Project director Liz Nord recently returned from a month of production in Israel. Until the "Story" is updated, get a unique glimpse into the DIRECTOR'S DIARY weblog from her trip, below:

06.07.03...On My Way
Leaving for Israel in about 7 hours to start shooting my punk rock doc. Wow. I am excited. Hope this weblog thing works and hope you guys will join me for the ride!

06.09.03...Israel, Baby
Arrived in Israel late last night. Cannot express how happy I am to be here. I have literally been talking, reading or thinking about this place every day for the past year, so it feels v. good to be here...it's not just a place of our collective imaginations! It's real. People are living and bustling here in Tel Aviv just like any other city. I am staying with my friend Avital (Hallelujah!) and about to go meet another friend for lunch--Ari, the guy who is helping with the movie. Friends are the best. I already feel well taken care of (that's for you, mom and dad). Soon I'll get in touch with the Useless I.D. guys and then I'll really be rolling. (No pun intended).

06.10.03...We're rolling
So I was a little worried when I called Ishay's (from te band, Useless ID) cell phone yesterday and all I heard was "Awww, fuuuck." Turns out it's his ansewering machine, and there's a message from me going, "Ishay? Ishay? Hello?" What a punk. It's all good though--Ari and Ishay and I are supposed to head to Haifa today for the first band interview. Ari is going to interview them for an article in the Jerusalem Post but he's going to ask many of the questions I prepared. Might as well kill two birds with 1 stone and it'll be nice to have some support there with me for the first shoot. Just hope the guys are comfortable enough to open up to him. Am excited about the article too!

06.11.03...Settling In...Sweat-ling In
Boy, it's pretty hot here!
Haifa was great--I was really spoiled having Ari there to help out. We did an interview with Ishay and Guy at Guy's work. Those two are so personable and such characters. It was a really good affirmation of my being here. Also, of course, they had some intersting things to say and they are pretty articulate. It's hard to imagine at this point what parts of the interview will end up being relevant to the movie but there were some good moments, for sure. One of the bis schisms in the punk scene here, as in other places, is between those bands who play highly charged political music and those who play more poppy stuff just for the music's sake. Useless I.D. falls into the latter category and they talked a bit about that--how their lives and situation here is so embroiled in politics that they want to get AWAY from that when they play--not delve into it further. I look forward to contrasting that with the more political punks when I get a chance to talk with them.

The guys were the most "on" of course when the camera was OFF--so lesson learned for me. I have to get them--and myself--used to having that thing on all the time!

06.11.03...Iım O.K.!
I'm soooo tired but I'll try to get a bit out. First of all, for those of you following me along here--DON'T WORRY! I'm sure you heard about the bombing in J-lem today. Well, I am still in Tel Aviv, far from Jerusalem and it feels like that happened on another planet. I haven't even heard the details myself. The people I've met act so casual about these things ("You get used to it.") but everyone knows about it almost as soon as it happens. The cell phone network is insane here. Anyway, more about the day later but for now good night--sleep tight and know that I am safe. xoxox

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