Are you familiar with the term “Hollywood-ing”? –It takes its inspiration from Hollywood, California. The idea is that when someone “in the (movie) Industry” is approached and they don’t want to actually work with their approacher, they retort that they’ll “have my people, get with you/your people”. They do this as a euphemism to save face. Instead of directly saying, “I’m not interested”, they give a false hope that they have cleared their schedule for good, collaborative things to follow.
I share this because I’ve come to realize that I’ve been “Hollywood-ed” more times than I would care to admit as it relates to the Parent-Teacher Conference Project. Yes, I can share actual emails, text messages, and business cards from the culprits, but that would be tasteless, right? So instead, I will share the progress and lovely work-arounds that have occurred as a result of the delays and denials that have been part of the project’s journey. Really, there’s no hard feelings because the texture of the project has evolved – inspired by Hollywood. Who knew?!
As before, the Parent-Teacher Conference project is still committed to giving an honest depiction of public school education here in Kansas City, MO using the viewpoints of the “Players in Education”. (See previous posts here and here.) To date, 100% of the filming is completed. We have 11+ people who we’ve interviewed as the “Players in Education”.
Here’s the line up (in no particular order):
India Williams, Hot 103 Jamz Generation Rap Adviser/Mentor and Jackson County Committee Woman (10th Ward)
Michelle Foster, Sherman Family Endowed Chair in Urban Education Research
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, Associate Professor of Economics University of Missouri-Kansas City
Spark Bookhart, Parent Organizer
Dr. Umar Johnson, School Psychologist Nat’l Movement to Save Black Boys
Freeway Rick Ross, Author and Founder of Freeway Literacy Foundation
Paul Richardson, Generator and Co-Founder of The KC Wordshop
Arthur Benson, Civil Rights Lawyer
Solomon Bass, Filmmaker and Activist
Randy D. Dunn, Missouri State Representative, 23rd District
Reverend Billy R. Hunley
Students:
Te’Myia Jones, Raytown High School
Amari Carter, Belton High School
Kayla Henderson, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Jasmine “M’Lady” Smith, Center Alternative School
Isaiah Jackson, Blue Springs South High School
Jazymne Smith, University Academy
Additional Educators (beyond Kansas City):
Carrol Thomas
James Crawford
Dr. Phillip Hickman
Dwayne Compton
Matt and Maria Hampton
Devon Thompson
Ida Byrd-Hill
So as it stands, the footage is captured and undergoing the labor-intensive editing process. A new consideration has emerged: instead of a traditional music video film, we are making a multi-media music video. The reasoning behind this is to work around the location limitations. Of course this is extra work, however, the video has been story-boarded and mood-boarded for this, so it’s underway.
There’s tons of material to share, and share we will. We’ll release transcribed snippets from random interviews over the next weeks up until the documentary and music video is completed. In the meanwhile, connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/parentteacherconference or send email correspondence to [email protected].
Steady does it. Progress.
-Lyn.