Michael Allen

I returned from Brazil on Friday the 12th of August with 4 full videotapes and 2 memory cards full of images for my creative project. I stayed in Sao Paulo for one week and had the opportunity to speak with many natives and film a small piece of their lives and culture. I visited the center of Sao Paulo; an enormous concrete jungle of busy streets and tall buildings, to rural Ribeirao Pires; a suburb of the big city where dirt roads lead you to meager, homemade homes. In nearly every home I found a television, CD player, and DVD or VHS player, and often computers with internet. On many occasions, I saw and heard entertainment from the United States, whether it was a translated television program or a CD of a popular US rock group. There were even Brazilian television programs based on popular American programs such as Family Feud, The Late Show with David Letterman and the Wheel of Fortune. It was interesting to note that entertainment from the states was welcomed, while most people did not welcome our current political leadership. Many Brazilians commented that they disliked President Bush and are not happy about his actions in recent times. This was another factor of the project that I intend to look into further.

I spent a day in a favela where I filmed a few individuals and spoke with them casually. The favela is an area where essentially homeless people begin to construct with concrete and cheap bricks upon empty lots in the city. The favela grows quickly as more and more people build upon on another’s homes. The government seems to just leave them alone after construction, even though the people tap into local power lines for energy and rig plumbing systems that may not meet regulations. The favela is known for being dangerous and full of drugs and crime, but not all favelas fit this stereotype. The one I visited, called “the red city” by some locals because of the brick, was quite safe and functioned as a small community. Most people had jobs, the majority working as toll collectors on the bus, and cared for families that they did their best to provide for. I filmed one home in particular that consisted of 3 beds and a kitchen in one room and a dividing wall for the bathroom. One woman was raising her two teenagers under these circumstances.

I am in the process of gathering my footage and editing which will result in a documentary-style short film with some motion graphics effects added. I am so grateful for the chance I had to visit this amazing area of the world and capture a small part of it. In addition to filming the main theme of my project, I had the chance to film some interesting aspects of the culture as well such as a Brazilian martial-arts style created by African slaves called Capoeira and a childhood favorite activity of flying kites. I project that the film will be ready for editing in the very near future and anticipate a great piece for my portfolio and great experience to share with audiences—both in and out of the classroom.