The small scale is what makes my project possible. I spent Monday afternoon with Tom Dolan and then explored an old gymnasium where muscular kids inject themselves with horse steroids. Lugging anything more with me like lighting equipment, a crew, even a tripod at times would make me stick out sorely. The work would be more challenging, potentially dangerous or even impossible.
I love being able to roll up anywhere, start talking casually with strangers looking for an interesting story, and then if the situation seems right, pull out the camera and begin shooting. I’m pretty young, often scruffy-looking, and the camera I use is small -- all this is essential for building trust and getting honesty; clearly I won’t get anyone on Leno, as DJ Pepe oddly remarked, so we can relax a bit.
I also have been spending far too much time with another American invention: Starbucks. I use these omnipresent internet coffee spots to upload video files and the text posts I’ve usually written on scraps of paper during meals. Nights I’ve been staying with friends, with strangers, in cheap hotels. It’s definitely work on the go.
At least that’s been the UK experience. Up next is India and then Pakistan -- depending on whether Pakistan finally gives me a press visa. The visas and the plane tickets can’t quite be bought on a whim, but just about everything else is up in the air, my course ready to shift direction whenever I meet someone new or catch the scent of something I think you’ll want to hear. Later I'll post some more detail on my methodology, and then respond to some of the comments you've been bringing up over the course of the project.
For now, what stories are you most interested in? Here's what I've got planned, or am thinking about:
- Thursday: meeting former editor of The Economist and PG panelist Bill Emmott
- Friday: Looking into London's experimental theater scene
- Saturday: Soho or Soho
- Sunday: Going to an 'American Football' game in town
- Early next week I want to get a feel for London's Muslim youth, many inspired by America's "thug culture" I'm told. What does that mean? Experts at Oxford were telling me that terrorists are often recruited from hooligans. I'm curious.
What do you suggest? My comment threads (or email: amar.bakshi[at]washingtonpost.com) await.
Comments (8)
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Motorcycle Suspension Fork Springs
http://www.angelfire.com/ygwxedy/6zm.html
November 4, 2007 10:13 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 10:13
mocoa chasable metroclyst radiology jurel cangan antenoon cringingness
Old Santa Rosa Photos
http://www.angelfire.com/krzyvzhp/w3o.html
November 3, 2007 7:16 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 07:16
mocoa chasable metroclyst radiology jurel cangan antenoon cringingness
BelTek Systems Design, Inc.
http://www.seifertphoto.com/
October 17, 2007 5:12 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 17, 2007 17:12
mocoa chasable metroclyst radiology jurel cangan antenoon cringingness
Top Layer to unveil hacker-unfriendly software
http://www.woodturner.org/
October 15, 2007 1:21 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 15, 2007 13:21
Horse steroids! Where do I get those....
June 16, 2007 10:52 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on June 16, 2007 10:52
Free like the wind. The best life has to offer.
If I were you, that is how I would like to do the "job".
Love this piece. You're all there, in a few words.
"Small is Beautiful"...
June 11, 2007 1:34 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on June 11, 2007 13:34
your life sounds so exciting and you do embody the refreshing openness of American youth. One does hope that ambassadors like you will improve the dialoge between differnt nations
June 7, 2007 8:33 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on June 7, 2007 08:33
thats pretty sweet
June 6, 2007 6:14 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on June 6, 2007 18:14