Last week has been a busy week in terms of the preparations for the documentary. I am busy with the scenario, how should the story of this documentary go so that it is interesting for everyone to watch.
While I was busy working on my scenario, I had to prepare for my MOCK exam, an interim presentation of my thesis against two teachers. You get 15 minutes to tell your story after which they determine whether it is interesting, feasible within the time (until the end of June) and good for your development.
“Evelyne, go ahead,” one of my teachers said calmly.
“As you know, I am going to make a documentary about the search for the love of frizzy hair, in this case my own frizzy hair. I and many others have the habit of not loving our own frizzy hair in advance. I think this is due to the beauty ideal that prevails: Long, smooth and shiny hair, something that is the opposite of frizzy hair. With this film I hope to inspire people to start loving their own hair, at least if I can do it myself…” This is something that I am still struggling with. I am seriously going to search for the love of frizzy hair because I have not found it yet, but I hope that I will find it eventually.
“Is that true? That people with curly hair don’t like their own hair? And how are you going to portray that?” My teacher looked at me questioningly.
"I think it is, yes, nowadays it is more than normal to hide your hair or straighten it if you have frizzy hair. We think we are more beautiful with straight hair or someone else's hair and we have enough examples to prove that. Think of Beyonce or Naomi Cambell. Of course it comes from somewhere and that is something I want to show.
How I want to portray it is surprising but true: even though I much prefer to be behind the camera instead of in front of it… it will be a participatory documentary, so I will play a big role in it. I want to visit different people to find out how I can find that love again. Think of Miss Kroeshaar 2010 (Carol Oron). Last year, Miss Kroeshaar elections were held via the website kroeshaar.com. I really hope that Miss Kroeshaar can positively influence me to find the love for kroeshaar again.
My sisters will also play an important role, because we all have the same problem. And then our friends, how do they actually deal with our mood swings when it comes to our hair.
It is an important topic in the frizzy hair culture which I want to portray in a light-hearted and sometimes funny way so that it is also fun to watch for people who know nothing about frizzy hair.”
As I told my story I became more and more enthusiastic and noticed that my teachers were also becoming more and more curious. They saw the necessity of the documentary and eventually gave me the green light to start working on this project.
“Evelyne, please be careful that it doesn’t become a giggling – sisters – in front of the mirror – home video? That would be a shame, wouldn’t it!” I said with conviction that I would definitely pay attention to that, that’s the last thing I want to make. Although that will of course be a huge challenge!