Pamela Jo Bowman

Distribution for THE LAND OF REFUGE, aka “The Colony Doc” is September 1st, 2008. Am I feeling the pressure? Some days I am paralyzed by it. Last week, I went to find some last minute research documents. As more are uncovered and collected, we realized that there seems to be an infinite amount of information out there. People are anxious to hand us their family histories to help us understand all that occurred in the colonies and the role their ancestors played. Unfortunately, a DVD can only realistically be two hours. Unless you are Steven Spielberg … then you can make a 14-hour documentary called SHOAH. Never heard of it? Neither had I. For 14 hours, I doubt I would have been able to stay awake for it! Anyway, we decided a WIKI was the best method to collect everyone’s histories and be able to share them with others. Check it out. If you’ve never heard of them before, a WIKI (like Wikipedia) is a group of people who gather a bunch of information about a topic area of interest (like the Mormon Colonies in Mexico) and put it on a website for everyone to share. It’s fun and easy to participate. Join up and add your colony connection information. Or simply go to the LINKS page and add a link to another site with colony information. Sometimes this internet stuff can be so cool!

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One of the interesting things about research is visiting different research facilities. Some are so accommodating while others are…not. While I was in Utah this last week I went to different libraries to see what they had that might supplement our growing pile of information. This one library had glass negatives. I had never handled them before and I wasn’t sure how to get the information off of them. My handy librarian brought me to the back room. There was a light box. YEA! I hoisted my camera upon the table. Stood on a chair and clicked away. This is one example of the pictures I found. I emailed it to Cyndy. She did her magic and brought out the texture and color of the glass negative. She is very good. I love this picture.

At one library they actually asked me how I felt about acquiring information from their library. I was honest and told her it was a little frustrating. I was the only one who really knew what I was looking for. If you would just let me see the documents it would save you and me a lot of time. Instead I read through reels and reels of microfilm and when I did find a document I wanted they were unable or unwilling to make a copy of it. I had to type it myself. Some of these documents were 12 to 50 pages. At other libraries I was able to photocopy the copied documents in my hand, saving me time and the library staff effort as well. Perhaps libraries should listen to their patrons. We might have ideas that could save everyone time and money. I know they are interested in “b”.

They might argue that the documents are fragile and sensitive. Well Duh! Researching is part of my writing process. I understand the sensitivity of the documents. I protect the information with the wearing of gloves and I do not use flash photography. I found documents that are unreadable. Photographs are fading. How efficient could it be if researchers were given the freedom to research and a cd to save their research that was downloaded to the libraries data base. Then other’s would have easy access to the information. I know, stick to my job and mind my own business.

At the end of the week I felt more comfortable asking for what I wanted. Didn’t mean I got it, but if you don’t ask you’ll never know.

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BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, Mesa Arizona — This last month has been a tad insane. I spend my days editing madly. Today, we did another special effect shot for the film. Fun stuff! At night, I help with set design for our local Junior High play, THE MUSIC MAN. Our director, Peggy, decided we should try to build an innovative set system that allowed for quick scene changes of large panoramas. On Tuesday evening, we hung two of the three Oleos (enormous 33feet by 11feet rolled backdrops). Boyd designed and constructed the apparatus. Christine drew the designs. I helped as much as I was able. I did take some photographs as they went up. Seeing the men’s faces light up like little boys was the most fun. They were so happy to see their contraption actually work the way it was intended. I would imagine the school will be able to benefit for years by this new addition to their stage productions. I have to admit, it is pretty cool! We don’t have any time to sit back and enjoy it too much. We still have more sets to build! ARGH! Three weeks until show time.

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BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA — I love research. We have a big sheet of butcher paper on the wall above our worktable. On the table are about 10 books all about our most recent subject. Most of our research is about two ladies. To get started, we divided them up. They are both inspirational. The more I read, the more excited I become. I can’t wait to start developing their characters in dialogue and description. I am anxious to tell their story. I want to represent who they were and how they impacted the world. In the process, I read and rediscover ideas and thoughts. I have to stop and think and see how they fit for me. It is so much fun! I feel like my world is expanding through time and history.

Our wall is going to get messy. Already we are arguing in what direction the time line should be placed. Cyndi says horizontal. I envision vertical. I know, I am difficult. Our 3×5 cards are pasted all over. It’s a process, but I am convinced the end product will be amazing. Next week we’ll create the character sheets. That can be tedious, but after writing COYOTE, I realize how important it is to know your characters! Everything from their eye color to their favorite subject in school to their religious foundation seems to impact the story because of their decision-making process.

In the meantime, my list of other writing projects keeps growing. Kind of fun, don’t ya think? Does it make you want to know the name of these ladies? Hope so. I hope what we create honors them, their lives and their contribution to the world. If we can do them justice, that film will be our contribution.

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BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA, ARZONA — I was writing a script for the opening segment on a documentary I have been working on for seven years. I was researching and came upon the life of two very inspiring people who lived 400 years ago. Thus has begun another new project.

In the process of researching and writing, I begin to imagine and envision different actors who I feel could portray the characters. I begin to research what the actors have done, what their point of view is, what projects inspire and motivate them. One actor that makes me believe in the characters he plays is William Hurt. Even though I can’t imagine him in any of the characters in any of our screenplays, I googled him anyway. In one of the articles I read, he was asked about his idea on the meaning of life. He is quoted as saying, “There’s fear or faith. If you’re living by fear, then you’re always looking for security. If you’re living by faith, then you’re always looking for freedom.”

I knew there was a reason why I liked his acting. After reading that, I believe I would like him as a friend as well … which brought up another thought … why are we are attracted to certain people and certain ideas? And then the research begins again, as does the conversation at work.

I tell Cyndi, “Stop talking! We need to keep working.” She looks at me with surprise and responds, “You are hurting me. This is working!!”

Good to know. Researching … working.

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BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - Who knew writing would be so hard?! Give me a topic and I can spew about it!

We have been researching and writing a new screenplay for two months. After doing all the preliminary work we have spent the last two days with all our notes and steps and character sheets layed out before us and what do we have? Fifteen (15!) pages! Come on!

Learning how to write with another person is painful! You discuss ideas and thoughts and then the one with their fingers on the keyboard types whatever she wants! That works because I can’t remember what I thought anyway!

Today I had a meltdown. A girly moment if you will. I was at the keyboard and Cyndi made a … suggestion. I started to feel my insecurities creep up my spine and collapse it right there. I suggested she type for a while. I think I had too many Butterfingers and M&M’s. Cyndi explained that she wasn’t being critical. She wanted to toss out ideas and see where they went. Well, she found out where they went … NOWHERE! So tomorrow we are trying a new approach. No chocolate for Pam and an open forum where no idea is a bad idea. Listen and then feel what is right to write. I like part B of that, but no chocolate? Who’s idea was that? That is a bad idea!

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