What Wicca really is about!

We have now interviewed a Village Witch Sally Walker and Wise-woman Ann Glaister and they have give me a lot of understanding to what Wicca really is about and my initial interpretation is now reformed (towards the British Wicca anyway).
This little introduction to Wicca really expresses what I have now come to understand of British Wicca as 'preconceived', 'misunderstood' and 'misinterpreted'!!

WITCHCRAFT - AS I BELIEVED IT TO BE!

HERE'S AN ARTICLE THAT BRIEF'S THE GENERAL PERSEPTION OF WITCHES IN NIGERIA - AS I HAD ALSO KNOWN THEM TO BE.

Witchcraft in Nigeria - And why it has such a hold on people's minds

Written by CD, in LagosTuesday, 19 November 2002

Due to the immense poverty and apparent hopeless situation of ordinary working people in Nigeria many of the old superstitions still survive today. Comrade CD in Lagos, of the Nigerian Marxist journal, Workers' Alternative explains why.

She lay curled up by the roadside; a pathetic little figure in rags-dead, scattered pieces of rocks nearby indicated she was stoned to death. Her crime, she confessed being a witch.

Reasons for belief in Witchcraft

Some years ago, 1995 to be precise, the nation woke to the horrifying story of two children whose fingers were burnt by the Prophetess of a church in alliance with their father to get them confess to an alleged "witchcraft powers". Which they have been using to 'bewitch' their father, causing him misfortune and preventing him from progressing, etc. Shocking as this might seem, many people actually believe the charge of witchcraft levied against the children. However, the public outcry against this practice was so great that the Prophetess and the children's father were tried and sentenced to various prison terms.

But what kind of society causes such permanent disability to its children for, of all things, possessing 'witchcraft powers'? What is the social basis for belief in witchcraft?

Concerning the story above the father at the time was a poor factory worker paid 1200 Naira monthly. With this money he was expected to feed and cloth himself and his family, pay his children's fee, transport himself to and from work, etc. How on earth can any reasonable person expect or be expected to do all these on the starvation wage of 1200 Naira? Witchcraft, although an imaginary world, when used to explain away poverty, illnesses, accidents, natural disasters, etc, becomes a horrifying "reality", with the weakest segments of society-women and children-as its victims.

Socio-economic problems and tensions reflected in the collective consciousness as acts of witchcraft. Everyday problems arising from the dislocation and disintegration of society were blamed on witches and therefore protection must be sought from a "witch doctor". The fear of witchcraft is not peripheral; it touches virtually all segments of society. It is deeply rooted in the collective consciousness.

Fly-By-Night

Underlying this belief is the idea that Human soul could exist independent of the material body. At night this soul quits the body and assumes the form of a creature to carry out evil acts against others. At stake is the question: spirit or matter, which is primary? The spirit or consciousness is merely a product of the brain, itself a product of matter. There is no soul as an independent entity that survives outside the body.

Witches were said to possess super human powers that they use to perpetrate evil. According to certain belief a witch could harm anybody including her family members. This especially makes her highly hated. They are said to kill their own children, drink human blood and bring ruin and ill health on their friends and families. That is to say, in contrast to normal human beings witches conceive and cause the most horrible misfortune on their families and communities. They were viewed as the embodiment of everything that is evil. Witches, it was said, could practice their wicked art only in the dead of night. Deaths, natural disasters, and epidemics; everything were blamed on witches. In most beliefs a witch was said to confess her "crimes" before she died or went mad. Homeless, possibly childless old women driven from their matrimonial homes are especially the victims of these alleged "confessions". Old women driven into the streets and losing their mind, in their madness utters nonsense to the effect of being a witch, killing her husband and children, causing accidents, and bringing ruin on their families were immediately set upon and stoned to death by passers-by. Voluntary claims of witchcraft reveals only a state of madness. A person cannot be in possession of something that does not exist. Witchcraft merely reflects the real world. Yet, the fact remains that even intellectuals still believe in the existence of people who "fly-by-night".

Historical Perspective

Witchcraft is rooted in primitive society. Fear and ignorance played powerful roles in its growth and development. Subsequently, it played strategic roles. Not only was it used to explain away bad harvests, illnesses, deaths and deterioration of farmlands; it acted as a socio-psychological and moral constraint.

Since a witch was said to cause harm to members of her family or community, in a closely-knit commune she was viewed as especially dangerous. But why were mostly women and children witches? In a Patriarchal society being called a witch was no easy matter. It spells certain death for the accused-usually being burnt alive, stoned to death, or in rare instances banishment. This accusation was strategic. The fear of being thus branded kept young people from criticizing the 'elders'; the poor from showing open resentment to the 'well to do'; rank and file tribesmen from challenging the status quo, and women from challenging male domination because those who threatened the existing order of things in any form were branded as witches. That is to say, it was used to strengthen Patriarchy.

In these societies women's labour was ruthlessly exploited and she was viewed as having reasons to resort to witchcraft. Even childless old women seemingly living apart from the farming community were branded as witches.

As feudal society entered into conflict with nascent capitalism, with production shifting from the home to the factory important changes began to occur in the society. Women and children went to work at the factories. The coming together of women at the factory and the common struggle for higher wages and women's rights further undermined Patriarchy. In addition, the abandoning of farming for factory jobs by village youths further undermined the system, although not eliminating it.

In the primitive communities, witchcraft became all-pervasive that nothing happens naturally. Every adverse situation is the wicked act of a witch, who was invariably a woman or a child.

In current day society, these primitive superstitious beliefs were still preserved as they still serve the same functions. These beliefs, despite the advancements in science and technology, combined with the explanation of many natural phenomena, is still being consciously promoted by the ruling class, both nationally and internationally.

Today, on TV, radio and newspapers, there are so many programmes geared towards promoting, not explaining, these views and the targets again remains primarily old women and children. For instance they never say that Abacha is a witch or that the person who steal public money is a witch or that their system is responsible for poverty, unemployment, etc. However they can easily promote the idea that one woman or one of your father's wives is responsible for a person's lack of progress. Even in the advanced capitalist countries views like these are still being promoted.

How can a person be killed or cause permanent disability merely for claiming possession of a non-existent power? Because the truth of the matter is that a "witch" or "wizard" possesses no power at all and therefore poses no threat to anyone. Why kill an old woman and inflict such injuries on charges of witchcraft?

Belief in witchcraft is deeply rooted in the collective consciousness and will take much time and effort for them to be supplanted with new, scientific concepts. Only a radial transformation of the society with adequate provisions made for all segments-materially, culturally and intellectually can uproot these archaic beliefs by uprooting the conditions that gave rise to them.

Witchcraft does not exist. Only when man masters the productive forces and subjects them to his will through conscious planning can man successfully master these fears and rise above these primitive beliefs. Only a socialist society offers this condition.

October 1998

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.marxist.com/witchcraft-nigeria-peoples-minds.htm

WORK EXPERIENCE: Take Me Out

I had another gracious opportunity to work on the set of the popular british dating show 'Take Me Out'.
Just like last time I helped out as a stand-in for the rehearsals of the boys for the show. It was indeed a very long day but far more worth the experience getting to see how preparations for one of the UK's largest studio production is seasonally brought to the entertainment light.
Last time I was unlucky not to get a reservation to see the live shoot but this time around I had the privilege to sit in amongst the audience. It was an awesome experience noting how professional everyone from the presenter Paddy McGuiness to the Floor managers worked as a team to produce a hugely entertaining show keeping the fantastic audience full of cheers.

My hunger to work in the TV/Film industry has never more been fuelled.

RESEARCH: The Religion that is 'Wicca'

GREAT INCITE FOR ME INTO THE BELIEFS OF 'BRITISH WICCAN'

Wicca

Gerald Brosseau Gardner ©

Wicca is a Pagan Witchcraft tradition. Today, the name Wicca is frequently applied to the entire system of beliefs and practices that make up the spectrum of contemporary Pagan Witchcraft. However, although Wiccaand Witchcraft are often used interchangeably, it is important to note that there are also Pagan Witchcraft traditions that are not Wiccan.

Wicca was used originally to distinguish the initiatory tradition of Witchcraft practised as a religion, but American popular television series have adopted the word to include what would once have been called natural magic or white witchcraft. When people in Britain describe themselves as Wiccan though, they generally mean that they are practising a form of religious Witchcraft. Media images often show Wiccans as teenage women, but in fact it is practised by males and females of all ages.

Origins of Wicca

Religious Witchcraft is not merely a system of magic, but is a Pagan mystery religion worshipping Goddess and God and venerating the Divine in nature. Its origins lie in pre-Christian religious traditions, folklore, folk witchcraft and ritual magic, but most Witches draw their inspiration from the 'Book of Shadows', a book of rituals and spells compiled by of one of Wicca's major figures Gerald Brosseau Gardner (1884-1964).

Gerald Gardner claimed to have been initiated in 1939 into a coven of Witches who met in the New Forest in Hampshire and his two most well known books Witchcraft Today (1954) andThe Meaning of Witchcraft (1959) produced a huge surge of interest, inspiring a movement that has spread around the world.

Gods

Wicca honours the Divine in the forms of the Triple Goddess, whose aspects of Virgin, Mother, and Wise Woman or Crone are associated with the waxing, full and waning phases of the Moon, and as the Horned God.

The principal names by which the God is known are Cernunnos or Herne, both of which mean 'Horned One'. The emphasis placed on Goddess and God differs between groups, traditions and localities, but most Wiccans believe that for wholeness the image of the Divine must be both female and male.

Structure

There are no central authorities in Wicca. Some Witches are solo Witches. Others belong to covens – groups of like-minded people who meet together to worship the Gods and to do magic. Some covens are part of initiatory traditions in which more experienced people act as teachers to newcomers. Others are formed by groups of friends who want to meet and learn together. The classic number of people in a coven is thirteen, but many covens are smaller. Some are mixed sex groups; others cater for Witches who prefer single sex covens.

Rites and celebrations

Wiccan priestess and priest ©

The major festivals of Wicca are known as sabbats. These are held eight times throughout the year and mark changes in the seasons. The festivals are Winter Solstice or Yule on December 20/21, the shortest day, Summer Solstice or Midsummer on June 21/22, the longest day, and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes (March 20/21 and September 20/21) when the hours of darkness and light are equal. The other four festivals are Imbolc, February 1/2; Beltane or May Eve on April 30/May 1; Lughnasadh also known by its Anglo-Saxon name of Lammas or Loaf Mass, August 1/2, and Samhain, also known as All Hallow's Eve, October 31/November 1. Witches also honour their deities at monthly rites known as esbats, which are held on the full Moon, when the mind is thought to be more magically powerful.

Sabbats begin at sunset and end at sunset the next day and most rites are held at night, lit evocatively by candles if indoors or by the moon, bonfires and lanterns if outside. For indoor rituals, some Witches have rooms set aside as temples in their houses, which they use for rites. Others use their ordinary living space.

Rites take place in a consecrated space, the circle, and even if there is a temple, the circle space is created anew for each rite. The space is first swept with a broomstick or besom to purify it and then blessed with the four elements – air, fire, water and earth. The circle is then symbolically sealed by drawing a circle around it in the air with a wooden wand or a black-handled knife known as an athame. The four directions – east, south, west and north – are then honoured. Within the sacred space, the Goddess and God are invoked and magic performed. Rituals usually end with blessing a chalice of wine and cakes that are shared among the participants.

Magic and ethics

A pentagram used for a spell casting©

Like many Pagan religions, Wicca practices magic. Witches believe that the human mind has the power to effect change in ways that are not yet understood by science. In their rituals, as well as honouring their deities, Witches also perform spells for healing and to help people with general life problems. Magic is practised according to an ethical code that teaches that magic may only be performed to help people when it does not harm others.

Witches believe that the energies that we create influence what happens to us: negative magic rebounds on the perpetuator but magnified. This process is often known as 'Threefold Law'. Other important ethical teachings are that people should strive to live in harmony with others and with themselves, and with the planet as a whole. Environmental issues are important to Wiccans.

After death

Wicca teaches reincarnation. After death, the spirit is reborn and will meet again those with whom it had close personal ties in previous lives. The aim of reincarnation is not to escape life on Earth, but to enjoy experiencing it again and again until everything that can be learned has been absorbed. When the spirit ceases to reincarnate, it remains in a blissful realm known as 'The Land of Youth' or the 'Summerland'.

Wicca and other contemporary Pagan spiritualities

Wiccan ideas and rites have been taken up by the Goddess spirituality movement. They appeal to both women and men who have rejected male-dominated religions and who prefer to venerate the Divine in female form as Goddess.

There are many similarities between Wicca and Druidry. Both emphasize the importance of developing close links with Nature and their rites frequently take place out of doors. Both also stress the importance of guardianship of the Earth and environmentalism. Some distinctions are that Druidry is more purely Celtic than Wicca, there is less emphasis on magic in Druidry, and Druidry more actively encourages the development of music and poetry as paths to spiritual growth.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/subdivisions/wicca.shtml

You are a Witch?!

When Neill first mentioned to me about his religion being Wiccan or witchcraft, my initial reaction was that of 'a puzzled surprise' as I'd never had imagined it to even be classed as a major religion.
This is due to the fact that the 'witchcraft' I know of from africa (Nigeria to be specific) is of pure negativity and evil pagan acts and beliefs.
Witches over there are believed to worship the devil and practise magic for use to torture and torment their victims. They tend to practice their rituals in their covens late into the night in secret too; most of the time spiritually too.
Witches were said to possess super human powers that they use to perpetrate evil. According to certain belief a witch could harm anybody including her family members. This especially makes her highly hated. They are said to kill their own children, drink human blood and bring ruin and ill health on their friends and families. That is to say, in contrast to normal human beings witches conceive and cause the most horrible misfortune on their families and communities. They were viewed as the embodiment of everything that is evil. Witches, it was said, could practice their wicked art only in the dead of night. Deaths, natural disasters, and epidemics; everything were blamed on witches. In most beliefs a witch was said to confess her "crimes" before she died or went mad. (CD, 2002)
This is therefore widely frowned upon and classed as a highly controversial topic so to find someone openly confess to being a 'witch' or pagan worshipper in Nigeria (or I'd imagine anywhere) is highly unlikely.

However, further more into my conversation with Neill, he explained to me how his Wiccan beliefs are in fact the complete opposite of my initial perceptions. Describing that Wiccan's believe in peace, nature and positive world energy.

I have now come to understand that there may well be various kinds of Wiccan's with varying beliefs and practices.This may well turn out to be a huge eye-opening documentary; myself included.

Documentary Unit: Commission

The pitching results have been released and unfortunately my idea hasn't been commissioned but I have been paired to work with my colleague Neill Morris on his documentary title 'Waking the Witch'.

'Waking the Witch' will be a 10-minute documentary on the beliefs of Wicca and Witchcraft. 

It is proposed to be aired on the national television BBC one and scheduled for Sunday night viewers aged in their late teens and older. 

Looking into what Wiccan beliefs consist of; how they are perceived in the society, the criticism faced of the early church and it's current reaction towards them.

The documentary style will consist of using visual anchors, Interviews, Cutaways and Actuality shots, Archive footage e.t.c.

Follow the production process, blogs and progress at: http://wakingthewitchdocumentary.blogspot.co.uk/

Narrative/Genre Unit: Chosen Subject

I have decided to study one of my favourite TV shows for this unit subject on Narrative/Genre. Spartacus is an American TV series that has been aired on Starz TV since January 2010 and is currently due to release its third series is January 2013.

Documentary Unit: Practice Project

I have now finished editing the practice project with my team member Neill.
Though we had a lot of interesting shots, there didn't seem to be enough especially with the questions which were answer really briefly causing the finished product to be under 5 minutes long.
However, this is just a practice so we aren't too worried about that especially as we are happy with the quality of footage we got which at this stage is more important. Also, because of previous issues we had in pre-production stages, we were only able to film on one day where-as other groups had two or more so we feel if we had the chance to get more footage, this issues would be easily resolved.

Documentary Unit: Practice Project

I have now gotten hold of the footage from the interview session my team members carried out at Blake's Cafe. Looking through the footage, there's a lot of cut-aways, a few actuality shots and the inteviews should all be just about enough to work with. LET THE EDIT BEGIN!!!

Documentary Unit: Practice project

After several unsuccessful attempts to get a business for our interview, my group has finally scheduled to interview a cafe in Maidstone called Blake's Cafe/Bistro.
The interview date is scheduled for the 12th of November 2012. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the shoot due to prior commitments but I have taken on the role of editor for the project anyway so I don't necessarily need to be there.

Commission Unit: Documentary

For this Unit I have some rough ideas so far:

One idea is based around international students and looking into how they cope with the life changing decision to study abroad; living in a different environment and society, lifestyle, weather, expenses etc.

My second idea is a pre-developed project.
During the Easter break, I got the opportunity to document a week long fashion course run by the UCA Rochester for young kids to encourage them to take up the career path and progress on to study it at the university. For this project, we only had to produce a five minute brief promo for the five days duration of the course. Needless to say we had surplus amount of footage recorded over the five days.
I feel I could incorporate incorporate this event into a documentation of the course.
Also in a cause to develop the idea, I could re-visit students who attend the course and document their progress after the course and their feelings towards taking up a career in fashion and the overall impact of the course in their lives.

Direction Unit: Charcters and Props

Still deciding on what shoes for the female character.
I am kind of swaying towards the red converse shoes
just because well they are red and could signify characteristics
and relate to the twist in the plot.

Behold my Episode Prop - 'The Shovel'!!

This was roughly the kind of look
we have agreed on with the female actor.
So this is her in full costume!

This will be the top costume for the male character 'Drew'
who I will be playing in the episode.

Direction Unit: Final Title Sequence

I have finally been able to finish off the title sequence for the Web-series so here is the final product.
Overall I am pleased with it and feedback from the group results the same so we are happy to stick with it.

Direction Unit: Title Sequence

I have finally been able to finish off the title sequence for the Web-series.
We collected clips from most of the episodes and mixed them up into the sequence, putting down the opacity at certain points to allow a blend.
We then decided on the font for the title which was 'Technovia'
For the music, I experimented with a few of my brothers tracks and the group decided on the one that works best in terms of mood and flow.

Direction Unit: Final Piece - Episode 1

Behold here it is - Episode 1 of 'Park Story'

Park Story: Episode 1 - DEBT

Overall, I am pleased with the final outcome. My only let down is that I had to cut a few shots that I was quite happy to include. However, watching the final piece now I don't regret that but instead feel they would have made it unnecessarily long and a bit of a drag. Whereas the final state I feel is now at a steady pace for my intended mood and style to be successfully achieved.

Direction Unit: Feedback and Development

I had a chat with my tutor, showing him my episode edit in order to get some feedback on what I could improve on to gain the final piece. Points to improve that I noted down were:

- One hard cut needs shortening in order for it to be much more smooth.
- In the opening scene cuts should be made when the car door and boot are simultaneously shut to materialize the 'jump-cut' editing technique.
- A clip needs the speed and cut sorting out.
- Lesser clips for the shovel hit scene to allow quicker cuts and more impact.
- Sound levels still a bit hit at certain points.

These were all minor issues so I was able to make the required adjustments quickly and my episode is near enough ready for release.

Direction Unit: Edit

I have successfully synced the sounds together with the clips now and found some good sound effects to go with most of my key scenes. Now I can get on with concentrating on the visuals.
I decided from the start to go with a dark feel in the visuals as the story is set in the dusk hour. Also so that the mood of the film could be tense and gritty. I can use color correction to play around with this to get the right tone of visuals.

Direction Unit: Title Sequence

So I have now got clips for most episodes and put them together to experiment on my idea for the Title sequence montage. There was also a nice pov tracking shot of the park pathway by one of my colleagues Kevin O'Flanagan which we decided to incorporate into the title sequence.
I decided to use this shot as a background for all the episode clips to layer on and it's worked and coming along really well.

Direction Unit: Edit

I have now cleaned up my edit and started work on the sound. As I recorded my sound separately this will be a bit of a mission trying to find the right sounds let alone sync them properly with the video.
However, the sound quality is so much more better that that on the video camera so can only be worth it I suppose.

Direction Unit: Title sequence

The course group came together and had a discussion regarding ideas for the Title sequence and a lot was I talked about it terms of using shots of the Vinters park as it is a central link to all the episodes.

So I thought of a montage idea in which clips from each episode is used together to make up the title sequence.