Angles: Women Working in Film and Video (1996)

F RIDA WAARA, who is documenting the first all-female expedition to the North Pole, is seeking technical information about shooting in cold weather. The adventure is sponsored by WomenQuest, a non-profit foundation. Waara, who has been a news reporter/anchor for a CBS affiliate, now owns her own production company, OnCue Productions. Her studio is in Marquette, Mich., on the south shore of Lake Superior. “T primarily work alone, selling, shooting, writing, editing and composing graphics. Aside from the standard corporate and industrial projects, ’ve produced six PBS documentaries,” she writes. Three of her programs earned Emmy nominations by the Michigan chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and one won the award. Waara also received awards from the Michigan Outdoor Writer’s Association for programs on Isle Royale and Great Lakes sea lamprey. “I’m happiest spending a day in the woods with my camera.” Living in Michigan, Waara is aware of the challenges of shooting tape in cold weather. But she writes, “I have always been able to charge batteries and warm my equipment after a long day on the trail. The North Pole won’t provide those comforts. I could be on the ice for as long as three weeks which complicates shooting tremendously.” As she approaches the expedition, she would like to talk with other women who have shot tape in sub-zero temperatures. She contacted Angles to ask if readers would have information about the following: @ Batteries. What kind? Weight? Charging? How many? How did you protect and transport? @ Camera. What kind? Format? Weight? Special lubricant on tape threading mechanism, iris or focus ring? How did you protect and transport? e@ Microphones. What kind of shotgun? What kind of lavalier? How did you protect shotgun from wind noise? How did you keep batteries charged? e@ Tripod. What kind? Weight? Durability of carbon fiber at -30F? Any special lubricant on ball heads? How did you protect and transport? If you have information about any of the above please contact Frida Waara, On-Cue Productions, 309 Lakewood Lane, Marquette, MI 49855. 906/249-1903. AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN & ASIAN RESOURCE. The Unit, a British data base provides researchers and programmers with information on African, Caribbean and Asian filmmaking. It documents the achievements and history of black filmmakers. The resource is available through the Black Film Bulletin, a quarterly magazine pub Ce lished in-house. Its central feature is a listing section consisting of the latest developments in black British film, television and festivals. For more information: June Givanni/Gaylene Gould, The African & Caribbean Unit, British Film Institute, 21 Stephen St., London W1p, U.K. 071-2551444. AIDS PROJECT. Linda K. Fuller needs help with a research project, “Women’s Ways of Acknowledging AIDS: Communication Perspectives.” She asks to speak with women who have chosen to work with film and/or video about the topic— especially producers of AIDS films. She needs people to answer a 5 to 10-minute survey. She will send an outline of the kinds of questions she will cover to participants. Anyone interested in being interviewed should contact: Linda K. Fuller, Communications Department, Worcester State College, 499 Main St. Wilbraham, MA 01095. 413/793-8015. email: lkfuller@ecn.mass.edu HISPANIC FILM PROJECT. For the first time in the eight-year history of Hispanic Film Project, a new Latina filmmaker showcased her award-winning short film as part of a November hourlong celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The film is Tanto Tiempo by Cheryl Quintana Leader. The program, sponsored by AT&T, the United States Postal Services and HUD, will be syndicated in Hispanic markets in the United States. Tanto Tiempo, the story of the filmmaker, shows a young woman’s rediscovery of the value of her lost heritage and her mother’s culture. For more information: Baruch Entertainment, 1232 31st St. NW, Washington DC 20007. 202/338-0510. RESOURCE IN MEXICO. Would you like to shoot in Mexico? Telemanita is a community electronic media center in Tepoztlan, a town in the mountains one hour south of Mexico City. The town is known for its beauty, artists, and mixture of local and alternative communities. The center has HI-8 production equipment, 3/4 to 3/4 and Hi8 to 3/4 editing equipment, an Amiga computer and a Panasonic Video/audio mixer. You can rent it for the day, week or longer. There is a bedroom and kitchen in the center. The staff speaks Spanish and English and translation and subtitling services are available. They also have computers and are on the Internet. Telemanita is run by feminists, and although they prefer to work with projects which support their politics, they are open to proposals. They also are interested in exchanges. If you have something to teach, they would consider that in exchange for use of their resources. For more information: Catherine Russo, 011-52-739-51656. e-mail: telemanita@laneta.apc.org @ VOLUME 3 NUMBER 1 @ 3