As the secular year draws to a close the film GER: Choosing to be Chosen is taking shape. It looks a little different than what I first imagined it to be, a film about many different personal experiences, like Clocked my first film. It will be short, around 30 minutes this time around — instead of the 45 plus that the first cut of Clocked was. I feel more confident about the style, after I have cut it down and inserted my own story, unlike Clocked where I didn't have any of my story at all.

Some things that need to be done before the first cut is tested out on audiences:

1. Insert personal dialogue — Just can’t get away from my story.
2. Cut down interspersed segments from interviews — just not enough flow as it stands.
3. Weave my own Gay/Bi/Trans coming out story in parallel with “Jewish Coming Out” story.
4. Talk to Sue about interviewing as an educational mentor — Need to have a few more mentors involved, maybe chat with Paul.
5. Try to get some sound bites from local rabbis: Rabbi Angel, Rabbi Kukla and others as needed.
6. Work on opening sequence, would like some sort of animation — Preferably trans Jewish artist (any takers).
7. Edit, edit, edit... 

Getting ready to go to NY for Thanksgiving, feel like I need to film some of our trip. Shelli (my wife) is a great camera person, she used to volunteer at access in college. I feel a little skittish about putting myself out there on film but it isn’t anything that I haven’t asked the participants in my films and television productions to do...

B'Shalom,
Martin Rawlings-Fein

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