Discover Wellness

May 10, 2023

Fayetteville PACT American Rescue Plan Documentary 

I had always been fascinated with the idea of documenting stories and experiences of people. So, when I got the opportunity to direct my first documentary, I was extremely excited and nervous at the same time. The subject of my documentary was going into Fayetteville, North Carolina (a tier 1 county) and trying to understand the challenges and barriers they face, and how the ARP funds could help them. "Fayetteville PACT created an unscripted documentary to show why the American Rescue Plan Funds should go to the citizens of Fayetteville NC who are suffering the most. The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in its interim Final Rule, Cumberland County must allocate ARP/CSLFRF funds no later than December 31, 2024 and disburse all funding no later than December 31, 2026." This project was particularly important to me as I felt that their message needed to be shared with a wider audience. To start with, I spent a lot of time researching and doing background work on the subject. I interviewed the speakers and to get a better insight into their work, motivations and struggles. This helped me in creating a comprehensive storyboard for the documentary. As the filming began, I quickly realised that directing a documentary was exciting. There were so many variables that were out of my control, like the availability of the speakers, weather conditions, and the unpredictability of real-life situations. I had to be agile and adaptable to make the most of every opportunity. As we moved forward, the footage accumulated and it was time to start editing. This was another phase of the project that required a lot of patience and perseverance. I had to be very precise in selecting the best footage that fit the story and let go of moments that might have been technically great but didn't support the narrative. Finally, the documentary was complete and ready to be screened. I felt proud of what we had accomplished as a team. Watching the film with the speakers was one of the most satisfying moments in my career as a filmmaker. Directing my first documentary was a fulfilling and rewarding experience. It was challenging, but it taught me how to work with real people in real situations. I gained a newfound appreciation for story telling and can't wait to take on new projects in the future. 

Dylan

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