Umi Zyrus Elijah V.

Ramos
Asynchronous Activity
RVA 123 - 9

1. I believe the documentary we saw was about children giving up their ambitions
to endure their everyday lives. As a result, the documentary's main point is to
highlight how victims of child exploitation 'yield' the normal life that they should
have since the only option they have is to sacrifice their childhood as they hope
for a better future.

2. The documentary entitled ‘Yield’ is a depressing reminder of how much easier

life is today than it was in the past. However, witnessing the sparkles of
optimism and humor on the faces of such young people as they grow up in
these desperate times strengthens the beliefs surrounding childhood: no matter
how difficult things become, nothing can ruin the innocence we all desire to
recover. 'Yield,' far from being arrogant, permits us to get so much from this
experience without asking for anything in return, except a tiny little bit of
humility. Not only that, but it's a lesson on how to make a decent, honest
documentary — it's the thought-provoking gift that keeps on giving.

3. Even with little to no dialogue and very little outside contact, Yield was visually
and emotionally rich, highlighting the universal essence of childhood at its heart.
The camera perspectives, angles, and the manner they recorded the characters
were all genuine, allowing the audience to instantly get involved in the
documentary. The storyline, on the other hand, is relevant and meaningful since
it follows the lives of several children from different backgrounds. The film's
young and curious spirit, tone, and filming technique, as well as its
dramatization of a juvenile mindset, all reflect this. Few films convey as much
regard for their subject matter as 'Yield,' and hence require very little of them
and their viewers, even those unfamiliar with this type of filmmaking.

4. As the film progresses, it feels almost as if the viewer is watching through the
eyes of a child who is new to the area; packing five years into a span of barely
ninety minutes (the film's only adult quality, in that time moves faster as we get
older) is perhaps a bold but necessary step and gives the viewer enough time
to feel as if they are getting to know them. This quality, along with the film's
straightforward and two-dimensional style, makes it even more difficult to watch
during the most difficult parts; the effect of these events is enhanced as a result.
Only then does the entire truth of their condition become obvious, reminding us
of the awful toll that life takes on children not only here, but all throughout the
"global south," that they are a product of their environment, and that their bodies
have been shaped to it consequently. As a result, I think that the documentary
was successful in visual narrative telling because authenticity is a crucial part
of 'visual story-telling.'