Introduction
“How do you creatively and truthfully portray a significant person, group, place, idea, or issue in the community?” Over the course of this unit, we found art in the real world stories we are surrounded by. The documentary unit was rewarding, but tough as it came at the tail end of the school year where a lot of projects were starting to build up. With the new stories we encountered, I found it fitting to reflect on mine in the last year at this new school. My profile article on East Palo Altos current mayor, Antonio Lopez Jr and documentary on disabilities in the film industry have truly changed my perspective on what it is to be a pioneer in their respective fields.
I am truly so grateful for what I learned over this unit because it opened my eyes to so many stories I simple never connected with. I learned more about preparation and communicating with my interviewees in a professional manner while narrative or other projects might just be working with friends, we had to reach out via social media, get in contact with managers and PR teams among many others.
Profile Article
My conversation with Mayor Lopez was invaluable. He provided so much wisdom so early in his early career and it motivated me to keep at my goals despite still being a teenager. Read my article below.
Film
This project has to be one of the most random most on the spot projects I have ever been a part of. Ben decided to sacrifice his name in a sort of comedic piece of loving caring nature. We had the entire campus to seek out good spots of natural lighting and learning more about the styles and rules of documentary filmmaking.
This film shed light on a really important topic. I found that it’s really easy to care about something, but it might make it harder to create something you can settle for. Representing a marginalized community is something I care very deeply about as I belong to a couple and am trying to become a part of this industry. In highlighting the experiences of multiple disabled creatives, I learned so many important skills in listening and have become more aware of the struggles I, as an able bodied person may be oblivious to.
Reflections
As this project and year comes to a close I’ve felt so grateful to the people who have taken their time to partake in my projects at school and outside of school. All of my classmates and friends that have taken the time to provide feedback and support through this crazy year of editing, all nighters and my parents for putting up with my incessant word vomiting of ideas and frustrations. All the people that have stuck with me are truly my rocks and I simply could not have survived this year without them.