Blog 11: Mentorship 10 Hours

1. I am doing my mentorship with the production company my aunt and uncle are affiliated with: Desert Monsoon Media. Some of my mentorship was done on-site under their supervision, and some was collecting research which they assigned for me on my own time. The details of my work are indicated in my mentorship log.
2. My contact/mentor is my aunt, but I can contact my uncle just as easily.
3. I have done a total of 31 hours of mentorship so far.
4. All of this is stated in my mentorship log, but I doubled as an on-site production assistant and a film festival research assistant for my aunt and uncle's web series. I marked the scenes and operated the boom mic on several scenes and organized the snacks and drinks. As for the film festival research, I found all submission specifications for upcoming film festivals.

Blog 10: Senior Project: The Holiday

1. Over break, I allowed myself to rest and get my mind off of the bombardment of schoolwork. But for my senior project, however, I brainstormed a few additional fields of film I could research that I've overlooked: animation, camera operation, accounting, wardrobe, hair and makeup, stunts, and special effects. With regard to independent film, some of these will be much more finite as opposed to feature films.
2. What I learned from this is that film departments will be much more diverse and broad for feature films. For example, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and even special effects (physical) could all be lumped into one department for a low-budget independent film, but for a feature film, they are all their own respective departments. There is no source for this, it's just an analytical interpretation based on logic and common sense. Evidence: independent films typically have much smaller budgets. As a result, there will be less crew members and subsequently these crew members will have to work in teams that cover several departments, lumped together and chosen at the discretion of the directors/supervisors.
3. If I were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of my EQ, I would consider talking to independent filmmakers who've produced a good variety of films each with their individual qualities, preferably some that have done significantly well. 

Blog 9: EQ

1. I have reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.
2. Why the EQs did or didn't meet the rule of three criteria:

a. Yes, since the question is open-ended and requires some sort of education in the field to answer.
b. No, the meaning of the question is not straightforward, however it can be revised and still yield the same answer.
c. Yes, since the question addresses technique and practical application.
d. No, since the question is not open-ended and lacks depth.

     3. Which features best contribute to progress and advancement of an independent film?

November Blog: Independent Component Update

For my independent component, I have been writing a screenplay that I will shoot as my second independent component. As of now, I have 13 pages of dialogue and description. A brief summary of the story (so far) is as follows:
A girl, Kylie, with a stressed businesswoman of a mother has her 1st day of school. She is nervous about making friends, but she meets one boy, Luke, that she can instantaneously call a friend. The students give their teacher a very hard time, asking profound questions that she doesn't know how to answer. Anyway, Kylie and Luke play on the playground for a while after class, and at one point, they hug one another while sitting on a bench. The time period shifts, and now they are 18-year-olds performing the same action. They visit their school to reminisce, and it is established that Kylie is very studious, but has difficulty in her debate class. At school the next morning, their friend, Johnny, asks to borrow the homework. He can be characterized as a lazy, fun-loving friend. As Kylie leaves, Luke tells Johnny that he wants to propose to Kylie, and even shows him the engagement ring. Johnny tells Luke about an upcoming party at another friend, Josh's, however Luke is reluctant to go, as Josh is a drug addict and possible alcoholic. Meanwhile, Kylie is assigned a partner and topic for her next debate. She is comfortable with her partner, Daniel, and is prepared to redeem herself by debating against illegal drugs. Later that day, Luke is working on an essay and texting Johnny about the party simultaneously. He dozes off, and upon awakening realizes that he didn't finish his essay. At school, he frantically works on it, and Kylie assists. After, Johnny arrives and assures Luke that the essay is irrelevant enough to have little influence on his decent grade. To cheer him up, he mentions the party that will be later that day. Meanwhile, Kylie recites her debate speech against illegal drugs, as Luke is shown taking drugs at Josh's party.
For the 2nd Independent component, I am prepared to collaborate with fellow seniors that have topics that can be implemented to fufill the Independent film, or anyone that is interested in helping.

October Blog

Due to several presentations, tests, and quizzes for all classes, making time to watch films has been very difficult. Therefore, my list for next month remains the same:

Donnie Darko

Garden State

Another Earth

Primer

Upstream Color

Cyrus

Jeff, Who Lives at Home

However, I have started writing my screenplay for my independent component. A few pages have been completed, but ideas don't come out of thin air. I'm not quite sure how to show how I've worked on it, but the scene opens with a few kids' first day of school. They all give the teacher a hard time.

Research and Working EQ

1) My working EQ is: "What is the most essential aspect in regard to the creation of a successful independent film?"

2) Some possible answers to my working EQ are:

• To show dedication in exposing a controversial social issue through the use of thought-provoking material, in addition to a unique story and/or characters. 
• To maximize profits by getting a film with a gimmicky idiosyncrasy retained in a film festival.
• To leverage relationships with fellow filmmakers in order to create strategic collaborations that don't compromise the vision.

3) The most important source that I have used that has helped me come up with an answer to my working EQ has been my source #19 in my WB; It is the second scholarly source that I have used, and the author is astonishingly verbose in concisely describing the topic in the greatest of detail. All of my other sources have gradually acquainted me further to the topic.

5) I've decided to have 2 mentors: my aunt and my uncle. They are both independent filmmakers that live together, and work in different departments. My aunt works as a writer and in the art department, while my uncle mostly directs and produces. Having 2 mentors that work in separate departments of independent film should help me broaden my area of expertise on the topic of independent film.

Independent Component 1 Approval

1) For my 30 hours, I plan to write a screenplay of my own, since my topic is independent filmmaking. For the second independent component, I plan on shooting my screenplay after it is perfected.
2) To show 30 hours of evidence, I could submit drafts of my screenplay, on each due date a more refined and completed version.
3) This component will definitely help me explore my topic in depth since the work is hands-on as opposed to repeated research of independent film. This component will also help me apply the research I have done in a cohesive, orderly fashion.