Well, first of all, thanks for this site, it's really helpful. But here's how it is; I want to move to Spain for three months next summer (not the one coming up) and during that time I'd like to film a documentary. Basically, I really like film and I really like languages (Spanish especially) and I've visited Spain once before and really liked it there. I may try to get a job but I may not, I'm not here to make money, I'm probably going to spend a lot actually. So now that you've got the background, here is my large list of questions:
1. What is an interesting topic I could make a documentary about in Spain. I want to do something interesting, pertinent and something that hasn't been done before. I would like it to be unique to Spain but not necessarily. My intent is to produce something of good quality that I could hopefully sell to a local television channel. If that doesn't work out then I'll just post to youtube. I really just want the experience
2. Where would be a good area to live? I'd like to avoid Barcelona and Madrid. I loved both cities but I'd rather stick with smaller cities. I'm considering Sevilla and Malaga. I'd like to avoid Catalu?a because I don't know Catalan. As well, would you recommend finding a roomate or living on my own? I'm going to end up living in the cheapest place that I can find as location is unimportant to me.
3. I'm 19 (will be 20 at time of move) and live in Canada. If I did decide to try to find a job, what would I need to do to do it legally? A simple link is fine, I've just been having trouble finding all the specifics on this. I do speak a fair amount of Spanish. I've taken 5 years of classes and I would say that I'm nearly fluent. I have no trouble reading Spanish but I'm a little slow with speaking.
I know there's other things but I'll ask when I remember.
May 13, 2008 · MartCross
Hi, I don't know what style of documentary film maker you are, but given your age I'd suggest you do something about the changing position of youth in Spain. As you probably know, Spanish society has been very conservative and family oriented until recently. The generation of La Movida in the late seventies and 80s was the first to challenge this, and now their own kids are your age. So the current twenty-somethings are the first Spaniards who've been brought up by supposedly freedom-loving parents. I think that might be interesting. Because of high housing costs young people often stay at home (in tiny apartments) until they are thirty or so - which means a lot of people have sex in cars! Another related phenomenon (which I think is unique to Spain) is the macrobotellon, where tens of thousands of young people gather in plazas and streets to party, arranging it all with text messages and e-mails. Then there are drugs, crime, attitudes to the church, the first children from the big waves of immigrants, the changing face of Spanish music and so on. Loads of material and as you're student-age yourself you should be able to get into the scene.
As for where to go - I'm sure you already appreciate that the cities are wildly different in style and atmosphere. Restricting yourself to Castilian-only areas, I'd recommend Granada (full of tourists and students but beautiful, cheap and lively); Malaga, good nightlife and lots of outdoor living; Sevilla, beautiful and sophisticated. Some of the smaller cities are surprisingly interesting when you get to know them too - Almeria and Jaen, for example. Some university cities, like Salamanca, are attractive and lively, but a bit full of North Americans on language courses - something you might want to avoid if you're after total immersion.
As for where to go - I'm sure you already appreciate that the cities are wildly different in style and atmosphere. Restricting yourself to Castilian-only areas, I'd recommend Granada (full of tourists and students but beautiful, cheap and lively); Malaga, good nightlife and lots of outdoor living; Sevilla, beautiful and sophisticated. Some of the smaller cities are surprisingly interesting when you get to know them too - Almeria and Jaen, for example. Some university cities, like Salamanca, are attractive and lively, but a bit full of North Americans on language courses - something you might want to avoid if you're after total immersion.