The Next Protagonists... (Potential Documentary Interviewees)

Hey guys! Long time no see!

    Over the course of this week, I have been thinking about this documentary more and more and I have really started to put some thought into who could possibly be an interviewee for this piece. After all, due to our lack of voice over (we plan on doing indirect interviews and letting the interviewees "tell the story"), we need people that will be able to not only present themselves well on camera, but also talk about the subject in depth. The main issue with this documentary is that many people do not know about the male gaze, which instantly narrows down the pool of potential interviewees for our doc. Luckily, I happen to know some socially aware individuals that have been affected by the male gaze personally. Here are the ones I am considering:

*Note: For privacy reasons I will not be using their names, only describing them and what they could bring into the production.

Potential Interviewee #1: 

    This person is an artist and has actually been basing their entire AP Art portfolio on women and oppression. I have talked to them personally about complex matters and they seem mature and honest, which is definitely something that we need for this documentary. I remember talking to them about the male gaze specifically (I also happened to mention this project, and how I was looking for people to interview), and they told me that they would love to discuss it, however the main way in which the male gaze has impacted them is in their sexuality, which is something they may not be ready to talk about on camera - especially since they really have not been interviewed for a documentary before. I told them that I completely respected that and that we could talk more about it when we saw each other in person, since I think Kim and I could make them feel comfortable enough to open up. We obviously do not want to force anyone to do anything so if it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out, however we think they would be an amazing candidate, especially with their artistic background. The artistic part of them could also result in some new B-roll ideas, which is exciting.

Potential Interviewee #2: 

    This is someone that Kim and I have worked with personally before. I have wanted them to be in one of our docs for so long, so since the topic is the male gaze (and they love to consume media critically), I am basically jumping at the possibility of working with them. I have also told them about my idea already and they seemed to really like it, so I think they are likely to say yes.

    In terms of their value as an interviewee: I think this person is extremely well spoken, is knowledgeable about not just the male gaze but other topics as well, and could be a fantastic person on camera. They have been in my productions before and they have no problem acting or showing off in front of a camera, which would be extremely beneficial for filming. This person is one of my top choices, 100%.

Potential Interviewee #3: 

    I am not too close with this person, however they have been in my classes in the past and they seem to be constantly aware of what is going on in the world, they are exceptionally well-spoken (they compete for debate, so no surprises there), and they are always advocating for women's rights (as well as marginalized groups), so I think this topic would be right up their alley. Even if they do not know about the male gaze in particular, Kim and I will be writing questions that are more personal, therefore not requiring the interviewees to know anything theoretical or overly specific about the male gaze. We will simply focus on the perception of women through the media and how this affects not only women's view of themselves, but their view of the world/society and how they may subconsciously change their behavior as a result. I definitely think this person is intelligent and emotionally aware enough to answer our questions, so I would love to see if they were interested in participating. Also, they happen to be a very close friend of one of Counter Conformity's interviewees, Florence Laurent, so they are familiar with us and our work. We'll see if they are willing to be a part of it!

Potential Interviewee #4: 

    This is someone that I have spoken with about the male gaze multiple times, and each of those conversations have sparked a lot of deep thinking on my side. I really do think that this person is very knowledgeable about the male gaze and could definitely give Kim and I some good answers, especially since we have worked with them multiple times for projects. However, because we have worked together before, we are aware that they are very busy and sometimes unreliable, which could be risky. Also, because we are so used to working with this person, I think it would be best to work with someone new and mix things up a little bit. I think that one of the things I enjoyed most about Counter Conformity was getting the chance to not only meet knew people, but also get to know them as human beings, which is an experience we could not get from working with this potential interviewee. I am keeping them in mind due to their strong camera presence and knowledge, however I am only thinking of reaching out to them if we cannot find anyone else. I definitely would like to work with them for other projects, much like we have already done in the past.

Potential Interviewee #5: 

    Last but certainly not least, this person actually reached out to me to make something about the male gaze together. I already told them about this documentary and they seem to be interested, which is nice considering I know that they have done their research and could probably talk about the topic extensively. The only downside is I am not sure how much they would fit the "look" we are going for, however that is something that we might be able to figure out. I am also keeping this person as a backup, however they are definitely not a bad option.

    Alright guys! Hopefully that gives you a slightly better idea of what the potential interviewees are looking like for this project. I really take this selection process seriously because if I am being completely honest, one of the things that made Counter Conformity so special was the interviewees, 100%. They were so well-spoken and honest, and they were even able to bring in some comedic moments throughout the piece (which definitely helped lighten up such a complex - and occasionally dark - topic). I also loved how Florence in specific would bring up some very significant points in a poetic way, such as when they stated that people "weave in" gender expectations into clothing, despite clothing having no designated gender. I really do hope that we can recreate or reimagine those sort of moments in this documentary in order to make it not just entertaining and engaging, but also memorable.

    We have plenty of people to choose from (I might even have other options as well), so I cannot wait to contact them and finally have them picked out! I am really excited to have this idea come alive. Let's see what happens!

Bringing it to Life: Further Planning and Brainstorming (Part 2)

    In my last post, I talked about my plan for getting props and possible back-ups incase Craigslist proves to be completely unsuccessful. However, props are not the only components of a good scene. Mine-en-scene also includes the filming location itself, as well as lighting and costuming. Because I am still trying to figure out the physical characteristics of the scene itself, I'll focus on the filming location for now.

    If you were to look at the Pinterest board I've put together, you would most likely notice something: all of the photos included are taken in an empty, white room. Not only does this leave the viewer to focus on the props and subject, but it also gives a rather polished, modern and other-worldly look to the scene (especially when the subjects are wearing peculiar clothing, like in the image below):

    I am absolutely obsessed with this aesthetic, especially with the picture above. Unfortunately, being able to find an empty space where this documentary can be filmed will definitely be a challenge - and I have about two weeks to find one, if I want to stay on schedule.

    Due to my limited budget, I began asking around and even thinking about any areas available to me that could work. For instance, I could possibly clear out an area of my house to film, but there is heavy furniture everywhere and my dog will most likely be a disturbance while filming. Another option is to see whether filming in Kim's garage would be possible (we would most likely purchase some sort of white photography backdrop, or rethink the look of the location all together). 

    While I was asking around, my friend Wade had offered a spare room in his house that would soon be empty because of his dad planning to remove the furniture inside. I asked him to send me a few pictures once he got home, and this is what he sent (he also sent some pictures of his room incase the other room didn't work):

    This is basically the equivalent of me removing all of the furniture in my room, which could serve as a last resort, but I would rather search for a larger area. I really appreciate him offering his house especially since he is not even a part of the project, but it is not worth for him to go through all that trouble when I could achieve a similar result in my own home. My main concern, like I mentioned earlier, is the fact that the room is small. This could technically be countered with the use of wider lenses (like a 14mm); however, this would most likely look strange since it would warp the image. It could work, but again I want to look for something more practical and something that I know will produce the results I would like. 

    But again, not everything works out the way one expects, so I have to keep an open mind and try my best to find something that could be successful. I really want this documentary to be successful, so I will make sure to go the extra mile to secure the proper location, proper props, and proper interviewees to make this vision come to life. These are some alternatives I will be looking into in the coming days:

- Possible places to rent (might not be possible due to our minimal budget)

- Other possible filming locations that I could get through some connections

- Finding ways to further transform areas I have already considered in order to make them fulfill the requirements

    Anyway, wish me luck! This is by far one of the aspects of the production I am most worried about, so I really hope that Kim and I find something that works. Until next time!

Bringing it to Life: Further Planning and Brainstorming

    So far, I've mostly been focusing on the content, posting about research and the overall idea that I've been working on. However, it is very important to assess whether or not an idea like this can actually be achieved, especially considering the B-roll Kim and I plan to get and the props (and location) needed to pull it all off. 

    I lightly touched on this in a previous post, but because I need old TVs and other appliances that I currently do not own, I've turned to sites like Craigslist to hopefully find the things I need to bring the scene in my head to life. So far, I found two promising postings:

- Old Model Fisher Stereo TV (Broward): 

    So this is actually a TV that I had looked into earlier for a different project (the distribution project I described in an earlier post). My group and I never actually got around to contacting the person that posted it, but last class, I decided to send them a text through the phone number they left in the post. Despite the TV looking a little big, I thought that it would still be manageable and that it would be interesting to have a TV in a cabinet, since that is not something that is commonly seen anymore. Unfortunately, not only was the size more of a problem than expected, but the person I contacted about the TV was quite problematic as well.

   The person answered pretty much instantly, their texts sounding pretty passive-aggressive. They asked if I was "serious about getting it" and kept speaking to me in a condescending tone, making me want to get this TV less and less. Once they mentioned the TV being large and heavy (larger and heavier than I expected, may I add), I instantly used it as an excuse to not pick it up, which of course caused the person to get even more passive-aggressive (fun!) until I ended the conversation and blocked the number. Oops.

    Therefore, getting this TV was not much of a success (which was probably a good thing, in the end). Definitely did not expect to have to deal with an angry stranger while making this project, but hey, it happens! 

- Old TVs & VCRs (Boynton Beach):

    This posting got me very excited, and I actually reached out to them through email about a week ago. Unfortunately, they still have not answered, which is relatively frustrating. Despite the long drive that Kim and I (and a parent of course, I'd rather not get kidnapped by some random Craigslist user) would have to do to get to Boynton Beach, getting these TVs would actually be amazing, especially since they're in good condition, look cool, and are very similar to the ones I was envisioning for the project. Sadly, I will try not to get my hopes up since it is highly unlikely that they will respond after such a long time. I have to keep looking, I guess!

    After continuing to search Craigslist, I have come to the conclusion that unless the Boynton Beach user reaches out to me soon, I will have to rely on another method of getting props. Thankfully, I have some other plans that might also work. This is what I am thinking:

- Thrift stores (particularly American Thrift and Goodwill)

- EBay, Letgo, and any other sites where people give away their old technology (Facebook Marketplace may be good)

- Some old equipment in the CBTV inventory room. Not only are there monitors and small TVs, but there are also old cameras, which may also come in handy 

- Maybe some garage sales? Junk yards?

    If all of this fails (which honestly I doubt, but I'd rather not jinx it), I might have to rethink the B-roll a little bit, which would really suck. I love the atmosphere and aesthetic of the idea I have now, so having to change up the B-roll would feel like I am changing the documentary entirely. I really hope it does not come to this, and I will keep looking (and updating you) throughout the next couple days. Wish me luck! I have a lot of searching to do.

Consuming and Creating: A Balance

Hello everyone! Another week, another set of blog posts. Let's get right into it.

    One of the main things I wanted to upgrade in this documentary that I did not get the chance to fully accomplish with Counter Conformity was the extremely stylistic, staged B-roll. I LOVE stylistic visuals. I love them. Despite getting staged footage for my last documentary, I really wanted to go all out and developing a whole set for this one, carefully selecting the mine-en-scene and using it to create a feeling that matches the content being discussed in the interviews. 

    Although, I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but my personal style in terms of B-roll is not commonly seen in most documentaries, making research or finding inspiring examples pretty close to impossible. Regardless, I have been watching some documentaries here and there to see what others have done (after all, a huge part of being a creator is also being a consumer). These are some I found:

THESE DAYS

    I will be honest, I did not have the time to finish watching this documentary, but I definitely want to when I get the chance. This piece is about people in their early 20s and how they manage themselves as they go through life, constantly asking questions and trying to figure out who they want to be. What I thought was interesting (even though it is done in a lot of documentaries, especially on more "home-style" platforms like YouTube) is the fact that the interviewees are never shown, only heard. I think that this combination of profound storytelling and handheld video makes it seem like you are talking with the interviewees one-on-one, having an intimate conversation in an empty room. The camcorder footage of nostalgic images also bring in more of a personal touch to it, augmenting that "human" feel and allowing audiences to connect with the message.

    I honestly like showing the interviewees since viewers get to connect with them personally, however I do see the value in submerging the audience completely, using footage to engulf them in a world created for them to not only further understand the concept, but also increase their attachment to the piece. Before watching this, I was expecting to cut to the interview clips or at least showing the interview clips in a creative matter (ex: having the clips edited onto the screen of an old TV), but now I might experiment with not showing them at all, focusing only on the stylistic B-roll I plan on getting. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

THE FUTURE IS FLUID

    This was actually a documentary I had used as inspiration for Counter Conformity, since of course it discussed gender fluidity and expression while simultaneously showcasing this in a stylistic way. I think that even after searching endlessly online for something like this, I have not been able to find much. Because of this, The Future is Fluid has remained in my YouTube Favorites Playlist for a while, allowing me to go back and re-watch from time to time. After so many views, this is what I personally think about it:

- What I like: Stylistic B-roll! Shocker. I love how no matter what is being shown, you can tell that whoever made it shot and chose their footage carefully. I especially love the shot in the documentary's thumbnail, since it is very obviously staged yet aesthetically and visually pleasing (the subjects themselves, the corner of the wall looking like a line between them, the color palette, etc.). It may not be the most conventional thing to do for a documentary, but I really think that it brings up the piece's artistic value and sets it apart from other documentaries. This is the level of visuals I strive for. The shots of the non-binary dancer in action are also stunning. 

    Also, this documentary does not show the interviewees (much like "These Days"), but I'm not sure if it is as effective. I think that not being able to see the interviewees' faces keep the audience from forming a connection with the speakers, which I think takes away from the piece. This is why I am probably going to make the whole "interview or no interview video" decision once the editing process starts, since I'll have a much better idea of what to do then.

- What I would do differently: In this video, they have a larger amount of interviewees (thirteen) compared to what is usually seen for a shorter documentary (most likely to emphasize that gender fluidity is becoming more popular around the world, not just in a specific country or region). Even though they are discussing the issue thoroughly, it prevents the audience from getting to know each interviewee, which in my opinion makes it less personal. Gender fluidity and expression is extremely personal; and not being able to fully understand what it means to each of them makes it seems more surface-level than it could be. This is why I tend to stick to no more than three interviewees, but again, that's just my style.

AFTER BIRTH: IS IT SELFISH TO CARE ABOUT YOUR BODY?

    I LOVE the New York Times Op-Docs, which is why it has been one of my main sources of inspiration (and in a way, research). They always tend to choose documentaries that discuss controversial topics, mainstream subjects through a fresh angle, and/or tell stories in unique ways (I think this is the closest to how the footage looked was absolutely beautiful and soul-crushing, I HIGHLY highly recommend).

    In this documentary, they discuss pregnancy but through the lens of mothers that struggled with their self-image after birth. Even though the production is simple, the topic is certainly not. A group of a few women talk about how this change in their bodies resulted in a change within their romantic and sexual relationships, their connection with their children, and their confidence. I absolutely love how they discussed such a taboo topic in the realest way possible, each interviewee being fully honest and going over pregnancy's physical and emotional effects. I think it also did a great job at portraying women as strong and independent since they had to go through these changes by themselves, all while having to take on the immense responsibility of raising a child. 

    For this upcoming documentary, I would love to also be completely real and allow each interviewee to fully express how they feel about the male gaze, since being completely honest makes everything feel genuine and raw. I really enjoyed this documentary and would love to incorporate all of this into my next project.

    Anyway, hope you liked what I found! I plan on watching more and more throughout the process of making this project, that way I can learn more about making documentaries and hopefully find other pieces that inspire me to create. I'll make sure to post them once I find them!

Exciting News, Excited for the Future

OUR FIRST FILM FESTIVAL!!

    Hello everyone! I've got some great news to share. After officially releasing the documentary (Counter Conformity) on Instagram on January 2nd, my partner Kimberly Blum and I have been submitting to festivals in order to get a little more exposure and to take advantage of our first official film. Up until recently, we had not heard from any festivals - but that changed yesterday.

    I am not able to publicly announce which festival it is since it may jeopardize our opportunity to be screened (it said so in an email they sent), but being selected for this festival was a huge honor. It is one of the most well-known festivals for young filmmakers and it takes place across the country in a big city. Kim and I are hoping to make it to the premiere in April. We are beyond thrilled to finally see our film on the big screen :D It's a dream come true.

Interesting Additions

    Speaking of this festival - I've had to fill out a bunch of information in order for our film to be screened, which has been time-consuming but once again very exciting. I have never had a film that was selected before, so filling out this information and learning more about requirements definitely makes me feel much more prepared for our next documentary, since we'll know all of this ahead of time and will keep it in mind in order to submit to more festivals. It has also pushed me to create additional media for our doc, including a website. This is what it is looking like so far:

I finished the front page, stills and BTS page, and set up the structure for the rest
(About, Screening Events, Contact, etc.). Can't wait to publish the site!

    I am not quite done creating it, but making this website has made me realize that having a place online dedicated to the documentary is going to be a great resource for not only us (since it's professional and builds credibility), but also for those interested in learning more about the piece. Because of this, I definitely want to make a website for our new documentary as soon as we finish production. I am really grateful to be experiencing all this with Counter Conformity that way I can apply everything I've learned for our next project, which we will be making very soon.

Ready for the Next Step

    All in all, I am very proud of Counter Conformity and its success, but it is time to get our new project started and apply all of the lessons we learned through this first film. I definitely look forward to what we make next and I hope we achieve just as much if not more with this new project! I think all of these good news have definitely re-energized me after such a rough year, and I'm ready to take things to the next level. Let's see what Kim and I come up with this time. It's going to be great.

4AM Planning: A Start

     The other day I was calmly ending my day, taking the time to slowly shut off my brain before finally going to sleep. As soon as my head hit the pillow, though, I was bombarded by a series of random imagery and thoughts regarding this upcoming documentary. Shot ideas, possible angles, potential interviewees, ways to ask questions and what kind of answers would be amazing to get... I tried to write everything down and then keep thinking about everything the next day, but after multiple attempts to push this doc to the side and sleep, I gave up and let my thoughts lead me to wherever they led me. After about an hour of brainstorming, this was the result:

    This is just a basic outline. It is also subject to change, since I'm sure that once Kim and I begin writing questions, more topics are going to come up and some topics may become irrelevant. However, I'm glad to have a slightly better idea of what we could do, especially after being completely perplexed about the entire structure/angle of the documentary.  These are some of the main things this outline helped me figure out, since I know the outline itself is a little confusing:

- Possible topic used to ease into the main topic: role models on camera (particularly feminine figures that women grew up looking up to) and hyperrealism related to media consumption.

    For those who don't know, "hyper reality" is common characteristic of post-modernism and is defined as "an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in technologically advanced postmodern societies." Therefore, when it comes to the male gaze: despite many people knowing that most of the content we consume is fabricated and promotes completely unrealistic expectations, we accept it as reality, use it to define and understand the world around us, and brainwash us into applying those standards toward ourselves in daily life. I think this is a huge part of the male gaze and why it affects society so much, especially with its implicit nature.

    Either way, I think starting with something that people understand and can relate to is crucial, for multiple reasons: it comfortably eases the viewer into a mature, often complicated topic, allows those that aren't affected by the issue to empathize, and can often allow the documentary to begin in a way that is a bit more positive (which I think could be important especially when discussing what can be considered a relatively depressing topic, since this issue is very engrained into society and it will take a long time for it to be fully eradicated). I think this is exactly what worked with Counter Conformity, since people were able to relate to clothing and style and could therefore empathize with the interviewees and their experiences, bringing a more positive feel to a rather difficult topic to talk about especially since the topic is not often discussed (especially in documentaries). I really want to replicate this in the new documentary especially after it was so effective in the last.

- The "people" aspects I discussed in a prior blog post: Earlier, I had mentioned that this will be a hard topic to navigate and making this documentary super theoretical and technical may prevent viewers from seeing the issue in a personal light (which would be catastrophic considering all this does is affect others deeply, without them truly noticing it). To solve this, I decided that it would probably be much smarter to lightly go over the "what" but mostly focus on the "why," the "how," and the male gaze's impact. In the structure above, I divide it into two main parts: society and the self. "Society" referring to how women are perceived and treated, and "the self" mostly focusing on how this makes people feel and how it can often affect their behavior, thoughts, identity, etc.

Thankfully, these flow into each other relatively well and discuss the "what" as they discuss the impact (I think a lot of the "what" will also come from the restating of the questions that Kim and I will write, giving more context and making the interviews flow better together). Because of this, I think the middle section of the documentary does not worry me as much as the beginning, although it will still definitely be a challenge nonetheless.

Again, I am still trying to figure out both the beginning and end, so I will discuss it all more in detail as I keep working on this documentary. Wish Kim and I luck! We have lots of work ahead of us, but I think that all the work will be worth it in the end. Until next time.

What Even is The Male Gaze?

     The whole concept of the "male gaze" fascinates me. It's right in front of our faces, all of the time, but the vast majority of people cannot really see it until it's been pointed out to them - and even when it is pointed out, it takes some time to gradually process how this impacts not just society, but one's self-image. I started looking into this about 18 months ago, and it still puzzles me sometimes. I'm constantly learning how to detect and unlearn the harmful beliefs I held (and some I still do not realize I hold), and understand how one big monster of a concept could cause so much damage. It really is mind-boggling, and most of all, processing it is a personal experience - but in the end, all of this self-discovery and analysis is jumpstarted by bringing it to light, which in my opinion, is the first yet most important step.

    According to Oxford, the male gaze is the "the perspective of a notionally typical heterosexual man considered as embodied in the audience or intended audience for films and other visual media, characterized by a tendency to objectify or sexualize women." This is quite the definition to unpack, but basically, because a myriad of media is created through a man's point of view (or a woman or person that has grown accustomed to watching male-crafted narratives), certain stories, dialogue, costuming, production techniques (like types of shots, movement, framing, etc.), and characters are created in a way that portray women in a potentially harmful manner. For instance, an action movie may focus on a woman's curves in tight, leather costuming, using close-ups of her more intimate parts to make the audience focus on how "attractive" she is. The camera, in this situation, are the audience's (and director's) eyes, which rake through her body and focus mostly on the physical. It makes that woman seem like she is mostly there to pose as a sexual object, mainly for the audience's entertainment and arousal. This leads to the objectification of women, belittling them and making it seem as if their only purpose in stories is to look "sexy."

    Though it may not seem like a huge problem to some, this specific portrayal can cause extreme amounts of damage, especially since this has become a widespread practice among various genres of film (and of course, other visual media like photography, magazines, etc.). This makes viewers develop a very specific way of consuming content, enforcing constraining gender norms and ultimately affecting society's behavior towards certain groups, since many expect real life to match the reality they experience through the content they consume. Unfortunately, this is not even the most harmful aspect of the male gaze, at least in my opinion. Again, since specific groups of people are being showcased in a certain way and those on-screen characters ultimately represent the entire group, many viewers consume this visual media and feel the need to meet those unrealistic, clearly fabricated expectations. In terms of women, this leads to intense self-objectification, a decrease in self-esteem and interestingly, performative femininity. This is because many wish to be seen the way other women are viewed in movies or other forms of media because this is what they think womanhood should be like. Ultimately, this need for validation (either hidden or not) can lead to unhappiness, confusion, frustration, and overall dissatisfaction with one's life and image. Many women may also change their behavior to meet these expectations, straying further away from who they are at their core.

Sadly, that only scratches the surface.

    I've had countless conversations not just with myself but with others regarding this phenomena, and it is both extremely fascinating and terrifying how one concept can hold so much power. Many women say that the male gaze has affected even how they act when they are alone, or how they act towards other women. The male gaze can also affect people in terms of their sexuality and how they feel about women, in addition to how they feel about themselves, particularly in sexual situations.

    As you can see, this is so much to unpack... But it is extremely important to talk about. At least in my experience, learning about the male gaze (and female gaze, which is its own monster and equally as problematic) has allowed me to detect harmful beliefs about womanhood, femininity, etc. and unlearn them, brining me closer to myself and allowing me to become more comfortable with my own body. This self-discovery is priceless - and being able to consume media, detect the male gaze, and analyze things critically allows society to view things from a more realistic lens, preventing any additional emotional turmoil. This is why awareness is CRUCIAL! And I would love to create something that shines a light on this issue, brings people together, and promotes social change. 

    Creating a documentary about this would be quite the task... But I think that as long as I write clear, comprehensible questions with a goal in mind, it won't be impossible. I just have to be extremely aware of where the interview is going that way we don't get too off topic. Unfortunately we also will not be able to discuss every nook and cranny of this issue, because in reality, one could talk about the male gaze for days and still not be able to fully cover its effects. We need to pick some main points and stay focused.

    I think I would like to concentrate mainly on how the male gaze affects teenagers growing up in a technologically advanced world, since they have been exposed to it at a much younger age and therefore may have specific thoughts to add about that. I think narrowing it down to a certain age group will also make it easier to edit and put together, especially since both Kim and I are part of that age group and have also been affected by the male gaze. After all, it is best to write stories you know. I think this documentary would definitely be a challenge, but it could also be a very fruitful, much-needed documentary that sparks a conversation I think many women need to have.

Here are some resources I used to learn more about this:

Jill Soloway's Masterclass

Laura Mulvey and the Male Gaze Theory

Portrait of a Lady of Fire

Ideas, Ideas, Ideas...

 What's Next?

    Surprisingly, coming up with the concept for Counter Conformity was relatively easy. I had been learning more about fashion and how many models often bend gender norms (and of course how this relates to gender identity and expression). At the time, I was also trying to figure myself out and therefore was interested in the topic, since I was curious about gender non-conformity and whether or not I fit within that category. Making that documentary was a way for me to explore that through the lens of other people, their experiences, and their beliefs about fluidity in fashion. It was a very genuine project that I believe made me a better person, a better creator, and a better story teller. It was therapeutic for sure.

    Unfortunately, things aren't as smooth this time around. I have many projects and competitions I am doing all at the same time, leaving only a part of my brain to try to come up with a new (and achievable) idea. Despite the immense help I get from Pinterest for coming up with the overall "look" of my desired projects (thank god for Pinterest), it has been difficult to find interviewees that are interesting and have a unique story to tell. At this point, the topics I really want to cover are "too complex," and the stories that are more available and achievable seem a little... bland. The clock is ticking, and Kim and I are still struggling to decide. 

 Idea #1: Could Be Changing Bearings Part 2, Which Would Be... Interesting

    Over the course of the past few months, I have been following this girl (on Instagram) that lives nearby and skates at a local skate park. She is so talented and seems to be extremely dedicated to what she does, constantly posting videos and showcasing her journey in skateboarding. Basically, she's bad*ss. And a better skater than every other skater I know. 

    I thought it would be really interesting to obviously capture her story (as well as the stories of her friends that also skate) to talk about a much deeper issue - the whole "girl power" thing and how even though it started out as a way to empower women, it has caused even more separation and has, in a way, become slightly counter productive.

    Obviously my take on "girl power" is not shared by everyone and who knows, the skater I mentioned might not agree, but it would definitely be interesting to explore that and try to understand what people think. It also would be beneficial to interview someone that disagrees with me, that way the documentary goes over the entire topic and not just one side of things. I would also like to discuss the whole "___ like a girl" mindset and how that can be problematic as well.

    My only concern is: my best friends (two alumni from my TV club and AICE Media Studies) made a skating documentary named "Changing Bearings" about a year ago that won a bunch of awards and has been celebrated in both programs; and even though this documentary would be completely different in terms of style and content, I'm not sure making a skateboarding documentary is the best thing to do right now. This is pretty valid considering I'm not really a huge part of the skating community and I would not be as familiar with the topic (at least like I was with Counter Conformity and another documentary I made about a local band, which coincidentally I made with both creators of Changing Bearings). I like to know what I'm covering like the back of my hand, so doing a skate doc (especially covering such a particular topic) might be a little tricky. I don't want to completely shy away from the idea because it definitely is still an option, but I just don't really feel motivated to do it like I was with Counter Conformity. Making a documentary takes so much effort and time, and if I'm going to commit to an idea, I want to be excited about it.

    

Idea #2: SUCH a Good Topic, But Such a Hard One to Portray Properly...

    The male gaze is SCARY. It is so subtle, yet the damage it causes is anything but. I'll go more in depth in terms of what the male gaze is and why it is so problematic in my next post, but before I talk about my idea for a documentary, here is a quick definition: 

"The male gaze refers to how women are depicted in the world—specifically media—from a heterosexual male's point-of-view. This depiction is generally hypersexualized and treats female characters as objects for the male protagonists to use."

    This "lens" can have many negative effects on women and how they feel in a plethora of situations: how they behave when alone, towards other women, towards men, in sexual and non-sexual situations, etc. It's definitely a lot to cover. This is a flashcard I covered with some notes the other day: 

    This index card has a LOT of information on it, each bullet point being its own intricate, mature subtopic. I think that if I were to do a documentary on this, I would have to choose just a few points and really focus on those, making sure that they are fully explained and make sense together. For the most part, I would like to focus on how the male gaze affects people's view of themselves, and how individuals can reclaim their confidence and no longer let the male gaze have as big of an effect on them. I have been doing a lot of research on the topic (both through online resources and intimate conversations with those that are also aware of the male gaze), and I think that as long as I make a clear structure and focus on a specific aspect of this issue, this documentary will be doable. 

I have also thought about the execution of this documentary, and I think that in order to be successful, Kim and I will have to:

- Decide on who exactly we would like to interview. I think narrowing it down to a specific age range might make it easier to not only conduct interviews, but also put the entire documentary together and make sure that the piece is cohesive. Even though this issue affects all women, covering the problem with a very specific angle might facilitate the entire process. Also, much like Counter Conformity, I would like to get B-roll of the interviewees and highlight their individual features, which personally will be much easier if the interviewees were similar in age. Also, people write best when they write stories they know, so getting interviewees that have grown up in a similar environment (specifically when it comes to technology, children's access to it, etc.) will definitely allow us to empathize, write better questions and overall make a better documentary.

- Decide on a good structure and write REALLY good questions. Because this is a very complex topic, we have to find a way to ask questions about the male gaze without asking too much of the interviewee (or the viewer, since explaining the theory of the male gaze is time-consuming in itself). In my Television Production club, we make news stories and always keep this in mind: in the end, stories are about people. Obviously you can discuss what they are doing, where, and how they are doing it; but in the end, viewers are people too, so they will mainly care about how the subject feels, how they act, how they interact with others, etc. Because of this (and because of the very personal nature of the male gaze and how it can have extremely detrimental effects on women and society in general), I think it would be best interviewees about their experiences instead of asking them to define the male gaze or give overly specific examples. Like I mentioned earlier, stories are about people, so instead of making this doc super theoretical and informational, it should simply capture the essence of the issue and how it is impacting people. I think this would also make it easier for both Kim and I to make this doc, since we are used to getting that "human" aspect of stories. We just have to make sure that the questions are focused and that we don't stray away from the main topic, especially since there is so much to discuss.

- Be very smart about B-roll. Personally, I am a complete sucker for artistic, staged footage. Not "staged" in a way that is untruthful or manipulative, but more so in a way that is formalistic and captures the "feeling" of a topic. I have been building a Pinterest board for the past couple weeks that I absolutely love. It definitely requires much more than Counter Conformity and is even more stylistic than what we captured then, but I think that this is definitely a lot more "my style." Check the Pinterest board out here. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the board:

Obviously I would not be doing exactly what those pictures show (especially because I do not have access to a crazy amount of old-looking TVs), but I would simply take inspiration from it and use what I have (or what could be available to me) to make the most of everything. I was thinking of getting some used TVs from Craigslist like these for the b-roll, and if that is not available, I can use other screens like the TVs, computers, tablets, etc. in my house as well as security/CBTV/DSLR cameras to get the shots I want. I would also like to include examples of the male gaze (ex: excerpts from films playing on the old TVs, magazines, etc.) in the b-roll that way people can see real examples of where this issue is mostly found.

    I really like this idea. It's a great topic, I have a clear vision for the visuals and "feel" (which honestly, is always the hardest part to solidify since I always want it to be as stylistic as possible), and I feel like as long as I get the right interviewees (I have a few people in mind already), it's doable. I'm just worried about writing effective questions and choosing what exactly to focus on in the documentary.

    It's also quite the project to take on, but now that the biggest competition of the year for my TV club are coming to a close, I should have much more time to work on it. 

Idea #3? It's not even a full idea yet. 

    I don't really have a set topic in mind at all. I just think of the "idea" and think mainly of a feeling, maybe some scattered visuals (potential shot ideas) here and there but overall, nothing clear has come. I definitely think this idea could also be successful but considering it won't fully develop in my mind just yet, it just seems like a sign that it's a topic I'll have to leave for later. From what I can tell, it has to do with technology and discussing whether or not it has brought us together or even further apart than before, and whether all of this "connectedness" is just a big illusion. Here are some pictures of what I was somewhat thinking. Hopefully these capture the "feeling" I'm sensing, even though it's very similar to the look of the male gaze idea:

    But... Yeah. Coming up with ideas is HARD! Especially since I'm constantly having to create for my TV Production club, our weekly show, competitions, any additional stuff.... It's very difficult to be extremely creative all of the time. But I definitely want this project to be great, hopefully better than Kim and I's last project. I want to keep pushing myself, and hopefully come closer to my big goal, which is eventually creating a docu series that discusses taboo topics but showcases them in a mature, artistic way (formalism is YUMMY). When I think about it, I'm pretty much doing that now... I just want to go even further above and beyond and develop my own unique, easily recognizable style. I really love documentaries. I really want to see how I can make them in a way no one has before.

    I hope to decide on a topic by next week that way Kim and I can start doing pre-writing, which is really exciting. I really think that with Counter Conformity being done and already having that experience, we'll be able to get things done quicker and with less stress. We know the way we work now, so it should be smoother overall. Let's hope for the best!

So Far in A Level!

 Hello again!

    I know I mentioned some fo my latest projects in A level AICE Media Studies in my last blog post and how they have helped me evolve as a creator, so I wanted to take the time to talk about these projects in depth, particularly the documentary and film distribution project. Here I go!

DOCUMENTARY PROJECT - COUNTER CONFORMITY

    Before the end of 2021, myself and two other classmates got to create a documentary on the relationship between gender and clothing and why this ability to express oneself is so vital, especially for those that may be viewed differently for it. It consisted of three interviewees (Ana Echeverri, Jan Bourgmayer, and Florence Laurent) who talked about their experiences, both good and bad, regarding fluid fashion. Despite it being a relatively controversial project, I think the end result was effective in not only telling the interviewees' stories, but also starting a conversation about a topic that is often not discussed.

    In all honesty, this project was not an easy one. Again, finding a way to present the topic in an open, comprehensible way was quite the challenge, however fully worth the effort. I learned so much about writing a documentary, contacting interviewees, filming with SONY a7iis, properly using a Ronin, color grading, finding music, and so much more. Despite all this work, I really did think that all of my time was truly well-spent, especially since I had discovered a newfound confidence and motivation for creating, particularly for pieces that explore taboo subjects. I am very happy that my group and I chose an unusual topic and stuck with it to the end, even if I had to experience some uncomfortable conversations and be extremely vulnerable (since the topic itself was something I had and have been experimenting with). It allowed me to dive deeper into an unexplored part of myself and heal from experiences regarding the subject. This, by far, is the project I am most proud of. I definitely plan on making something similar in the near future.

DISTRIBUTION PROJECT - STILL IT RAINED

    Another significant project that has allowed me to expand my horizons was the most recent group assignment, the film distribution project. Here, my partners and I were responsible for not only developing key art, a teaser and trailer for a story written by a creative writing student, but we also had to create an entire marketing and distribution plan for the film. This was the first real time I had ever created a real teaser or trailer, since I am usually accustomed to creating either complete short films or short news stories. Not only did this allow me to gain more experience regarding that aspect of the project, but I also got to be on camera for the first time. Usually, I will anchor or appear in my own informational, entertainment, or news segments; however, this was the first time that I was fully acting. This was already a challenge considering I'm used to remaining on the other side of the lens, but pretending to be a ten-year-old boy definitely did not make acting any easier. Looking back, I don't necessarily like the accent or voice I used to represent the character, however I think I would enjoy being on camera a more often. Here is the trailer.

    Another really important aspect of this project was the development of the film's marketing and distribution techniques, as well as the key art. For our social commentary film, we decided to go relatively simple an design a simplistic "poster" with the main character's silhouette and the movie's title, "Still It Rained," in a clear font. Here is the key art my group created:

    Creating the marketing and distribution strategies was also quite enjoyable. I learned a TON about theatrical releases and their cost, film festivals, and the overall distribution timeline for different types of films. Not only that, but my group members and I were able to get very creative in terms of what we wanted to do for marketing. Of course we included the typical digital marketing methods such as social media presence, but we were also able to bring our rainy universe to life through podcast features (combined with sound design elements) and collaboration with the heads of Rapids Water Park. This is because we mentioned that hosting an interactive, in-person (hyperrealistic) attraction that merged family fun and our film's message/atmosphere would allow us to creatively gain more traction for our film. I think that of course besides getting to film something new, this project allowed me to dive deeper into marketing and distribution and their roles in a film's ultimate success.

This is one of our presentation slides regarding

 the distribution of our film.

    Overall, I will definitely be using all of this important information for not only future projects, but possibly real life as well. I am very grateful for all of these opportunities and hope to expand my skills and knowledge even more throughout the next few projects! I will definitely miss this class when I graduate, it has completely transformed the way I consume and create.

Taking a Look Back

 Hello everyone! It's been a while!

    I have been able to look back at some of my postings from AICE Media Studies AS Level and I must say, I really have come a long way since I began taking this course. 

    I got to see the music video and marketing project I made approximately a year ago, as well as the film opening project that I made as a part of my AICE portfolio. Though these are very different from my current style, I can definitely sense a bit of "myself" in these projects, particularly the music video. I think projects like these really helped me figure out what parts of the creation process I was attracted to, what I was strong at, and allowed me to start developing my personal taste. Over the course of a couple months, I went from a mere "TV kid" that knew how to handle a DSLR to a conscious, meticulous creator who thinks through every aspect of their projects, making it the best it can be. I really am proud of how far I have come and am excited to see what I have to say about this a year from now. I always feel like I am growing creatively in this class, and for that I am extremely grateful.

    Speaking of growth, I think this year's curriculum and projects have really allowed me to evolve. Not only did learning about post-modernism completely shift my view of the world and cause me to consume media with a more critical lens, but the documentary project back in October/November (as well as our most recent distribution project), have really allowed me to take that aesthetic awareness and storytelling to the next level. I really cannot wait to see what the rest of this year brings!