Scripptttola

So pretty much today we had 4th period as well as 5th which is right now to work on our borders project and i have been working on our script and making some changes that were suggested by Spencer. I think our script is coming along quite well and we have played out what we are going to do all our interviews next week. We still need to add some more sources that we used for our information into our script but other than that i think its pretty good. Another thing we need to work on is how we are going to film the closing segment.

Here is what we have at this very moment:

Migrant Workers Script

[Stationary shot, “chair scene”]
(Nicolette) The term “migrant workers” has been appearing more frequently and more consistently in the headlines. Usually preceded by the words “illegal” or “exploited”. So what is the reason behind the sudden controversy that seems to surround migrant workers, and more importantly, why has exploitation of them become an understood necessary evil for the United States economy? Tonight, Working Class Heroes answers these questions and more as we take an in depth look at the lives of migrant workers.

[shot of crowd milling through HTH](Mari) Most people have a pre-formulated concept about the lives of migrant workers and illegal immigrants in the United States.[shot of Mari in front of interviewees](Mari) So, __________, what kind of lives do you think that illegal immigrants lead?(Three peer interviewees) _______________________________[photographs of Great Depression](narration) Latin American workers, which will be the main focus of our segment, started coming to the United States during the Great Depression. Due to the ruined financial state of the country, their wages were often extremely low, and the labor was time-intensive and rough. Conditions were unforgiving and workers were rarely able to better their lives, having to keep working to barely escape bankruptcy.[pictures of newspapers with articles on illegal immigration]In the last decade, the issue of illegal immigration has become more and more pressing, and more awareness has arisen towards the problems that occur with the increasing presence of a migrant labor force.

We are going to discuss the problems that specifically affect those workers, such as housing and wages.

[Statistics on a background]Economically, the United States is more dependant on the flow of migrant labor than many would imagine. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, migrant workers in the United States sent home a collective $62.3 billion dollars in 2006, which is a 14% increase from 2005. Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia have the highest receiving rate of remittances. With the pressing issue of illegal immigration however, the INDB estimates that the number of remittances will begin to decline, which could have negative effects on the economies of not only the recipients, but the United States as well.

Migrant farm workers as a whole do not have adequate housing, and the issue is often glossed over by the government. In some circumstances, employers are not required to provide housing for their workers, and thus, it is upon the migrant workers themselves to find shelter for their families, often on a sub minimum wage. Also, if the worker does not have legal status, housing seems an even bigger nuisance, as many land lords mandate that tenants provide proof of legal residence. Those who speak out against the assimilation of illegal immigrants into US society, such as groups like the minute men, argue that these are conditions that all illegal immigrants choose to accept, and that they should obtain legal citizenship the proper way. However, the current legal process is a taxing and time consuming affair that can take several years. Meanwhile, outsourcing of work seems to be increasing at a rapid pace, which creates difficult situations for the people in countries from which many migrant workers originate, creating a cyclical pattern of opportunity forming into exploitation.

And now with for an interview with Enrique Morones the director of Border Angles.

[Group member in front of interviewee]Here, we interview ___person___ on the subject of migrant workers.(interview questions here).


[Closing chair sequence]
Tonight, Working Class Heroes has covered the basic information on migrant workers and the hardships they go through each day. Being a migrant worker makes seemingly easy tasks that most people take for granted, a lot harder to accomplish. Such as finding a house to live in and earning enough money to support your family. It’s our community to become more aware of these things, and take measures to remedy them. Until next time, this Working Class Heroes signing off, I’m Nicolette.