Production Memo

Production Memo:

This project was difficult. I originally wanted to do this project on illegal housing in Hempstead, NY; then I changed my mind to reporting on the hunger situation in Hempstead, NY. After much deliberation, I finally changed my mind to covering censorship in Nassau public schools and libraries.

After visiting the Locust Valley Library, in Locust Valley NY in the North Shore, I decided that this was an important topic to be discussed.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Nassau Chapter, has a floating exhibit at the libraries of Nassau County throughout the summer.

After not being allowed to film or take pictures, according to the library, I contacted the Nassau NYCLU chapter.

The Locust Valley Library would not allow me to interview them at all, about their censorship or lack of, rules. The library’s director, Ms. Schoen (no relation to me) refused to let me question her without a copy of my questions be sent to her superiors. After said questions were sent, no responses were given to me from numerous phone calls and emails left in her inbox.

I decided to interview the Nassau NYCLU, of which executive director Tara Keenan-Thomson was more than happy to meet with me a few times over the phone and finally in person when she returned from vacation.

When multiple requests to interview school administrators turned up nothing, I turned to Facebook. Facebook granted me access to former Locust Valley High School students. Many of those students most likely received an email from me requesting to interview them for this project. One student, Alex Erlich, was kind enough to meet with me. At 9:00pm, we conducted our interview.

Meeting the deadline was another story. Since my contacts were almost un-contactable, meeting the first Monday at noon deadline was virtually impossible. However, this project was a lot of fun. This is definitely what my passion is, digging and asking questions.