Jennifer Thomas - Research
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Initial Ideas:
Cross-Dressers:
Cross-dressers have become more aware within today's society, however, they are still represented as 'outsiders' and 'not normal'. The documentary will show cross-dressers in a different light. The main objetcives for this documentary is to show audiences who cross-dressers are really like and that they are not just a label for how a person likes to dress. We might film this documentary through observational mode, where us the fim-makers will observe different cross-dressers to see what it is like to be a cross-dresser in today's society; although, we could also film in expository mode.
Websites I have found about cross-dressers:
http://www.crossdresserheaven.com:80/ - is a site created by a person called Vanessa, who offers help and support to people who are coming out as cross-dressers. Also, on the site you can purchase clothes and shoes as well as transgender books. This site does seem to be like a blog site, but it does have loads of information on different subjects surrounding the difficulties of being a cross-dresser, such as religion and being accepted by love ones. If we contact Vanessa, she could be a good contact to have for our interviews because she would know who would like to be part of our documentary.
http://www.yvonnesplace.net/index2.html - this particular site is also created by one person called Yvonne, who wants to help other crossers within New York. Within the website Yvonne has written her own articles for people to read about our own experiences about being a cross-dresser. Yvonne would be a useful contact, however, as she lives in New York it might be hard to get in touch with her.
Theories about 2012:
There are many speculations about the year 2012; some think the world is going to end, while others believe that us people will experience earthquakes and other supernaturals. Our documentary, if we choose to focus on this subject, will include interviewes with people who have set-up survival groups, teaching people how to be prepared for a variety of disasters. We will also look into where the theories are coming from and why people choose to beileve some of the theories.
Websites I have found:
http://survive2012.com/ - is a site which includes articles and other external links about the different theories of what might happen in 2012. The site was created by a man called Robert Bast, who might be a vital contact to include in our documentary as he is even writing a book about what might happen in 2012.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/6534662/Mayan-2012-apocalypse-theory-not-true-Nasa-says.html - this article grabbed my attention because it was written, due to Nasa responding to claims about the Mayan calender coming true as the film 2012 (2009, directed by Roland Emmerich) was about to be released as well as internet rummours were being spread around.
Animal Testing:
Animal testing has had a lot of negative media interest and public interest in the past. Most people believe animal testing is 'morally wrong' and should be banned. If we did a documentary on animal testing we will show both sides of the argument so we can show people and let them choose what they believe. The only disadvanage I have about this topicis is that, there has been a lot of other documentaries about animal testing. Therefore, if we did a documentary about animal testing it might include the same information that audiences' have already heard.
Websites I have found to be useful for research:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/experiments_1.shtml - this website examines both sides of the arguement as it says one side of the arugement that animal testing is useful when testing new drugs however, it also argues that testing on animals makes them suffer in pain. I believe that this BBC site is useful if you are just looking for the different sides of the arugement.
http://www.buav.org/ - BUAV is an orgainisation fighting against the use of testing drugs and cosmetics on animals, as they believe is it morally wrong to do so.
Life After Prison:
Some people find it hard to get back into the 'working world' after spending a considerate amount of time within jail. Also, a minority of people do reoffend, however, the majority of people who have recently been let out of jail go into depression and do not know what to do with themselves; this could be why so many people reoffend and end up back in jail. Furthermore, being inside of prison puts a lot of strain onto the person's family and friends and it does take a lot of time for everyone to get into their little routines. If we did a documentary on life after jail, we would just follow one or two people who have recently been release from prison. This would mainly be observational mode as the camera would just follow the people and have the people talking to the camera about their issues.
Websites that could be helpful:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7349964_adjust-life-after-prison.html - this website gives people instructions in how a person can deal with life after finishing time in prison. A family member of a friend might use this site help get a person back on their feet.
http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/adviceandsupport/beforeafterrelease/resettlement/ - the official HM prison service website tells people where to go for support to deal with their habits and also how to write their CV. Family and friends as well as the prisoner will probably use this site.
Phobias:
Phobias are very common, everyone has one or knows someone with a phobia. Some phobias are very serious and it can control people's lives. If we talk to doctors who are specialists within phobias as well as psychiatrists, we could get an insight in how people deal with their phobias; also, we could find out the different ways how people develop phobias.
Websites I have found while researching phobias:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Phobias/Pages/Introduction.aspx - this NHS website explains the different phobias, if we contact someone who works for the NHS we could get a doctors point of view how and why people get phobias.
http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/phob.html - within this website, they tell people how they can overcome the different phobias which exists. It also has an external link to a phobia society called The National Phobics Society.
Assisted Suicides:
Suicides have become increasily more aware within the news as within the past year quite a few people have committed suicide due to stress and money worries. Also, assisted suicides are illegal in this country and many people believe it should be made legal. However, it would be difficult to film as it is illegal in the UK we would have to travel to Switerzerland where assister suicides are legal.
Websites I have found on both sides of the argument:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/18/thinktank-against-legalising-assisted-suicide - this article is about how the vulnerable, like the old and the ill, could be badly affected if assisted suicides will be legalised. The article shows an unbiased view as it has included interviews from both sides of the arguement.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A633124 - this site is mainly about information about assisted suicides, explainnig what it is as well as the arguements for and against assisted suicides.
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