Check the Gate

Well, apparently the filming went well. She was happy with all her "B roll" shots (whatever that means...) and with the interviews. She even used a remote control to film herself in front of the courthouse.

Panic insued after each stop though..."Oh no! I forgot to check the gate!" What does that mean? "Just film talk mom..." So, I Googled it...

When a particular camera angle has been shot, the First Assistant Camera Operator, removes the lens from the front of the camera, opens the aperture so that he can see all the way to where the film is exposed. He checks for debris, dust, hair, sand, ect. If there is a particle in the gate, then everything since the last gate check is potentially compromised and it is assumed it cannot be used. The takes will then have to be repeated.

Hmmm....hard to do on a standard digital video camera, but it sounds cool.

The first gentleman she interviewed found me in my car after they finished and complimented her (and me) on what a wonderful young lady she was and how impressed he was with how prepared she was for the interview. Yay!

Now, let's see what comes out of this. Project is due on the 20th...

The Big Meanie

So the career of choice for S right now is a movie director. In the fall, a movie company was in our small town shooting a major motion picture and we passed by many times over several months. That picqued her interest. She started reading everything she could get her hands on about movie production and decided she wanted to write a complete screenplay and film a (IMO) pretty high budget movie. She could see it all in her head, and I'm sure it was incredible. Sometimes, as the mom, it's hard to be supportive and realistic at the same time. Where will you get the costumes? The lights? The camera? The ACTORS? When I pose these questions I sound like a big meanie crushing my babies big dreams of an Academy Award at age 14.

Before Christmas, S found a video contest she wanted to enter. It is a great project - much more manageable than the full length feature film she had planned - a short 8-10 minute video on the Constitution or an amendment with a local emphasis. She's so good at seeing the big picture and had some great ideas, but rough around the edges when it comes to details like scheduling interviews and having a list of questions. I wasn't really enthusiastic about the whole project because unfortunately, all I could think about was the inevitable hyperfocus as soon as I agreed and the resulting panic and drama when something didn't go exactly as she had planned.

After whining to my mom, she suggested I let her do this one completely on her own. Whew! Me, a control freak with a ADHD daughter, letting go?!? OK - if you insist. What did I have to lose? I told S that I would agree to her making the film, but it was "ALL HER." I didn't want to hear drama or panic. I was not going to hold her hand with scheduling or the interviews or filming. Enter first panic: "But how am I going to drive around to do the filming?!?!" Good point, but panic is not needed. I agreed to spend one full afternoon driving her around town to interviews and other filming locations. Enter second panic: "But what if someone can't interview that day?!?!" My response, "deal with it." So that's why I'm the big meanie.

So far, she has dealt with it and I have been very impressed. She chose to focus on the 2nd Amendment and set up several interviews before we left for vacation. She has a plan! A museum, a gun range, interviews with a 2nd Amendment expert and and attorney. We are headed out today and she even has our whole route printed off from Mapquest. Hallejuah!!! A major breakthrough!!!

Hi!

Hi!
I'm Jill and I've been homeschooling since November 2004. My oldest was in 2nd grade and my youngest was in K. There were multiple reasons for us deciding to make the switch to homeschool. In hindsight, it was probably one decision that will change my DD's future for the better.

We have dealt with many issues over the years, all which pointed directly to ADHD, but we never put two and two together...until recently.

I've been researching ADHD and right brain learning now for months. As a former public school teacher, I thought I knew alot about ADHD and RB learning. Wrong. I've learned alot - but have not found much information that particularly relates to homeschooling ADHD teens. For that reason, I've decided to chronicle our journey in hopes that it will help someone else out there.

I titled my blog "Hidden Treasure" because people with ADHD have gifts that are not readily recognized or valued in our culture. I hope that by tapping into these gifts my daughter has and changing the way she thinks ~ about the way she thinks, I can build her confidence and prepare her to deal with problems later in life.

We have decided not to medicate. Although we struggle almost daily with everyday tasks and schoolwork, I have seen firsthand the personality changes associated with medicating children with ADHD.

If you are in a similar situation, I'd love for you to follow my blog or leave a comment. Sometimes it's nice to know you aren't alone.