Introduction
“How can you find, explore, and/or expand your passion?”
Freestyle
The explorations project at freestyle academy was very aptly named, we got to explore. We were able to stretch out and find something to do, learn something new and produce something in each class.
In English, although we wrote it an essay, it was a new style of essay, one that was less structured and more of how we wanted it to be: a Lyrical Essay.
In Digital Media, we finally learned how to produce music (which I got so excited for).
Finally, in my Film class, we were able to branch into any bit of film we wanted and had to learn about it, then to show mastery, create something of it. I decided to accept Mr. Taylor’s challenge, ( as I so often do) and try to create a Film Noir.
Final Productions
English
Lyrical Essay
So love… love… love, and be free.
― Faisal Salah
When we first encountered a Lyrical Essay, I was really confused. I didn’t get it, but I was interested. As we learned more and read more examples, I started to understand it. A Lyrical Essay is a free-flowing structured piece of writing that can be almost anything you want it to be. So, I decided to write a poem about my stream of thoughts. I tend to overthink a lot, which isn’t my best quality. I also wanted to write a poem about a different side of love that isn’t often talked about. Love is usually portrayed as perfect and beautiful, but I wanted to discuss love when your mind is racing at a million miles per second.
What I ended up with wasn’t exactly a Lyrical Essay, but more like a Lyrical Performance. At the beginning of the year, we debated whether art has a specific meaning or if it depends on the interpretation of the person experiencing it. Which interpretation is more valid? This poem can mean anything to you, but it holds a special meaning for me. To me, it’s not just meant to be read; it needs to be performed. I tried to format the text and words to capture how I would read it aloud, but unless you hear me actually perform it, you’re free to interpret it however you like. Just know that when you read it, it comes from a deeper, more hidden part of me that I don’t usually show.
Digital Media
Music Production
“A poet is a musician that can’t sing. Words have to find a man’s mind before they can touch his heart, and some men’s minds are woeful small targets. Music touches their hearts directly no matter how small or stubborn the mind of the man who listens.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind
We finally had the opportunity to learn how to make music, and I couldn’t contain my excitement. As an avid music listener, I practically have music playing all the time. When I was younger, I dabbled in music creation using an old program and even uploaded a couple of songs on YouTube (they might still be out there somewhere). Although nothing significant came out of it, I had a blast.
Fast forward to the present, the moment I could delve into music creation again, I felt a surge of excitement. However, I also felt a bit overwhelmed. There were so many possibilities, and I wasn’t sure where to begin. Thankfully, my friend Mattan, who always has great music recommendations, introduced me to an artist I was ashamed to admit I hadn’t listened to before—JPEGMAFIA. His song “Lean Beef Patty” unexpectedly reminded me of “XXX. FEAT. U2” and that brought me back to revisiting my all-time favorite album, IGOR. It was then that I realized I wanted to create something inspired by both “Lean Beef Patty” and “Igor’s Theme.”
The music I ended up making was more of an exploration, pun intended, I wasn’t trying to produce a song, I want to do that next year, I wanted to experiment with the interface to see what I could make. Im really chuffed with what turned out.
Film
“Ours isn’t a perfect world. It’s downtown–a gilded toilet where people defecate in the streets, where untreated crazies run amok, where Business Improvement District dispatchers get stabbed in the back”
― Dan Johnson, Catawampusland
Film Noir
In our film class, we had the freedom to explore and experiment with various aspects related to film. After learning about different topics, we were tasked with creating a finished product to showcase our understanding. I wasn’t sure what direction to take until Mr. Taylor mentioned how students had attempted (with varying degrees of success) to create a Film Noir. That instantly became my goal—I knew it was what I wanted to do.
To familiarize myself with Film Noir, I delved into reading papers, definitions, and resources dedicated to the genre. While there was a plethora of content available, it was challenging to pinpoint an exact definition of Film Noir. It’s more of a visceral experience, where you recognize it when you see it. Nonetheless, I did watch a couple of noir films, with my favorite being “Sunset Boulevard,” directed by Billy Wilder.
Armed with inspiration, I embarked on producing my own Film Noir. Fortunately, I was incredibly fortunate to have friends who agreed to help me as actors, even filming late into the night at 11 pm. I encountered some difficulties with recording audio, but it was a valuable learning experience. Overall, the final product exceeded my expectations, and I even experimented with additional details using After Effects.
Film Temporary Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7n8886XaBJBGT3G00z12Ca4J9ZzXSuD/view?usp=drive_link
Reflection
As my junior year comes to an end at Freestyle, I find myself contemplating. It’s truly incredible to realize that I’m already halfway through my Freestyle journey and have gained a wealth of knowledge. If my sophomore self could see me now, I’m certain they would be astonished. However, I can’t help but ponder about the future. What will I learn in the upcoming year? Will I look back at the future version of myself and be amazed once again? Will the future generations of Freestyle students come across this message? If you’re reading this from the future, greetings! Do you happen to know me? Have I made a lasting impact on Freestyle? I would greatly appreciate any insights.
Nevertheless, the opportunity to explore various subjects and absorb all the content has been absolutely mind-blowing. Whether it was making music, researching and producing film noir, or creatively writing in a lyrical essay. My reflections section, and year at freestyle has been an unforgettable experience and I can’t wait to see what comes next year.