Exciting News!!

I contacted PETA last week about getting an interview set up for our documentary. They called me back today, and said that they'd love to participate!! I think that having them as one of our sources will lend A LOT of weight to our project. I'm sooo stoked. We just need to figure out now if we want to do a phone interview with them, or if we want to do a road trip to Norfolk...

2 Additional Topics

I was thinking about what else I would like to work on...
I guess the first would be to talk about is the new HPV vaccine, Gardisil. There is a lot of controversy over whether parents want to administer the drug to their pre-pubescent daughters to provide protection from an STD they may get in the future that could lead to cervical cancer. The commercial uses the slogan, "One Less" to show strong girls who are taking a stance against getting cervical cancer... but I'm sure there are mothers out there that do not want to send the message to their daughters that because they are now protected from this one disease, they are given the green light to become sexually active. Another controversial topic would be the fact that the vaccine hasent been extensively tested, and mothers are afraid of the long term effects of the drug. However, cervical cancer is the number 2 killer among women. If this vaccine can overcome hurdles, such as price (at $360.00, it is the most expensive vaccine ever produced) and the sessions of treatments (3 treatments spread over 6 months), it could possibly become a mandatory vaccine for school-aged girls. I'd be excited to get out into the community to see what reaction people have to this topic.

The second would be the wide spread infiltration of meth in Hawaii. This topic is really interesting, because it is a drug problem that has arisen out of the inability to smuggle other "traditional" drugs like cocaine and heroine out to the islands. Meth is made in home-based labs on the island, and is the most readily available drug. In 2005, meth was cited as one of the island's largest problems, accounting for over half of drug seisures, vs. 14% for the rest of the country. It would be incredibly hard to document this, geographically as well as socially. People who are users would be wary of a foreigner who was wanting to document thier drug problem. The other problem would be that getting the story would be incredibly dangerous. But, this would be a great topic to explore.

Hilarious Spay/Neuter Video

If you don't spay/neuter, your cats will be making sweet, sweet love all over your house, as shown in this video.

John McEnroe PSA

Cold Weather Treatment for Pets!!

Hey you guys, It dipped well below freezing last night, and I was wanting to remind everyone (especially if their pets are outdoors) of the following precautions to take for their doggies and kitties.

· Keep animals inside, particularly puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or coat on walks.
· Don’t allow your cat or dog to roam freely outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started. (To help prevent this, bang loudly on the hood of your car before starting the engine.) Animals can also become disoriented when there is snow or ice on the ground. More animals are lost during the winter than during any other season.
· Increase animals’ food rations during winter because they are burning more calories to keep warm. Also, be sure that animals are free of internal parasites, which can rob them of vital nutrients.
· Keep an eye out for strays. Take unidentified animals inside until you can find their guardians or get them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
· Wipe off your dogs’ or cats’ legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them while cleaning themselves.
· When you see dogs left outdoors, provide them with proper shelter. Doghouses should be made of wood (because metal is a poor insulator) and positioned in a sunny location during cold weather. Raise the house off the ground several inches and put a flap over the door to keep out cold drafts. Use straw for bedding—rugs and blankets can get wet and freeze.

Sunday Night Spaghetti!

Last night, our group met to discuss our project over some really delicious spaghetti! We all kind of chatted about how we see the project going, and I'm glad that we all didn't have the same opinion on what should go into it. This weekend, I researched PETA's stance on pet overpopulation, and started reading about the downside of "No Kill Shelters". We had originally thought to interview some people that run a no-kill shelter, but now I really feel that the only way that I would feel comfortable introducing that element into our project, is to also interview someone who would represent the other side opinions on these shelters. (We were thinking about trying to do a road trip to VA to meet with PETA) Dom really brought up a good point about the shelters, that they eased the minds of the people who really care about the animals (people who run them) but they sometimes over look the overall well-being of the animals who are turned away, or are left to eternal confinement in an over-cramped environment. I find it really hard to have a negative outlook on people who are just trying to help these animals, I know that they have good intentions for them, but so do people who decide that they can keep over 100 cats shut up in their houses. They feel that they are saving them, but in reality they are dooming these animals to a feeble existence... (as does the law as well; these people are usually charged with animal cruelty.)

Animal Rights Uncompromised:'No-Kill' Shelters
Some people have suggested that the solution to companion animal overpopulation lies with so-called "no-kill," or "limited-admission," shelters. Sadly, these facilities often have major problems that affect animals. Animals at "no-kill" shelters who have been deemed unadoptable may be "warehoused" in cages for years. They become withdrawn, severely depressed, or aggressive, which further decreases their chances for adoption. Cageless facilities avoid the cruelty of constant confinement but unintentionally encourage fighting and the spread of disease among animals.
One PETA staffer who used to manage a "no-kill" shelter had a change of heart after seeing a pit bull who had lived in a cage for 12 years. He had gone mad from confinement and would spend the day slamming his body against the sides of his cage, becoming so enraged that the workers were afraid to handle him. After witnessing this miserable life, she realized that some fates truly are worse than death.
"No-kill" shelters and "no-kill" rescue groups often find themselves filled to capacity, which means that they must turn animals away. These animals will still face untimely deaths—just not at these facilities. In the best case scenario, they will be taken to another facility that does euthanize animals. Some will be dumped by the roadside to die a far more gruesome and horrible death than an injection of sodium pentobarbital would provide. Although it is true that "no-kill" shelters do not kill animals, this doesn't mean that animals are saved. There simply aren't enough good homes—or even enough cages—for them all.
Open-admission shelters are committed to keeping animals safe and off the streets and do not have the option of turning their backs on the victims of the overpopulation crisis as "no-kill" shelters do. No one despises the ugly reality of euthanizing animals more than the people who hold the syringe, but euthanasia is often the most compassionate and dignified way for unwanted animals to leave the world.

http://www.peta.org/campaigns/ar-nokillshelters.asp

Another big topic that we went over was our time line. With all of the information and topics that we would like to cover, we don't know if 10 min.'s is going to be enough time. We decided that we would get the coverage that we felt was necessary, and then start editing. We would aim for 10 minutes, but if we went over, then we would have to.

I'd really like to put up youtube.com clips on here. Can anyone tell me how to do that???

Also...

I found some great programs that people have started up in other cities to facilitate low-cost or no-cost options for spay/neuter. Some of the ideas are:
--Adding a check off box for donations on the state income tax returns. In Colorado, the Pet Overpopulation Fund was started to subsidize sterilizations for CO pets, and in 2002, funded a total of $200,244 to over 25 groups.
--City Government Sponsor a Day of Surgeries: In Austin, TX, the city gov't sponsors a day a week for free s/n, rabies vaccines for low-income residents. They also have a mobile van that performs low cost sterilizations to the community. They average about 25-40 animals a day.
--Operation FELIX (Feline Education and Love instead of Extermination) offers no-cost cat spay/neuter to clients who can provide proof of federal assistance or live in certain low-to-moderate income areas. They also s/n any stray cats that are brought in. They utilized local vet schools for student volunteers, and government grants including $15K from a community block grant, $10K from the city council, $25K from a private doner (wow!!!), and more from charitable trusts, and private donations and fundraisers. Their program saw a decrease in puppy admissions to the shelters by 25%, and kitten admissions by 14%. Also, the volume of euthinizations decreased by 5%.
--The Flagler Co. Humane Society in Palm Coast, FL has started a "Lost and Found Spay and Neuter" Program for the animals that are brought in, and retrieved by their owners. When the owner does come in, if the animal has not been s/n, they will be given the option to either pay the municipial fees, boarding fees and vaccination fees (Anywhere from $15-100+) OR buy a spay/neuter certificate ($25-50). The owner does not have to use the certificate, but it is a great incentive, especially because they have seen that their animal is roaming the streets unsterilized.

I think that these are all great options that I haven't heard of before. I'm sure that our local shelters would be receptive to trying out the "Lost and Found" program. The spay/neuter certificates are supported by local vets, who perform the services at no charge. The money from the certificates covers the costs at the shelters.
--

Great info I found on web

BENEFITS OF SPAY/NEUTER FOR CATS AND DOGS

Benefits of Spaying (females):

-No heat cycles, therefore males will not be attracted
-Less desire to roam
-Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle
-Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
-Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives

Benefits of Neutering (males):

-Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking
-Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents
-Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease
-Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
-Decreases aggressive behavior, including dog bites
-Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives

Top 3 Reasons to Spay and Neuter

-It helps to reduce companion animal overpopulation. Most countries have a surplus of companion animals and are forced to euthanize or disregard their great suffering. The surplus is in the millions in the United States. Cats are 45 times as prolific, and dogs 15 times as prolific, as humans.They do not need our help to expand their numbers; they need our help to reduce their numbers until there are good homes for them all.
-Sterilization of your cat or dog will increase his/her chance of a longer and healthier life. Altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years, felines, 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.
-Sterilizing your cat/dog makes him/her a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.
Additional Benefits:

Your community will also benefit. Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern in many places. Stray animals can easily become a public nuisance, soiling parks and streets, ruining shrubbery, frightening children and elderly people, creating noise and other disturbances, causing automobile accidents, and sometimes even killing livestock or other pets.- The American Veterinary Medical Association

The capture, impoundment and eventual destruction of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and private humanitarian agencies over a billion dollars each year. As a potential source of rabies and other less serious diseases, they can be a public health hazard.- The American Veterinary Medical Association

I don't think that there would be a way to play devil's advocate to our project. It would be cruel and heartless to say that they would like to see an overpopulation of animals that would eventually suffer as they block up the shelter system. I think that the only obstacle to our project would be the fact that people do not s/n animals that they encounter on the streets because it is a service that they would have to pay for. Also, that people do not see strays and think ahead about the consequences of leaving that stray out on the street to breed. I feel that it's just not in people's mindsets yet to think about the future of their offspring. So, from last night's class, I was thinking that we should try to take a political stance to make actual changes. We could interview city council members who could maybe provide more funding to the shelters to provide free or extremely low cost s/n services to the community. I feel that providing this funding now will greatly reduce the cost of sheltering in the future (financially as well as humanely).

Besides the opportunity to actually make a change in the community for the benefit of the dogs and cats that are at risk, it seems that it would be a more compelling documentary if we could somehow introduce some kind of conflict. It is obvious that the people who run the shelters and help the animals are doing a great service to the community. If we did our documentary only on their stories, we'd lose our audience's attention before we even got started with our message. We do not need to show this to convince anyone. We need to show the animals as they enter the shelter system, do some interviews on the street about people's attitudes/beliefs on s/n (and hopefully get the dogs/cats adopted), and then ask why these animals are here in the first place. This will lead us to trying to make the change-- pushing for funding to solve the problem. I think that getting some results would be phenominal for our project.

New Directions!

Last week before class, I was telling some people here at Bolden! about the project that Brittany, Dom and I will be doing. As I was explaining that we would be showing the effects of not spaying and neutering your pet, and the devastating effects it leaves on the community, the person that I was talking to interrupted me and said, "That's NOT a documentary. That's an educational video." And it occurred to me that he was right. We were trying to make an overly "preachy" video that highlighted people ("talking heads") talking about the sad cases of animals that could have been saved. I realized that we needed to focus on the animals, instead of the people. So, following the progression of 3-4 animals from the time they are taken in to the shelter to their eventual fate (whether it be a successful adoption, or to the end of most shelter animals, euthanization. (Which would be terrible and horrible by the way, we would rather that all of our animals that we follow get adopted, but if that is the eventual end, we will be there to document it.) ) I was thinking that we could mix in on-street interviews with pet owners, and non-pet owners, while bringing the animals with us. Hopefully through this method, we can get some of them adopted to our interviewees. This keeps our story following the pets who make up our subject. Seems like a more effective approach.

My Schedule

Like I mentioned before, I am working on Bolden!, a film that is currently in pre-production that will be shot here in Wilmington as well as New Orleans. I work Monday-Friday with an occasional Saturday from 8am-7pm. I get to leave early on Wednesday to come to this class. I'm hoping to be able to get with my group on Sundays, as this is the only day that I currently have open. Hopefully, because of the nature of our documentary, and the amount of interviews we will be doing with local professionals, the Sunday shoot day will facilitate all of us.

Filmmaker bio/ artist statement

My name is Melanie, and this is my last class before I graduate UNCW with a film major. I've been in the film industry since 2000, when I was hired to do make-up for a friend's first feature film. Since then, I have been doing make-up, hair and wardrobe for films, television shows and print medium. Last semester, I took Dale Williams' Producing class and really fell in love with the development side of filmmaking. Brittany Fisher and I are trying to get a project that she concieved, Fixed, into development before then end of this semester when both of us graduate. We feel that this project is something that both of us would like to see made, so we can educate people on the importance of spay and neuter in our community. We both have seen the devistation of pet overpopulation, and though we have tried to do our part in adopting, we would rather there be a day when people would have to wait on a list to adopt an animal, instead of having so many put down because there are not enough homes for them.
Just recently, I was hired as a producer's assistant on Bolden!, a feature film to be shot here in Wilmington. I hope to be able to use this experience to make Fixed a project that will be seen by people all over the country and not just New Hanover County.