Update 1

Hello again! I am just giving a minor update on how things with the project are going. This is mainly things from my point of view, but I just wanted to give a quick update for those who are wondering about and following the M-Word Project.
So far, I have hours and hours of footage and not enough time in my time line. This project is initially for my BFA class (Bachelors of Fine Arts), which I will only have about 30 minutes at most to have a completed video. I am going to make it a full length documentary outside of class since a half an hour really doesn't seem like enough time to say everything and also since her SRS surgery date is after this semester ends. So right now the biggest challenge is deciding what gets put in the 30 minute special (as I have started thinking about it) but still filming everything that needs to be in the full length version. I personally feel like 20-30 minutes is too short of a time to get all the ups and downs of this project coherently so wish us luck!
My professors are so thrilled with this project I worry I wont live up to the expectations they have formulated in their brains, but I must say it is really nice to have them backing me on this one and they do seem genuinely excited about it . . . which is a first for me. I guess photography gummy bears trying to ruin two Jawa's day was not their cup of tea. [link] I am very excited to work on a project that is so outside what I am used to doing. Documentaries are so foreign to my way of working, there is no script just an outline of topics and things we think are important to do on camera. No acting, so I have no real control over out come of events, just last night while filming and talking on some silly questions Minka has been asked, she started talking about things that almost started her crying. Which is not what the plan was, it is so hard to decide what to film and what to put in the video because of that, organic is what I want, I want to show the real Minka but I don't want to upset or ruin her day by doing it. I am dealing with a real person after all, one who I love and care about. So as a friend I want to turn the camera off and call it a night, but as a film maker I know this is what I want to show because hopefully that is what will get the message across to people. Minka is a real girl with real problems (with a friend shoving a camera in her face for at least the next four to five months).
I am also struggling with just having me as Director, Tech crew, and the Post team. I want at least two camera's going at all times while filming, so I have one static main camera that I just pray that the white balance is correct and still filming when I am operating the other camera, and my T3i that half the time stops filming randomly (which we have come to discover is a safety mechanism for the sensor not to over heat.) and the white balance is never correct, so I have to correct it in post and it is really noticeable. Filming in our apartment is a small nightmare, there is never enough lighting (which means I will have to break down and by continuous lighting), our heater is constantly kicking back on even after we turn it off which makes editing audio zero fun. Oh and let me mention my noisy smoking neighbors who are in and out constantly slamming doors, yelling at their children, and hacking up spit balls that is a lovely result from smoking (don't pick up smoking kids, your neighbors might murder you from all the quirky habits you gain from it) that all get picked up by my cameras audio and RUIN the moment.
As for the social aspect, we have had a few moments with ignorant people but so far nothing to drastic at least from what I have been dealing with. A good chunk of the people in my class are supportive and excited, some have even admitted to finding Minka still incredibly attractive regardless of finding about about her secret, score one for Minka - The hotter roommate! The other people in my class are trying their best to see things from a production angle and still give me critiques with out mentioning Minka, which is good and bad. I am glad they are trying to help me with the project from a peer to peer perspective but they still refuse to actually talk about Minka. I have had some people come around, before they refused to talk about me or to me, completely avoid Minka's name, and when I would show the stuff I have edited they would stare at their feet, now I have talked to them a little about it, they still skirt around certain things and I don't agree with their opinions (whether on the topic or how I am filming it) but at least they are talking now.
So far one of Minka's biggest moments was about a week after I presented the project to my class, I was sitting in the hallway waiting for Minka to get out of class and two of the gals in my BFA class were chatting with me when Minka arrived. Minka told me later that the best part about her day was walking up and joining the conversation with us and the other girls treated her no differently than they woud have before they knew.
So far though, there are no real hiccups to report beside the fact that I am know dealing with two camera that I haven't dealt with before so I am learning as I go . . . which might be the charm . . . right? :/ Two girls setting out to change the world one slightly-not-white-balanced shot at a time! . . . yeah don't tell my professors I said that.
As a final note I would like to thank everyone for their support! Whether it was just a facebook "like", or an encouraging comment, or by donating to Minka's surgery fund. It has meant so much and been an amazing experience and realization to know there are so many who support the cause and Minka just as much as I do.

[For those of you reading this and don't really know what is going on, I am making a documentary about Minka, my lovely roommate and amazing friend, who is MtF transgender and her journey and struggles that come with preparing for the most life changing (and expensive) surgery, all while living her life as the woman she should have been born as from the start. For Minka's POV go to
http://missdivaminka.deviantart.com/journal/The-M-Word-Project-283562149 ]

Also again, anything anyone can donate would be amazing, every penny counts! We thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.
Also if you could share this project with everyone that would be so amazing! We want to spread the word!

Be Safe and Don't Die!