Man with a mic

Film25

Pires, R

Sept. 25, 2012

           

Purna Singh Baraily, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Film Center, was at Valencia College on Sept. 20, 2012. Baraily discussed the HRFC’s mission and their plans on how to achieve it. He hopes that, in doing so, he brought awareness to some of the problems that his home country, Nepal, is faced with.

            “Give people cameras and let them show their real lives” said Baraily. He was explaining the goal of the HRFC, which is to train people from certain areas of the world in the art of film. Therefore those people can make documentaries on the problems that the certain place is dealt with. Baraily went on to explain that they choose to use regular people instead of a professional film crew, because it allows for a more honest product. He says that people are a lot more inclined to open up about certain situations, if it is to someone they are familiar with.

 “Khaati Suun,” is a documentary about two women in their 20s starting school for the first time. The movie was made by Lalu Bohara and Meena Pariyar, who were trained by the HRFC to make the film. In the movie the characters are very open about their lives, and seem comfortable speaking in the interview portions. Baraily believes that these sorts of results were achieved because the women who made the film are from the same community as the characters in it. When Joao Pacheco, a student at Valencia College was asked if he thought that the way the HRFC was making their films was effective, he said “I definitely think so,” and “I also find it cool, because it keeps the documentary raw and real.”

The ultimate goal of the HRFC was to shed light on the issues going on in Nepal. They hoped to work on it at a local level, but seem to have accomplished more than that. Elizabeth Solis, the Peace Studies professor at Valencia College, said that “the documentary brings awareness to the struggles that women in Nepal must deal with.” With this statement being made here in America, it proves that the HRFC is well on there way to providing full awareness about problems that are normally shoved aside by the world. Although they have a long way too go they continue to stick to there risky film making techniques and ambitious goals to create live changing films.

Budget Line

Pires, R

Sept. 18, 2012

Film (Sept. 20, 2012)

The event (Global Peace Film Festival) will take place at Valencia College (east campus) on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. The speaker will talk about the film (Khaati Suun) that will have been played at the festival, and will discuss the partnership between the film and the Global Peace Film Festival.

Raphael Pires 

12 September 2012

Survey of mass communication         

           

Many people in today’s society believe that reading is nothing but an outdated source of entertainment. With such technological breakthroughs as the TV and computers, the necessity to sit down and read a book has been vanquished. This is a dangerous way of looking the situation. The brain is a muscle, and just like every other muscle in the body it needs exercise. Although it’s not always fun, it has to be done in order for it to grow. When I take on the task of reading I stick to specific reading habits, such as having a specific time to read, choosing a specific type of book I like, and making sure I stick with my favorite author.

            Personally I am not a huge fan of reading, I agree with the usual argument stating that “it takes too longs and is too boring,” but I understand that it’s a necessity. I am a big believer in working out and maintaining personal fitness. In order to practice what I preach I understand that the brain is a part of my body and needs to be worked out as well, so I do this by choosing a specific time to read. Just like I have a specific time of the day separated for going to the gym, I try to designate a specific time during the day to read. Therefore every night before going to bed I sit down at my desk and read a book. Whether it’s a book for school or just the bible, I make sure I do something to keep my brain healthy.

            As I’ve mentioned before I’m not the biggest fan of reading, but I must admit that I have grown fond of the Narnia books. My senior year of high school it was required of me to read the second book in the series (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe) and since then I’ve been hooked. I bought the complete series and have read it all, and now I am currently on the fifth book for the second time. As much as I like reading about a fantasy world such as the Narnia books, since starting the Alex Cross book assigned in class, I can’t get enough, I’m already excited to finish the first book, so that I can start the second, and eventually the third. I don’t have a specific type of reading I like, but I have really taken a liking to the short and to the point style of writing that James Patterson uses in his novels.

The reason I like James Patterson’s style of writing is because, like most people in today’s world, I am used to having my information given to me instantly. So why should my books be the same way? I have a hard time picking up a book knowing that I will be spending at least an hour trying to complete a single chapter. As childish as it sounds, I like the sense of accomplishment that I receive from books that have short chapters and keep everything clear and forward.

            By having the types of books such as “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Alex Cross” at my disposal I can continue my positive reading habits, even though I don’t consider reading a “fun” past time. I can continue to have designated reading times, and keep reading the specific types of books I like. Just because it’s not the most entertaining thing to do, doesn’t mean it’s not important.

Raphael Pires was Born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1993. His parents are Marcello and Rita Pires. As a young boy Pires was fascinated by Disney characters. Aladin and Quasimodo were just some of the characters that Pires would watch on VHS for hours on end. Although both characters being a big part of his childhood, one character had the biggest impact on Pires. Mickey Mouse. He was intrigued by the adventures that Mickey would get himself into along side his two best buds, Goofy and Donald Duck. In the year 1996 Pires’ parents asked him a very odd question, “How would you like to go to Mickey’s house.” To a lot of people this question might not make much sense, but for Pires it made perfect sense. He knew that it meant him and his family were moving to the United States of America. Pires’ dad had received an offer for a Job in the US, which is why the move was being made, but till this day if you ask Pires why his family moved to America he will tell you “it was so he could meet Mickey Mouse.” After a lot of planning and eventually packing, the big move was made in 1997. Pires and his family hopped on the airplane that would take them to their new home. Only a short month after arriving in Florida, Pires’ dad had planned a trip to Walt Disney World. Finally keeping the Promise that was made a year before that they would go to Mickey’s house.