My Life = Condensed

     It was very hard to try an condense my mom's last 18 years into a single chart. I managed though, separating important periods of her life based off of things such as my brother and I's education, changes in our living situation, significant events that changed her life like being approved as a citizen, etc. It's hard to not be involved in the documentary's content considering I'm her son, which is why I have to emphasize that she must not change her answers solely because I'm the one asking them. A lot of the questions do pertain to me, but a good portion of the questions ask my mom to reflect on experiences. These questions also aim to collect important information I will need when I develop a narration script that'll include specific details such as dates, times, and locations I am currently unaware of. Below is the chart that I created to organize the time periods accordingly. 

(2000) Final decision to move to the US	What prompted the final decision to move to the US? How did you feel moving from Colombia permanently? Who came with you? Did you have a plan upon arriving?
(2001-2002) Lau’s birth, going back to Colombia	Why did you go back to Colombia for that year? What were you able to establish in the US before leaving? How did you feel about giving birth to your second child?
(2002-2006) Lau enters primary school, separation with Pedro, Carlos graduates from high school	What was your financial situation during this time? Were you working? What were some of the things you did here to establish yourself as an American? When did you apply for citizenship? Did you take any English courses? Describe your separation with Pedro. What was the aftermath? How did you feel as an immigrant during this time? What role did you take in Carlos’ education?
(2006-2012) Lau’s elementary school years, Carlos attends NSU, Martha begins working at Walmart, problems with the house begin	Describe your first year working at Walmart. How was this an adjustment? Why Walmart? Living in Weston, how was it communicating with other adults, such as those you had to interact with because of Lau’s schooling? How did Carlos going to college affect you and your household? What financial struggles became more prominent during this time? How did your language barrier affect your job? Your life overall? What was happening with the house you once lived in? How did you feel about the divorce?
(2012-2015) Lau is in middle school, Carlos leaves to live in Colombia, Martha loses long battle with housing market, the family gets Candy	What happened after you lost the house?  How did you feel about losing the house? What emotional attachment did you have? How many years have you been smoking now? What does this do for you? What kind of treatment do you get at work? Is the language barrier a huge obstacle for you? What was it like not having Lau live at home permanently anymore? How does he serve as a help to you? Does he translate a lot? How was Candy a happy addition to the family? What prompted you to buy her? How did your living situation change? Do you feel comfortable? How is it different than living in your own house?
(2015-present) Lau is in high school and comes out in 2017, Martha votes for the first time and volunteers at polling stations, she receives her citizenship 2018 marks 10 years working at Walmart, Lau turns 18, Martha contemplates her life when Lau goes off to college	Has Pedro played a significant role other than financially in helping you raise Lau? Do you feel the burden of having to raise him on your own? What fears did you have as Lau came out? What did you feel as a parent during that transitioning period? Coming from Colombia, how did your views have to adapt? How did it feel to finally become a citizen? When did this happen? How did you feel the first time you voted? What about completing your first few civil services, such as helping at voting centers? What is your current daily routine like? Why do you buy lottery tickets so often? What would you do with the money? Tell us about your working situation and how working at a new Walmart has changed your life. What concerns you about your second child becoming an adult? What do you think your life will be like when Lau leaves? Will his help be missed? What do you think you’ll have to do to be more independent? What role does religion play in your life? What about your family in Colombia?

I predict that in asking all of these questions, I will be collecting more footage than needed. It will most definitely exceed 5 minutes, which is why the pre-production process of sifting through footage will be extensive and extremely important. This chart is condensed in itself, but the excerpt will be even more condensed. My next post will include the locations/footage I would like to collect this week that will most likely serve as b-roll footage. I will also try my best to specify the information/portion of the documentary the footage would accompany.