How We Made This Segment

This is a sampling of scenes from a feature-length documentary I am currently editing. I went to Iran for three months this summer to visit my parents, who live in Tehran, and to catch up with the rest of my father's family. My idea was to capture the everyday life of Iranian women by filming them in their homes, in town, and in their workplaces. I wanted to use this opportunity to answer all of the questions I've ever been asked about Iranian lifestyles so that I could dispel some myths. "Can they date?" 'Do you have to wear the scarf when you go there?' "Aren't you scared of being bombed?" I decided the film had to be a personal documentary. I'm calling it "Iran. I Ran So Far Away." (a joke for anyone who appreciates 80s music.)

It was so interesting to see the ever-widening culture gap between young Iranians and our parents' generation. In a lot of ways, Iran has incorporated all of the newest technology you would find all over the world, but in some areas they are still 30 years behind, or more.

I shot most of the footage myself, using a Canon XH A1 and a smaller Canon HV20 (for those shooting days where I had to pretend I was a tourist). Everything was shot in HDV 1080i, 24p. I also used a shotgun mic on the A1, and a lav mic for all interviews. My brother, Chris Farzanrad, shot all of the footage with me in it. Thanks, Chris.

I am editing on Final Cut Studio Pro, version 6.0.1. I will be applying for grants by the end of this year. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I want to thank Robert Kandle and SmogTV for giving me a perfect venue to show my first cut of the film.

Thank you,

Katy Farzanrad
farzanrad@gmail.com