The heading is the title of my Digital StoryTelling (DST) Project.
I am telling this story to raise the awareness of my readers that in the aftermath of a divorce, indeed, there is a group of fathers who suffer and are still suffering in silence because some Family Courts have decided to award the sole (or is it 'stolen' custody) of their child/children to the mothers, in the 'mistaken' belief that the first ten years of the children's lives are better spent with them (Article entitled 'Equal Shared Parenting' in the Toronto Star dated 2 October 2009).
My case in point...come end June 2010, I will join the abovementioned group of fathers as my only son, Samuel, who is now 7 years old, stays with her mother 'for good' in Hong Kong; I have no wish to subject Samuel to the trauma of a contested custody and therefore decided not to contest.
The DST Project begins with the heading, in written text, bright red in colour against a black background with the type and size of font selected to give a maximum contrasting effect and the viewers sensing an intangible tension...at the same time feeling rather uneasy, call it a foreboding if you like, as the story unfolds.
This first slide stays on for about 10 seconds, sufficient time for the viewers to feel its full effect before the music and soulful voice of Louis Armstrong singing "What a wonderful World" takes over and plays quietly yet audibly in the background.
Many peole have attested to the 'healing nature of a wounded soul' type of feeling after listening to this song which brings forth joy and optimism to carry on the living process. Naturally, Louis Armstrong needs no introduction as he was credited with being the best jazz musician in the 20th Century and even had an airport named after him (New Orleans Airport was renamed Louis Armstrong International Airport exactly 100 years after his birth in 1901).
While the song is played, written texts giving the backdrop of the story will be flashed; this time, however, the background colour is red signifying the 'happier times' before the initiation of divorce proceedings two and a half years ago. Interspersed with the texts will be photos of Samuel' s early years from infancy to toddler, all photos in black and white and professionally contrasted using the Photoshop Software technology. Captions will be displayed as text overlays on the photos, again, the texts in red to show 'happier times'.
It is envisaged that through all the 'preparations' done so far, viewers will develop an 'affinity' for the 'protagonist' in this story, that is, my soon-to-be single-parent son, Samuel Kan.
To be continued...
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HI Wilson,
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a very touching DST, I believe. Most of the time, people emphatise with the female counterpart (being one myself)knowing that the man can take care of his own pocket and seek shelter anywhere on earth. After seeing my own closest male relative facing the same traumatic (to me!) experience and what happened to him after that, I started to reflect what that may go on in the man's mind. To men, women is one difficult species to understand with regard to her emotions.To women, men is not being transparent enough! Well, I hope your DST can achieve the meaning you wish to convey.
Hi Wilson,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing with us your own story and it is going to be more meaningful than a personal story, as it challenges the normal practice or law of depriving the right to raise children from father after divorce.
The concern I have is that if there is no narration but only text on the screen, you got to be careful about the amount of the written words. To me, personally, I don't usually fully focus on the text if there is the music or some other sound effects. Thus too many words will annoy audience like me, but few words may not be able to express yourself.
Good luck on that.
Hi Wilson,
ReplyDeleteI am impressed by your chosen theme. Divorce is a very sensitive issue, and at the same time, yours would be akin to a "voice from a father." I am sure you would be able to use appropriate semiotic modes to convey your message.