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Tjotjog: Stories From Bali

This summer, we are traveling to the Bali, Indonesia for two months to create a documentary that explores the role of ritual in Balinese life.

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Tjotjog: Stories From Bali

Tjotjog: Stories From Bali

Tjotjog: Stories From Bali

Tjotjog: Stories From Bali

Tjotjog: Stories From Bali

This summer, we are traveling to the Bali, Indonesia for two months to create a documentary that explores the role of ritual in Balinese life.

This summer, we are traveling to the Bali, Indonesia for two months to create a documentary that explores the role of ritual in Balinese life.

This summer, we are traveling to the Bali, Indonesia for two months to create a documentary that explores the role of ritual in Balinese life.

This summer, we are traveling to the Bali, Indonesia for two months to create a documentary that explores the role of ritual in Balinese life.

Chelsea Thompson
Chelsea Thompson
Chelsea Thompson
Chelsea Thompson
1 Campaign |
Berkeley, United States
$225 USD 3 backers
1% of $13,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Salamet siang! Thank you for visiting our indiegogo page. We are a diverse group of friends wishing to make a meaningful contribution for Balinese people during our summer trip to Bali. Millions of visitors tread across this tropical paradise and come into contact with its fascinating ecological diversity and elaborate cultural festivities every year. Rather than enjoying what the Balinese have to offer through the veil of a hotel stage, we wish to give the Balinese a form of agency in sharing their stories with the world through the medium of film. Upon returning to the United States, we wish to compile our footage and create a documentary that captures one way in which a group of people have, despite their integration with a globalizing world, retained a deep connection to spiritual traditions.

We are certainly not the first group of people to be attracted to directing our attention towards this island. We wish to present this film differently than past projects by turning to the Balinese for answers, by giving them a primary role in directing the film, and developing a connection through spending part of our weeks there teaching English and volunteering for Agung Bali Children's Foundation (ABC) -- a non-profit organization in central Bali that focuses on extending educational opportunities for Balinese children and feeding the elderly. 

The Philosophy of 'Tjotjog':

Tjotjog (pronounced ‘chot-chog’) is a Balinese concept that translates to "fitting perfectly within any environment in a non-invasive or intrusive manner". Tjotjog branches from Javanese philosophy and can be applied to anything in life. Visually, this practice can be seen through daily activities such as their decision to leave village huts without doors so that nearby wildlife are free to enter and leave the shelter as they please. The boundaries between the human, animal, and spiritual world are far more obscured in Bali than in the West. Although we will never be able to fully achieve this, we would like for tjotjog to represent an exercise of mindfulness that we carry throughout our trip and will ultimately influence the overall development of the film. 

A Brief History:

During the summer of 2010, Chelsea traveled to Bali on a study abroad trip with Professors Darren Leaver and Laura Englund-Krusee and learned about its rich history, religion, geography, arts, and culture in a non-traditional and highly participatory setting. Upon returning to the United States, Chelsea was determined to return to this island so frequented by tourists, volunteers, and researchers alike to collaborate with the Balinese on a form of storytelling that they would be proud and excited to share with future generations. 

For many years, Darren and Laura (our project liaisons) have hosted study abroad trips, and through their dedication to creating Agung Bali Children's Foundation, they formed close relationships with the Balinese. Through Darren and Laura's relationships, we now have the opportunity to witness and film village temple and family ceremonies not necessarily known to the general public. 

For more information on ABC (currently under the name RCCLP), please visit: http://rcclp.org/home/The_Program.html 

(Please check out our gallery photos collected from Chelsea's study abroad trip in 2010!)

About Us:

Director: 

Chelsea has long expressed a deep interest and passion for connecting with South and Southeast Asian cultures on a variety of levels both locally and internationally. Her interest in this region began when she volunteered for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and tutored high school refugees from Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh in the humanities and sciences. Soon after, she hosted a fundraiser for Toys for Thailand -- a grassroots NGO that creates capacity building programs for Thai refugees and orphans -- that raised $10,000 to build an organic garden and basic infrastructure for one of their local schools. After studying in Bali with Professor Leaver, Chelsea traveled independently to Thailand to teach English to village school children through a local grassroots organization. Chelsea hopes to blend these diverse experiences with her background in creative writing, painting, digital photography, graphic design, and filmmaking to expose a new and captivating dimension to indigenous activism. She is currently finishing her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Co-Director:

Joseph has a background and technical expertise in expressive mediums including photography, music, and creative writing.  Using these skills in combination with academic elements, Joseph hopes to use creativity in order to enhance the process by which knowledge and understanding can be articulated to others.  Inspired by a love of studying various cultures through the field of history and the timbre of curiosity, Joseph yearns to participate in telling the stories of people and cultures outside the domain of mainstream channels.  With previous experience working with the International Rescue Committee, an NGO which responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, Joseph is familiar with the complex nature of political and cultural distresses related to globalization.  Through cultural sensitivity and precise action, Joseph aims to develop projects to amplify the voices of those who do not have the means to be heard. Joseph graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in World History from The University of California, Merced. 

Cinematographer:

Meghan graduated from CalArts in 2013 with her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Experimental Animation. She is a recipient of the Jules Engel Scholarship, a Princess Grace Award nominee, and has studied Film at École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. She has taught animation through the Community Arts Partnership at the Watts Towers Arts Center. Well versed in the language of art-making, Meghan has worked with film, animation, painting, poetry, sculpture, and arts pedagogy. In order to articulate our project's mission and vision, she hopes to contribute her knowledge of representation in film and her behind-the-camera experience.  

Why We Need Your Help:

(Please check out our budget sheet with specific equipment and other expenses that is attached as a separate document under the 'files' section in our gallery)

Every dollar donated to us goes towards the production of this film. As a group of recently graduated college students, we do not necessarily have the funds nor ideal equipment to adequately capture the beautiful diversity of Bali. Attached is a list of our proposed budget, down to the specific cameras, lenses, other film equipment, and video editing software we wish to purchase. If we do not reach our projected goal, we will adjust the amount to the highest quality equipment available. Any contribution is highly appreciated! Our most wanted items are two film cameras and lenses so that each member can have an opportunity to capture Bali’s geography and culture for the film.

We want this film to serve as a type of conversation, not a one-sided voyeuristic portrayal of exoticism of a culture that fascinates us due to our perceived differences. In filming this, we understand that we are outsiders, and, because of this, we wish to tread lightly and respectfully as we document the Balinese and their ceremonies.  As westerners, we often look at progress through a teleological lens where we assume all societies desire to either mimic or conform with the West -- this is something we are aware of and want to avoid wholeheartedly.  Bali is an example of a society whose culture continues to thrive despite its interactions with globalism and consumerism, furthermore, Bali does this in its own fashion distinct from anywhere else in the world.  The Balinese are not victims of globalization, they are actors on the global stage.  The goal of our project is to give them a spotlight, and in that spotlight, allow them the opportunity to speak, dance, and offer whatever wisdom that their rich culture can articulate to an international audience.

In addition, upon request with village elders, we would like to ask if a handful of Balinese youth (around our age) would like to learn basic camera skills to also document their own ceremonies, rituals, and performances while we are there. In doing so, we hope that this basic skill set can serve as a valuable and meaningful technical knowledge to communicate at a local and international level with future projects and grassroots efforts occurring throughout the island.

Other Ways You Can Help:

Even if you can’t financially contribute to our film, there are still plenty of other ways to help us spread the word!

By using the indiegogo share tool, you can support our film through posting this on facebook, twitter, or any other website that allows you to share videos. Every little bit helps, and we’re grateful for any type of contribution you can or decide to make!

Terima Kashih (thank you) for your time and consideration to support our cause! 

 

Questions? Comments? Feel free to write to us!

Please contact Chelsea Thompson at: chelsea.thompson@berkeley.edu 

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Choose your Perk

Thank you!

$10 USD
With a $10 donation (after we all cheer in excitement), you will receive a thank you email.
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Bali Photo Collection

$25 USD
With a $25 donation, you will receive: a digital photo album to be printed or used as desktops from our adventures in Bali (ceremonies, arts, landscapes, and candid shots of Balinese people).
1 claimed

Photos and Music From Bali

$50 USD
With a $50 donation, you will receive: a digital photo album to be printed or used as desktops from our adventures in Bali and a digital download of Balinese music and ambient sounds collected from our trip.
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You're Awesome.

$100 USD
With a $100 donation, you will receive a digital photo album to be printed or used as desktops from our adventures in Bali, a digital download of Balinese music and ambient sounds collected from our trip. and a canvas tote designed by us.
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Producer's Club

$250 USD
With a $250 donation, you will receive a digital photo album to be printed or used as desktops from our adventures in Bali, a digital download of Balinese music and ambient sounds collected from our trip, a canvas tote designed by us AND your name featured in the credits!
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Producer's Club Plus

$500 USD
With a $500 donation, you will receive a digital photo album to be printed or used as desktops from our adventures in Bali, a digital download of Balinese music and ambient sounds collected from our trip, a canvas tote designed by us. In addition to receiving a special thanks in the film credits, we will ANIMATE you as a special contributor to the film.
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You're Really REALLY Awesome.

$1,000 USD
With a $1000 donation, you will receive private show package (California residents only) at your house, school, or event. This is a great way to bring the film to your community, school or venue and support this project at the same time! (Package is subject to availability and dates are flexible) In addition, you will receive a special handcrafted package from Bali with quality items carefully selected and chosen by both us and Balinese contributors.
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