WHATEVER IT TAKES: First Log

Hi everybody, my name is Christopher Wong, and I’ve been asked to write a weekly blog about my feature-length documentary film WHATEVER IT TAKES – a year-long story about a new public school in New York City’s South Bronx.

Whatever It Takes

September 25, 2007
Los Angeles

Hi everybody, my name is Christopher Wong, and I’ve been asked to write a weekly blog about my feature-length documentary film WHATEVER IT TAKES – a year-long story about a new public school in New York City’s South Bronx, and the amazing Asian American principal who attempts to lead his students to a better future.

WHATEVER IT TAKES is a work-in-progress. Except for one last shoot in October, I should be completely finished with principal photography. This film is currently in the beginning stages of post-production, and will probably require about 6-8 months of editing. With over 140 tapes worth of footage, my filmmaking team and I have a lot of work ahead of us; however, considering that our project covers an entire year of activity, it actually feels like we did a good job of shooting selectively.

I feel very grateful to The Center for Asian American Media for putting their faith in this documentary. When they decided to give us such a substantial funding award, it really propelled this project forward. Though WHATEVER IT TAKES has received other funding (e.g. The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund), the CAAM funding truly frees us to concentrate fully on the film for an extended period of time.

Through this blog, I hope that readers will not only learn more about my particular project, but more importantly, be inspired and empowered to create their own films. The more Asian American filmmakers we have, the stronger our presence and our voice. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?

Christopher Wong Christopher Wong received his B.A. in Economics from Princeton University in 1992. A relative latecomer to the world of film and video, Christopher has worked as a camera operator, editor, and production manager on a wide variety of projects. Following stints in New York City, Santa Barbara, and Seattle, he now resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. WHATEVER IT TAKES is his first film.

www.whateverittakesdoc.com