Back before the Beijing Olympics, when the world's media was filled with news of anti-China protests, a Singapore-born documentary producer, named Tan Siok Siok who lives part of her life in that huge and complex city, produced a documentary film called Boomtown Beijing [link just to trailer].
Boomtown told a different story then the one on stage center. It depicted everyday people of Beijing, people who had nothing to do with the issues fomenting protest.
Tan captured the excitement, spirit and aspirations of people who lived there and were just proud that for the first time ever, the whole world was coming for a visit. The controversies, were not part of the stories of these people.
I met Tan when I was in China, she is understated, passionate, perceptive and generous. And now she has turned her considerable talents to a new story, one that interests me even more than China. Her Her new film, Twittamentary looks at how lives connect and intersect within the Twitter community.
And for those of you who spend time in Twitterville, well, this is your chance to be a movie star. Tan wants you to contribute video clips to Twittamentary. Get in front of a video camera and tell your best story about Twitter and you. Tell a story or talk about what Twitter means to you or why you think Twitter matters then upload it here.
To me, what really is interesting is that from the comfort of your own home, or while sitting in front of a webcam or smartphone, wherever you are in the world you can be part of a digital film being produced from China.
This, seems to me, expands the definition of Global Neighborhoods.
