Junior Workshop Highlights

The inspiration: I recently became more interested in film. I had been watching a lot of movies and television, like Wes Anderson films and the show Severance, and realized I gravitated toward non-mainstream types of dialogue and ways of filming. I wanted to create my own project that reflected all the things I liked. I've also loved theater my whole life, and have participated in Calhoun's productions throughout high school, so I was able to apply all of the knowledge I have from theater into the filming process. 

The process: I started with a calendar – looking at the amount of time I had to complete the project and laying out the groundwork for what I thought would be a good way to manage time. I did a lot of research in the early stages, like reaching out to filmmakers and planning what I would need. I had to figure out how to edit a script, raise money, get equipment, and cast actors. With all of those pieces in place, I would go back to my calendar and mark the days. It was a cycle of research, preparation, do the task, and repeat. 

What I learned: When you set out to do a really big project in a small amount of time, you need to be prepared to do a lot of work and to understand everything you're doing. I went into the process knowing what I wanted to create and wanting to do every part of it on my own. I think it's important to not limit yourself just because you have a time limit. People were really willing to help me out, and I learned to be flexible as I managed others' schedules and my own time. I had a lot of fun with the project. It got stressful, but I reminded myself it was a project based around something I really enjoy and parts of my identity I wanted to share with people. 

What's next: I plan to go to school for film and theater, and to pursue my artistic and creative passions. I'm a playwright and a screenwriter, so I would like to continue with the tv show idea. I recently made three additional films as part of my college application process; it was something I was able to do because I had done it as part of my Junior Workshop experience.