Native Americans was often new to them; if they knew of Native Americans at all, it was only the image they saw in Hollywood Westerns. They always asked Billy why he made the film. When they learned his mother had been a Miss Navajo, the film had even more impact on them. In turn, Billy explained that he had no idea when he started the film that the issue of retaining the Navajo language would play such a big part in the film.
This led to more questions and brought home the importance of maintaining cultural identity through preserving language. It was wonderful to see how the film could engage the students in interactive dialogue and conversations. We met with Associate Professor Raksam Wiwatsinudom, head of the Department of Motion Pictures and Still Photography.
Tuesday, November 10:
Miss Navajo was screened at Sri Pathum University, a 40-year-old private school with 20,000 students. They created huge outdoor banners announcing the Showcase with photos of Billy, Steven and me outside the entrance to the school. Needless to say, they have excellent media resources.
The auditorium was full of students who were Communication Arts, majoring in Radio/TV and Digital Media. Again, there was a lively Q&A and Billy was great at describing how he made his film with a borrowed camera and very little money. The common question is what inspired him to make the film, and they enjoyed learning that his mother was a Miss Navajo. We had a lovely lunch hosted by the university; in attendance was the the Vice President, the Director of the International College, the Director of the Media Center, the Dean and Faculty of Communication Arts, the Assistant Director of the Office of International Relations, and the Dean of Digital Media.
In the evening, we had a workshop and the premiere screening of FLOW at TK Park, a learning center with a beautiful theatre in a major shopping center. To peak the interest, we screened the trailer for Miss Navajo and FLOW to the participants at the workshop. This was followed by a lovely reception with great Thai food. Presided by Ambassador Eric John (and his wife) and Admiral Thani Kittiampon, Director of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, 7th Floor, Central World. There was as a full house ––more than 10 for the reception and screening.
Nakhon Sri Thammarat
Billy and Steven at Walaiak University, Nakhon Sri Thammarat
Wednesday, November 11:
After a very early flight to Nakhon Sri Thammarat, we had a morning screening of Miss Navajo at Walaiak University with 100 Media and Communication Freshmen, Sophomore and Junior students and the Faculty of Arts, etc. The film raised similar topics of minorities and preserving native language, and Billy was great in explaining his reasons for making the doc. They also screened three short films made by graduate students of Walailak University: two docs and a stop-action short. All were well produced with strong story lines. Billy, Steven and I discussed their films, gave them information on how docs get shown in the US and encouraged them to submit their films to student festivals.
There was an evening reception and screening of FLOW. Presided over by Mrs. Huwaidiyah Pitsuwan Useng, Secretary to the Minister of Social Welfare and Human Security, she came from Bangkok to attend this event. It was a lovely gala, and the room was packed (some guests were standing) with students, faculty, local officials, politicians, NGOs, etc., in attendance. The audience had a strong interest in the subject, which led to a productive Q&A as the issue of water was important to this community. Steven provided them with helpful information and websites, and told them how they could get involved in finding out where their local water comes from. We all felt that screening FLOW for this audience could stimulate someone in the audience to make a doc about their local water supply. Again, the power of documentary film showed us the value of bringing the Showcase to countries that might not have the opportunity to see how US documentary filmmakers handle global issues.
Sandra and Billy with students at Walaiak University, Nakhon Sri Thammarat
Thursday, November 12:
Miss Navajo was screened at the Nakorn Sri Thammarat Cultural Center. Organized by Thaksin University, it drew another great turnout of approximately 200 students/faculty from Kalayanee High School. The program began with introductory remarks by School Director and US Officer, Natalia. The students were very attentive and enthusiastic. They asked many questions about Navajo culture, wanted to know if women make pottery and do crafts, and why they have long hair. They also told Billy that he looks very Thai. They wondered if he spoke Navajo; he told he knows some words and taught them how to say “Hello,” and “Thank You.” The most poignant moment was when both a girl and boy student talked about beauty being an internal quality.
Chonburi
Friday, November 13:
On a day trip to Chonburi, we had a screening of FLOW at the Saensuk Municipality. Chonburi is a province outside of Bangkok, known as the City of Water. There was a full house of Burapha University Sociology, Public Administration and Communication Arts students, local politicians, businessmen, and administrators. A great mix for the subject of water.
The event was presided by the Deputy Mayor of Saensuk Municipality, Narongchai Khunpluem, a charming young man, fluent in English, who has traveled to the USA many times. In his remarks, he spoke about the importance of natural resources. Our other host was Dr. Vichien Tanskirikongkhon, lecturer, Burapha Faculty of Political Science and Law. His opening remarks set the theme for the screening: “The Use of Documentaries for Social Change.”
Panel discussion
The audience was totally engaged, and at Steven’s Q&A there was a lively discussion about the power of advocacy films as a way to motivate viewers to a particular action. He emphasized that a doc does not need to have a big budget to counter the status quo as expressed by the media. Their questions covered all the issues in the film: “What is a reasonable price to pay for water?” “Who owns water?” “Did he have any problems as a white person shooting in India/Africa?” “How can you help poor people to get their cases heard?” Steven provided his e-mail address and offered to advise anyone who would like to make a doc about the water situation in his or her community to contact him.
Back to Bangkok two meetings at our hotel. Steven had an interview with Ms. Anchalee Kongrut of the Bangkok Post, and I met with Ms. Dawadee Champanichkarn from the Digital Content International Trade Development Project. She asked me to connect her with American animation producers and directors to evaluate the local work. They would invite them to Bangkok as their guests to work with local Thai animation studios. I am working on getting contact information for her.
The showcase programs in Thailand were a success on every level. The coordination of events and activities by the Embassy were superb and ran very smoothly. The transformative power of film is enormous.
Delegate Report
by Steven Starr
I met Howard H. Howell, the Regional Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer for East Asia at the November 11 reception at Thailand Knowledge Park, presided by Ambassador Eric J. John and Admiral Thanit Kittiampon, Director of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, 7th Floor, Central World. There were over 100 guests – Bangkok and Thai government officials, Thai filmmakers, members of environmental NGOs and academics. The reception was followed by an overflow screening of FLOW: For Love of Water, and there was an excellent Q&A afterwards. There were, apparently, several UN officials at the screening as well.
Howard asked me if he might screen the film at a regional gathering of the UN Water Security Ministers later that week. Of course, I agreed, and would have spoken at the gathering had I not been booked for Chonburi that day. After that UN screening took place, we had dinner and he said that while he emphasized to those at the screening that FLOW was not a reflection of official US policy, he thought the film was received quite well, and that it was very useful for the participants to see that the US government was willing to support freedom of expression, even if it might contradict policy.
From my point of view as a filmmaker, to have the film seen by such an influential group was extremely gratifying, and I told Howard that I was most appreciative, and welcomed his screening it for other officials in his circles.
Delegate Report - Vietnam
by Sandra Ruch
The programming for American Documentary Showcase for the Vietnam trip to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was an extraordinary challenge that the US Embassy/Consulate Staff handled with expertise, professionalism and patience. Vietnam is a fascinating, complicated and unpredictable country. We were warmly received everywhere and the conversations and discussions were always global. A demonstration of the universal nature of good documentary storytelling and the power Showcase program has further edrelations and understanding between countries.
Billy Luther and his film were a perfect fit for the student audiences. Miss Navajo is a crowd pleaser. The audiences were fascinated on many levels. As in Thailand, where they thought he looked Thai, in Vietnam they all remarked how he and the contestants looked Vietnamese. The story’s universal themes of family, culture, native language and tradition for an American minority resonated with the audiences.
The US Embassy in Hanoi graciously subtitled Miss Navajo, which was no easy task. We are very thankful as subtitling is vital to this program. Although many people in the countries I visited do study English, they are most often too shy to speak after screenings. Having subtitles assures the delegation that the films are understood and the audience feels more comfortable and is more likely to participate verbally in discussions and workshops.
Our handouts included IDA’s Documentary magazine, Editors Guild Magazine, Showcase posters and postcards, Miss Navajo postcards. They are always grabbed up; we never seem to have enough for everyone. However, I make sure that the faculty, school, library, American Center and all hosting venues have a complete set. The Embassy/Consulate staff also provided electronic copies to the host venues of the materials I prepared:Documentary Funding Resources, Film Festival Strategies and Documentary Genres.
In Ho Chih Minh City, the Embassy had received the 29 Showcase films on DVD. We did not know until the end of our visit that the Consulate only received the subtitled version of Miss Navajo. They were not aware that they could have all the films. The complete set has been sent and received by Ms. Linh. The National Vietnam University and the Arena Media Center both expressed their interest in screening more of the films.
Hanoi
US Embassy Deputy Public Affairs Officer David Moyer (DPAO), Ms. Lan Huong and Mr. Quynh were with us at every screening. David gave wonderful introductions about the Showcase and Billy and myself.
Monday, November 16: Vietnam National University.
The Miss Navajo screening started an hour late, as students were attending a rehearsal show for University’s anniversary. Due to our tight schedule, it was decided to show half the film and open it up for discussion and Q&A.
The students were American Studies majors. This was new information about the US that they found fascinating, and they had many questions about the Navajo language, the Navajo Nation government and the Navajo religion. They asked Billy what message he wanted them to get from his film. This led to a lively discussion about the role of Navajo women. The students picked up on that theme and talked about the role of women in Vietnamese culture. The students really wanted to see the rest of the film, so we finished screening the film. There was time for one question, which was a comment for Billy: “Now that I have seen your film, I think I can see how I can make a documentary.”
Billy and Sandra, Vietnam
We were on time for the next screening the College of Social Sciences and Huamanities at VNU, where we screened to a full house (70-plus) of students and faculty from the International Studies Program. They were a very open and curious group and their questions covered a range of subjects. There was particular interest in how Billy picked Crystal as his subject and what happened to her since the film. They were also interested in knowing more about the Navajo poetry and culture. Billy mesmerized them with stories about the making of the film and his mother being Miss Navajo in 1966.
One of our favorite questions was, “Why hasn’t there been a Navajo Miss Universe? Navajo women are so beautiful.” This led to a discussion of the difference between the Miss Navajo Pageant and a beauty contest––inner beauty versus physical beauty. Several students commented on the importance of keeping one’s native language. We learned from them that there are beauty contests for Vietnamese women living in the US, but the contestants can’t speak Vietnamese. This concerned them and they asked if the Navajo language was being taught in classes on the reservations.
Tuesday, November 17: Hanoi University’s Theater and Cinematography Department.
We had to move to a larger room as over 100 students attended. They study directing, script writing, cinematography and television. The questions were more focused on filmmaking mechanics: how to gain the trust of subjects, the Navajo, music, the cost of the film, etc. Many students felt the Vietnamese also face the same issue of losing one’s native language. They asked Billy to say some Navajo words and he taught them “Hello,” “Thank you” and “I love you,” which they really enjoyed learning.
One of the areas that they don’t teach in this department is Film Production. The professor asked if I could recommend some American filmmakers who would be interested in teaching Film Production at VNU. I will follow up with some contacts. He would also like to show all the Showcase films at Hanoi University.
At the American Embassy Annex, Miss Navajo was screened to 60-plus students from various local universities in Hanoi and the press at the American Center. These students weren’t shy; many spoke English and were moved by the film. They asked Billy many questions, wanted to know what his next film will be and hoped they would have a chance to see it. They also took photos of us with them. We gave them our e-mail addresses so they could contact us with any questions. The Q&A could have gone on for hours.
At the press roundtable at the American Center, there were cultural reporters from Vietnam USA magazine, Laodong Labora (a daily newspaper) and Vietnam Women’s Newspaper. It was a great opportunity to answer their questions about Miss Navajo and to discuss the mission of the Showcase. We spoke about how American independent filmmakers have the freedom and opportunity to make documentaries on social, political and economic issues, as well as tell personal stories that have universal themes.
Ho Chi Minh City
The showcase programs were a success on every level due to the diligent work of the US Consulate staff, Deputy Public Affairs Officer Linda McMullen and Ms. Pham T. Khanh Linh, Creative Affairs Assistant. They accompanied us at every venue and were well informed about the film and the Showcase. Linda’s introduction (in Vietnamese) at each event was really appreciated by the audience, as well as by Billy and me. Ms. Linh seems to know everyone in the academic and government world and was our translator as well, when necessary.
Vietnam required obtaining various government permissions to screen Miss Navajo, which was a complicated, and time-consuming process. This was particularly true in Ho Chi Minh City, where there is less freedom. Although Ms. Linh had a verbal green light from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, she still needed written permission. Her government contacts, tenacity, and public relations and negotiating skills made it possible. In one venue, permission arrived an hour before the scheduled screening.
Sandra and Billy with students, Vietnam
There were concerns by the Embassy in HCM City prior to the trip regarding some of content of the film (chiefly the sheep-butchering scene) that might raise some issues. Billy and I were well briefed by Linda in advance, so we were prepared to explain the significance of this Navajo tradition and ritual. However, it was never an issue. The audiences were curious, but not disturbed by the scene. The students were impressed that the Miss Navajo contestants could do this and wondered if Navajo men could also butcher sheep.
Wednesday, November 18:
There was a short briefing with Linda and Ms. Linh and a meeting with two young local filmmakers. Both spoke English and had studied filmmaking.
Mr. Le Minh: Gave us a DVD of his recently completed 55-minute feature documentary with English subtitles, My Apartment Block, a very poignant story about the Blockhaus where Le Minh was born, which is to be sold. He reminisces about the place where he grew up and the end of a neighborhood.
Mr. Phan Gia Nhat Linh had just returned from studying film at USC to complete his feature film in HCM City. He and Billy found they had many friends in common in LA.
Thursday, November 19: We screened at Vietnam National University’s Department of Theatre and Cinematography to a packed auditorium of over 150 cinema students, filmmakers, faculty and filmmakers from the HCMC Film Association.
The audience reaction was extremely positive. They found the film inspiring and their questions were similar to those at the Hanoi screenings. The philosophy that losing one’s mother tongue means losing your culture had a strong effect on the audience.
At Vietnam National University’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the audience was composed of students majoring in English and American Studies. The screening was in a packed classroom. The students did not have practical experience in filmmaking, but their questions showed what an impact the film had made on the. They wanted to know more about Navajo culture, the role of men, what happened to Crystal (the subject), and if the Navajo language would be preserved. It was an exciting and rewarding experience for all.
Friday, November 20 (Vietnamese Teachers Day): We screened at the Arena Multimedia Education Centre, a private school with a well-known faculty of professional film and theatre directors, designers, etc. Mr. Doan Khoa, one of our hosts, is a very famous theatre director, known for his direction of The Glass Menagerie). Four female students performed a song and dance prior to the screening in celebration of Teachers Day. The room was packed (over 100) and the screening was followed by a lively discussion and Q&A. They were all eager to see more of the Showcase films. The school hosted a luncheon with faculty and selected students to celebrate Teachers Day. It was a wonderful to get to know students in a more personal social context. We exchanged e-mail addresses, and we offered to mentor them with their future projects.
Friday, November 20: Our final screening was at Café Thu Bay, a hip café with a screening room/lounge/film library. There were over 25 filmmakers and cultural reporters from the media. It was hosted by Mr. Duong Thu, a film composer who gave us a CD of his work. They are building their film library and Billy donated Miss Navajo and I gave them Documentary, and Editors Guild magazines.
The two filmmakers we met the first day attended with many of their colleagues. The discussion covered development, pre-production, distribution, overall documentary strategy and the content of the film. Cultural reporters from the following media participated in the discussions;
- Sai Gon Tiep Thi, a newspaper
- Vietnam News Agency
- Phunu, a women’s newspaper
- Tuoi Tre, a web log
As always at the conclusion of a Showcase delegation trip, I am moved and energized by the power of art to inspire and serve as a vehicle for diplomacy. I am also thankful for the opportunity to serve as a cultural diplomat. The State Department staff is impressive, passionate and fluent in the language. I am proud and lucky to be American (first-born no less).