Has anyone seen any videos, interviews, etc. done by Form Media (http://www.formmedia.co.uk/)?

I was contacted by them to do an interview for an documentary on Eunuchs.

luvpain (imported) wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:36 pm Has anyone seen any videos, interviews, etc. done by Form Media (http://www.formmedia.co.uk/)?

I was contacted by them to do an interview for an documentary on Eunuchs.

Someone from their organization recently signed up as a member under the name Form London. Another film crew. Perhaps someone can dig around and see what they do, how they do it, if they are responsible, fair, and so on, and post it up here. Better that folks are aware of them before responding to them. We all know how badly we've been presented before - all except the story in the Philadelphia paper, which was done pretty well.

To any and all: Beware and be wary, please.

Jonah Weston of Form Media has been interested in producing a documentary on voluntary eunuchs for Channel Four television in England for some time. This is not the first time he has approached the Eunuch Archive. His original proposal was at least as bad as that of the disasterous “American Eunuchs” (http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthr ... an+Eunuchs). He has read, talked, listened, and learned a great deal since then. Even so, I’m not sure what direction he is currently taking. Like all such attempts to study the community, one needs to be very cautious until the intent is absolutely clear.

An informal (not recorded for later use) discussion with him might move him toward a better documentary. I’m convinced that he will eventually produce something; we all want it to be the best documentary that is possible.

Please keep us all informed of your contact with Jonah Weston. If he is going in the right direction toward producing an ACCURATE documentary on the eunuch community (even with all of our warts showing), we ought to help and applaud him. If it is clear that the documentary will be another exploitation film, we need to know to shun him.

I hope their other media skills tend to be better than the web site.

tal

Talula, you beat me to it.

There front page

Form Media was founded by award-winning television director Jonah Weston. Form Media is a new type of media company with expertise in traditional broadcast and cross-platform media.

Form operates in two distinct but related areas:

broadcast (http://www.formmedia.co.uk/broadcast.htm)

We make intelligent and provocative films for some of the world's biggest broadcasters.

x-platform (http://www.formmedia.co.uk/x-platform.htm)

We exploit new technologies to directly engage audiences in powerful media experiences

There are a couple key words that make me wonder.

Provocative, exploit,

It sort of sounds a little like the Enquire.

I have herd this line before for Bulls Eye TV who is also in the UK.

Think about it.

River

The person who registered on the Archive as “Form Media” did not use Jonah Weston as a name, nor was Jonah Weston the person who contacted Luvpain. Rather, contact was made by someone taking the name “Ruth Anderson”, which is probably her real name as there’s no reason to use any pseudonym.

The following are some things to keep in mind for any Archive readers or members who might be contacted by Form Media or who might be interested in being part of any documentary that they produce:

1. Ruth Anderson is NOT listed as an employee of "Form Media" on their website. It would be important to find out who she is and, especially, what her background is. How much research has she done on the eunuch community before plunging into this project? Is she a sociologist or an art major? Etc.

2. Everyone should be warned not to interact with her or Weston until they have reviewed ALL the video clips on their website (www.formmedia.co.uk).

3. Form Media seems to have a history of sensationalistic documentaries with a focus on deviancy. This is neither good nor bad, per se, but it does advise caution.

4. The website indicates a pattern Weston has of using actors to "recreate" provocative scenes. What you say in an interview (or even an informal conversation) may be “dramatized” by actors in ways that you would not approve, or even recognize.

5. That they plan to go with their original title, "Make me a Eunuch," severely undermines their own efforts/claims that they will produce a "film which will sensitively convey the thoughts and beliefs of people today." It is hard to justify that title with their claim that "Form Media make[s] intelligent, respectful and thought provoking films...[that take] a serious and intelligent look at" any topic.

With all of this said, however, if Jonah Weston and Form Media decide to do an accurate documentary of the voluntary eunuch community, this could be an outstanding work. Jonah Weston’s work has fine cinemetography and excellent production qualities. He is a fine storyteller.

We don’t need a “puff piece” saying how wonderful we all are, but we certainly don’t want to be portrayed as a three-ring freak circus. This community is made up of a wide variety of real people struggling with real problems and questions, trying to find the best possible solutions for their own situations. To gain a TV audience, the documentary will need to have some sensationalism, some shock value, to drag them in. The question is how much and what kind. What will be the impression left with the audience at the end of the hour?

The best journalistic piece on the eunuch community to date is Ashlea Halpern’s cover article The Battle of the Sexless

JesusA (imported) wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:21 pm (http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=

8750) in the Philadelphia City Paper. It’s far from perfect. It begins with a very sensationalistic opening:

”He could've filled three Pepsi cans. Maybe three and a half. That's how much blood Talula estimates he lost the first time he tried to castrate himself.” But, by the end of the article the reader understands WHY some men may decide that they need to be castrated and the reader has gained some sympathy with them and their difficulties in achieving that goal.

While it would certainly be very nice to have a documentary as well-constructed as Kate Davis’ Southern Comfort, a portrayal of the last year of the life of Robert Eads, a Female-to-Male transsexual, we are likely to get something less, but still, hopefully, a work we can be proud to show to friends.

Dear Archive Members

RE: FORM MEDIA

I can see from your posts that there are several aspects of this company and this documentary that remain unclear. I will take this opportunity to respond to some of your concerns and queries and to address some inaccuracies that I feel are misrepresentative.

Firstly, I am grateful to Jesus for the time and effort he has gone to in trying to portray Form Media to the community. Indeed, we have exchanged several emails privately prior to these postings and spoken at length on the phone. I have also spoken with one of Jesus’ closest colleagues several times. These have often been long and complicated conversations. However, despite some initial disagreements and misunderstandings I feel that I have now arrived (as Jesus himself acknowledged in his previous post) at both a truer understanding of the community and consequently, a better vision of how our eventual film might ultimately reflect it.

In this it is important to point out that I am not the expert, nor (no matter how much I learn) will I ever be. That is why this process of learning and listening is so important if we are to achieve something of which both I and you, the community can feel proud. Ultimately this is your world, your lives and your message and as such should ultimately be your film. That is why it is so important that we hear what you have to say. Any documentary relies on the caliber of its contributors and that is why myself and my researcher, Ruth Anderson, are keen to reach out to as many of you as possible and have the opportunity to hear your thoughts and experiences. This is what will shape and determine the nature of this documentary and I hope that you will give us the benefit of the doubt and allow us into your lives and give us the opportunity to make a film that we can all be proud of.

I am of course pleased that Jesus labeled me a “fine storyteller” who employs “excellent production values” and “fine cinematography.” However, he poses several points that I feel I should address as well as some inaccuracies that I feel it is important to clear up.

1.“Ruth Anderson is not listed as an employee on the Form Media website.” This is because Ruth Anderson is a freelance researcher whom I specifically appointed to work on this documentary as she has the appropriate skills for such a sensitive subject matter. Ruth, as anyone who speaks with her will find out, is genuinely empathic and a very grounded individual who is doing her best to genuinely understand the community and its members. Originally from an arts background, she has worked for the UK’s national broadcasters including Channel 4, ITV and recently completed a book for the BBC looking at the psychology of happiness.

2. Jesus suggests people watch ALL the clips on my website. I welcome this. They show a small selection of the work that I have made. Some are more lighthearted than others and all (for obvious reasons of impact and brevity) come from the film in question’s more dramatic moments. However I would stand by each of these films and would suggest that for a more informed view of the programs from which those clips were drawn community members should also look at my on-line resume which can be found under ‘People’ on the website.

3. “

JesusA (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 13, 2006 7:38 am Form Media seems to have a history of sensationalistic documentaries with a focus on deviancy.

” I would dispute this. I tend to make films that are complicated and often psychologically driven but I do not agree that they focus unduly on deviancy – as a study of the film clips within their full context (as suggested above) will reveal.

4. “

JesusA (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 13, 2006 7:38 am The website indicates a pattern Weston has of using actors to "recreate" provocative scenes.

” This is not, in fact, a technique I employ often and the majority of the films I have made contain no use of this device whatsoever. In fact I have only ever used it once, in a light-hearted documentary about Prince William (though this was fully and openly explained within the film – which was always advertised as the most light-hearted factual entertainment).

In the case of the two men kissing, in the BAFTA nominated ‘Anatomy of Disgust’, this is patently untrue. Both were my friends, not actors, and both agreed to take part in this scene (at the risk of abuse and possibly violence from the bigoted bystanders the film shows) to illustrate an important point about the ongoing and continued prejudice that they as gay men faced in our so-called tolerant society.

This was not willful sensationalism or provocation. Rather, it was essential to film this sequence in this way to draw these bigots out from the usual niceties that people like this use to hide their hatred of outsiders. Having to actually watch two men kiss broke them out of their comfort zone, and the effect is both shocking and unsettling and makes a powerful point about ignorance and prejudice – a point that I would hope archive members might appreciate better than most.

What is more, within both programs these scenes were fully and openly explained. I WOULD NEVER “dramatize” the words of a contributor and place them in the mouth of an actor. To do so would be both UNETHICAL and VISUALLY WEAK and I reject this assertion wholeheartedly.

5. “Make me a Eunuch” is what is known as a working title – used to conveniently label a program while it is in production (a very common practice by the way). I have no real allegiance to this title and will happily take suggestions for alternatives should one not be forthcoming during production.

I think that this addresses all the points that Jesus made. I had wanted to avoid direct intervention in the debate and rather, let archive members decide for themselves. However, certain points cannot go unmet if they seem inaccurate and it seemed that more information on us and our intentions would be welcomed at this point. Please do let me know if there are others areas you would like me to address.

Thank you also for comments on the website. I’m sorry that it appears to be unclear in any way and I will be having a meeting later this year with my website designer where I shall raise your points. For the time being, let me say that I undertake to be as transparent as possible, this is my work and I am not trying to hide it. Not all production companies are this open.

My intention here really is to make the best film possible, a film that perhaps for the first time truly reflects the community and lets them speak about their lives in their own voices. It won’t be perfect, films never are. But I come to this project with a track record of which I am proud and a clear-conscience as to my intentions.

I will do my best to represent you honestly and fairly but I cannot do it without you. I hope you will feel that this is something worthwhile and that you participate with us in furthering our research and in contributing to this film.

Yours sincerely,

Jonah Weston

Form Media

jonah@formmedia.co.uk

ruth@formmedia.co.uk or formlondon@yahoo.co.uk

There is a way that this could happen.

First Form Media meet in person with several of the Administrators of the Eunuch Archive.

In that meeting the show will be laid out.

The finished product must meet approval of the Administrators of the Archive.

Only then will a release be given to put such a film on the air.

How do we insure that this happens, well we may need a leagle contract with a lot of leagleeze.

And last, I dont want any part of it.

River

Just to put some minds at rest I have been in contact with Jonah and at the same time received some most excellent advice from Jesus and some other members of our community. I have put many points of view across to Jonah and even queried if the world is ready for yet another Eunuch documentary. One thing I will add if I may, and that this is perhaps one opportunity to make sure that if the documentary is made, then we are seen in a good light and nothing detremental is portrayed as in the past. If we ignore the bloke then we throw that opportunity to influence the results away, and that would be a pity.

Cheers

Quillman UK

RUN!