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Lens on Lebanon
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When the war in Lebanon broke out last month, I was hungry to find images and stories that I knew weren't being broadcast by the mainstream media. On YouTube, I discovered crude makeshift montages of murder and devastation (with a decidedly propagandistic feel). Now that's starting to change, as more artful representations of the conflict crop up.
On the Filmmaker magazine blog, TDR contributor Scott Macaulay points to Lens on Lebanon, a grassroots documentary initiative formed in response to the Israeli bombardment. The site features two achingly authentic videos of life during wartime; the first "From Beirut to … those who love us" is a cri de coeur on behalf of the 4 million Lebanese under siege; the second "Dead Time" (posted last Friday) mixes deadpan humor with the quiet, static shots of post-war ennui and collapse.
The organization is currently seeking donations of small hand-held cameras, digital cameras and digital video tape stock, as well as other vital accessories like battery chargers, memory sticks and firewire cables. Monetary donations to cover the costs of transporting the equipment to the region, travel expenses for volunteers and overall maintenance expenses, can be made securely through PayPal on their support page.
