[[ Kashmir : Review ]]

"Kashmir" is a documentary which discusses the South Asia earthquake of 2005 and revisits Muzaffarabad which was the epicentre of this horrific event. The documentary looks to discuss the region and the mountainous landscape that contributed to the severity of the event. The film also provides information on the aid provided by other countries, how Kashmir has changed a year on and contains the tales of two survivors of this disaster.
Through the use of an interpretor detailed accounts are provided by survivors to the audience to get a greater understanding of this relatively unknown event despite the fact that over 90,000 people died across two countries.
The aim of "Kashmir" was to inform and educate the audience of this natural disaster which seemed to have been forgotten within the media despite the extremely high death toll.

-[[ Try Not To Cry ]]-

This song has a very political message which doesnt go with my documentary but I liked the end bit where Sami & Outlandish sing "I'll Stand By You" which will be appropriate for the end of my film when stills will be shown. Put together it should produce a patriotic sort of a feel which I really want to express in my documentary.

-[[ National Anthem ]]-

I had originally decided to begin with the Azhan playing but then I got an idea an changed the order around bit. I got some advice from different people and came up with a different idea for the beginning. The beginning will start of with the National Anthem but with no lyrics and then will skip to another part...I cant really explain it without giving it all away and I dont want to really do that..so yeah here's the National Anthem I've decided on using (the video will not be shown during my doc. )

Bia.x.

-[[ Progress ]]-

My original plan was to discuss aid and aid providers such as the Edhi Foundation, but as I thought about it more I realised the whole documentary would became way too long. So now I've cut it down to discuss why it happened, my visit there last year and what I found and how Pakistan provided aid for this disaster. I've got all the information, logging, speech, plans and music sorted. I was meant to edit at home but there were a few difficulties so now I only have 3 weeks left to finish. But [ Inshallah ] everything will work out..

Bia .x.

1. What do you think of my blog?
What do you particularly like about it? What's especially impressive?
What could be improved? What's missing or could be added?
2. Based on what you've read on the blog (and maybe seen in test screenings in class) what suggestions do you have regarding what I could do to make my Practical Production really successful?
What other things could I include in the production?
How should I go about filming any remaining scenes or editing the footage during post-production (+ suggestions for music, etc.)?

-[[ South Asia Earthquake ]]-

This film is called "South Asia Earthquake". It isn't an actual documentary but more of a charity film however, I liked the ideas it in which could be interpreted into my own documentary. The film is very personal using phrases such as "just like me and you" which brings the audience in to it and makes them feel affected too. I particularly liked this idea as my film is short and I need to bring the audience into it at an early stage just like this does. It is primarily made up of stills which produces a greater impact and makes the audience think. It also has a positive message at the end which is what I aim my documentary to have too. Also it tells a bit of Kashmiri lifestyle at the begin which I think is important for my documentary as many people aren't too sure of where Kashmir is actually located.

-[[ When The Mountains Moved ]]-

When The Mountains Moved: Survival and Friendship in the 2005 Earthquake. Part 1 - A film about changing attitudes between Americans and Pakistanis as a result of the 2005 earthquake. This film explores the human dimension of the interaction between Americans and Pakistanis resulting from the earthquake. It brings to light how people relate at a human level and how easily perceptions, preconceived notions and mutual suspicion break down when people respond with their innermost self. The theme and style are positive, upbeat and celebrating the human spirit, highlighting how two diverse and sometimes diametrically opposed cultures come together and rise above these differences. The earthquake spawned countless stories of kindness, compassion and selfless giving.

-[[ Half A Year On...]]-

"Half a year after the 7.8 earthquake in Kashmir, the victims are facing a small window of reconstruction before the next winter closes in" Yuli Yang (Director)

This documentary uses many interviewees especially of the survivors which I liked as its an idea for my own production. It also uses specialists and experts who are helping to rebuild Kashmir. It shows the people of Kashmir in desperate situations right before the snow closes in and as we are told kills many. The purpose is to get more money funded into the rebuilding of the land in the few months before the snow which in many places falls upto 8 feet. The film also shows why it is so serious as Kashmir is purely a mountainous area where majority of the people actually lived in the mountains, it shows that they need help before there lifes are threatened again. I liked the way the interviews took place and how in between speech footage was shown which I would like to interpret into my own documentary but unlike this film representing the people as desperate I would prefer to show them as strong due to how much they have overcome.

-[[ The Forgotten ]]-

"Why does the news interest fade so quickly on a disaster that took the life of more than 87000 people?ft. interviews with BBC, Al Jazeera journalist, Pakistani foreign spokes person, Imran Khan, Lord Ahmed"

I particularly liked this film as it's main question was something which interested me "why does the news interest fade so quickly on a disaster that took the life of more than 87,00 people?" it works to find answers for it and discusses it with many people who are meant to be helping the situation. It also like the other films discusses the problem of rain, snow and landsliding which I escaped too this year. Showing that news interest has still lessened despite all these issues which are still killing people. Again its a short film which fits in all the questions the director had to ask which can help me produce a short and concise film of my own.

-[[ Azan ]]-

I have decided to use the arabic call for prayer (azan) within my documentary. I will be using it in the opening montage as the earthquake took place in the early morning when azan occurs so many people were praying or had just finished. I think the azan will be parallel to what will be occuring on screen and be effective in gaining the attention of the audience and creating an atmosphere.

-[[ Edhi Foundation ]]-

My documentary will be focusing mainly on aid and donations provided towards the earthquake. The main charity which will be discussed in my film will be The Edhi Foundation. I choose this organisation as it is a non profit charity set up by Dr Abdul Sattar Edhi one of the most active philanthropists not only in Pakistan but in the world. I will discuss several aid providers (countries and organisations) but focusing on the Edhi Trust. The Foundation and Edhi himself have won many international & national awards including a Lenin Peace Prize, Balzan Prize for Humanity,Peace and Brotherhood, Lifetime Acheivement Award by the WMO. This year he is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Here is a man who has dedicated his whole life to serving the most marginalized and the most wretched in society. The destitutes, the mentally ill, corpses left by the roadside, children abandoned at his doorsteps, women kicked out by their families. When there is no one to go to, there is always Edhi Sahib to go to."


Philanthropist

A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or reputation to a charitable cause. The term may apply to any volunteer or to anyone who makes a donation, but the label is most often applied to those who donate large sums of money or who make a major impact through their volunteering, such as a trustee who manages a philanthropic organization.

-[[ M.u.z.a.f.f.a.r.a.b.a.d ]]-[[ 04.01.07 ]]-

For the filming I revisited Kashmir, mainly Muzaffarabad. Most of the rubble had been cleared away by then but the damage was still obvious with large cracks in the road, broken homes & buildings but Muazaffarabad seemed like it had moved on and was pretty much back to normal with its lively atmosphere. We visited most of the camps donated from many countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey & Tunisia. We came across a new camp which had been opened up by "Azad Kashmir Radio Station" were a lot of rebuilding was going on, with new homes being built so we decided to go in. We came across this man who was a radio producer at "Azad Radio" who lived there and was kind enough to invite us into his home he told us about the whole disaster and how his wife & 4 year old son were stuck underneath all the rubble of their home for 4 days. Luckily no one in his immediate family was killed but in his whole family & his wife's just under 100 were killed instantly, not including all those that were left injured. He then took us up to the epicentre of the earthquake were new mountains have been formed due to the great strength of the earthquake. Finally, he took us up to the "Azad Kashmir Radio & T.V Station" which was completely flattened except for the guard's office at the front and the Mosque. One of the TV Producers there, Shazia Malik, showed us around and told us stories of all those killed there including her assistant and the guard who had just gotten home from his night shift just to have his roof fall down on him and kill him. She showed us around buildings which "PTV" a Pakistani Television channel had donated as well as a new studio which was built from Japenese donations. The people weren't even scared that the snow was coming, which is a big fear after the earthquake as the snow can fall upto 8 ft and kills many of the homeless or poorer people in Kashmir, they also weren't scared of the landsliding which again is a major issue there due to the mountainous area. The day that we left Kashmir a huge landsliding incident occured which caused several cars and a coach of people to fall of the mountain, killing over 60 people, which we managed to escape by a few hours. Overall the whole experience was amazing and it really made me realise how strong these people are. From looking at footage and the news several months after the whole disaster, one year ago I didn't really see their strength as it was still fresh and no one was quite sure what to do..be thankful to GOD that their still alive..or be upset that everyone they loved was now dead. But a year on, with time to be thankful and grow they show their strength, that despite all that's happened to them they still have faith in GOD, faith within themselves and most of all unity. It seems that this whole earthquake brought not only Kashmir together again but the whole of Pakistan, who worked night and day to rebuild lives.

.x. Bia .x.

-[[ The Plan ]]-

For my media production I will be making a documentary on the Kashmiri Earthquake of 2005. The documentary will cover the progress of the last year using interviews and facts. I'll be looking more deeply into the reasons for why the earthquake was so devasting, aid provided and how life's changed in Kashmir one year on. I've already done all the filming during the Christmas holidays when I visited Kashmir so now I'm just waiting on the editing equipment and finalising my plans & dialogue for the voice over.

x...Bia...x

Kashmir : When The Mountains Moved

Kashmir : The Basics

Kashmir is the NorthWestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Kashmir refers to a large area that includes the regions of Kashmir valley, Jammu and Ladakh. Kashmir State also incorporates the Pakistani occupied parts of Poonch, Rawalakot, Muzafarabad, Jammu, Gilgit and Baltistan regions and also incorporates the China occupied part of Aksai Chin. The main "Vale of Kashmir" is a low-lying fertile region surrounded by magnificent mountains and fed by many rivers. It is renowned for its natural beauty and quaint lifestyle.
The region is divided among three countries in a bitter territorial dispute. Pakistan controls the northwest portion and Azad Kashmir, India controls the central and southern portion, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and the People's Republic of China controls the northeastern portion, Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract.

Kashmir : The Aftermath

The Kashmir earthquake (also known as the South Asia earthquake or Pakistan earthquake) of 2005, was a major earthquake whose epicenter was the Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The earthquake occurred at 08:50:38 Pakistan Standard Time (03:50:38 GMT) on October 8, 2005. It registered a minimum magnitude of 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale making it a major earthquake similar in intensity to the 1935 Quetta earthquake and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. As of 8 November, the Pakistani government's official death toll was 79,297, while officials say nearly 1,400 people died in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Most of the affected people lived in mountainous regions with access impeded by landslides that blocked the roads, leaving an estimated 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan. The UN reported that more than 4 million people were directly affected, prior to the commencement of winter snowfall in the Himalayan region. It is estimated that damages incurred are well over US$ 5 billion (30 billion Pakistani rupees) Five crossing points were opened on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan to facilitate the flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the affected region.
Kashmir lies in the area of collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. The geological activity born out of this collision, also responsible for the birth of the Himalayan mountain range, is the cause of unstable seismicity in the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured its magnitude as a minimum of 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale.

Most of the casualties resulting from the earthquake were in Pakistan where the official confirmed death toll is 86,276, putting it higher than the massive scale of destruction of the Quetta earthquake of May 31 , 1935.
As Saturday is a normal school day in the region, most students were at schools when the earthquake struck. Many were buried under collapsed school buildings. Many people were also trapped in their homes and, because it was the month of Ramadan, most people were taking a nap after their pre-dawn meal and did not have time to escape during the earthquake. Reports indicate that entire towns and villages were completely wiped out in Northern Pakistan with other surrounding areas also suffering severe damage.

"...a second, massive wave of death will happen if we do not step up our efforts now", Kofi Annan said on 20 October with reference to the thousand remote villages in which people are in need of medical attention, food, clean water and shelter and the 120,000 survivors that have not yet been reached.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz "made the appeal to survivors" on 26 October to come down to valleys and cities for relief, because bad weather, mountainous terrain, landslides and blocked roads are making it difficult for relief workers to reach each house and the winter snows are imminent.