My Battle Gear

     They say a warrior should never show off their equipment prior to battle, but I think we can make an exception in this case. 

As seen in this picture, I am using a Cannon EOS Rebel T6 model camera, a small tripod, a lense that captures pictures from afar, a grip, and cleaning supplies in case my camera's lense becomes dirty. I also have a copy of the official script and storyboard in hand so I follow my planning to the T. 
     Stay tuned for more behind the scenes footage and post-production editing details :) 
     

The Script

     Helloooo everybody!!! I'm back and super excited to be filming today! Before I post anything about the actual shooting however, I want to finally publish the official script for the 2 minute introduction to my short film. I didn't want to post the script as pictures so the pages can be accessed right here on a Google Doc. Note that the script is missing a title, simply because I haven't been able to come out with a satisfying title for my project. There are choices in my script that I have opted to discuss in my creative critical reflection rather in a post, therefore this will be a short post with only the script available! Enjoy my writing readers, and I'll be back with behind the scenes footage of the filming process soon. 

Screenwriting 101

     Initially, I had found a website that specializes in helping you write a script without much work. Celtx has several branches of its program that help you do many things at once: write a script, draw a storyboard, create call sheets for set workers. However, I found that when I subscribed for their free trial they only offered a service for basic episodic screen writing. I did some more digging and found a page that gives me a visual on how to format a script well. Additionally, there's a add-on for Google Docs called "Screenplay Formatter" that is easy to navigate once installed. I rather use this application instead of Celtx or any other program. 
     Another question I had when I began using the add-on to transcribe my script was what font I should use on the official screenplay document. Luckily, I discovered a website that answered that very question. I will be using Courier, and the website also informed me on which font size to use too! (It's 12, by the way). 
     As I finalize my script, all of this information will be beneficial in helping me perfect my script. Can't wait to share! 

Confirmation Status

     It's me! Back from the beach. I've been having a great spring break so far and I have officially set up a filming time for SATURDAY! I have enlisted my actors and they have each confirmed that Saturday afternoon is the best time for them. Therefore, I called 100 Montaditos and asked if filming at their restaurant is possible. Thankfully so, the manager was present and was able to give me a summary of their privacy policies. As long as I don't capture any of their employees in a frame, I am allowed to film on the premise. I assured them I wouldn't be including any of their workers in my film. They were happy to give me permission and considered the short film a great advertising opportunity. This is going to be a short post and I'll be ending it about now. This was just an update. I know I have been stalling on that script, but I promise it will be posted soon. I've been doing extensive research on how to properly format a screenplay, and I want it to be absolutely perfect! See you guys later :) 

"Changes" - David Bowie

     Hey guys! I finally got back from DC! I spent the weekend at the #MarchForOurLives event and I had a great time :) I luckily had layover flights both ways so I spent a good amount of time working on the script for my project on 4 different planes. I finished writing it in the morning and will be transcribing it onto the computer later today. I also sent pictures of the script to my actors already, so they'll be ready to film by this Friday!
     However, as I was writing alongside the storyboard, I realized I didn't like one of the shots I have drawn.

     This shot, which I have already crossed out, didn't fit the dialogue I came up with for this scene. This is a two shot of the characters and Lucy/Luke is confronting April about the bruises after lunch. At this point, the characters should be facing each other since they have stopped walking and are engaging in a serious conversation. On that note, I have replaced this shot with this one: 

This is an over the shoulder shot from the perspective of April and displaying Lucy/Luke's expressions as they speak. The shot fits the sequence of events and the dialogue spoken better than the previous shot I had drawn. 

     This may have been a small change, but a change nonetheless! I'll be posting soon to show you guys the finalized script! Get HYPE! 

Houston, We Have a Few Problems

     It may seem like rainbows and sunshine over here in pre-production land, but the truth is I have encountered a few problems during my time planning this project. A couple of obstacles I have discovered are technical filming problems. 
     First, there's a point of view shot in the first scene of the introduction that I'm not quite sure how I'll film. The shot can be observed in the blog post I made with my first storyboard, however, I am going to include a picture of the specific frame here: 

Holding the camera down in such a way for the amount of time needed for it to be completely still is hypothetically difficult. I've considered a single solution. I could create a contraption that would allow the camera to remain hanging above the phone without me needing to hold it in place. Almost like a make shift stabilizer. I am continuing to brainstorm other possible answers to my predicament, so if I think of any others I will update my progress through here. 

     Second, my gut is telling me that there is a high chance my entire introduction will run over time. On one hand, there are a lot of shots I have included in the scenes. On the other hand, some of the cuts are fast and the dialogue isn't overbearingly long. Luckily, I envisioned the small scene after April and Lucy/Luke finish eating at the restaurant, as seen here, to be necessary for the short film as a whole, but not completely necessary to the 2 minute introduction. The scene adds more direction to the introduction without a doubt. Nevertheless, if the introduction is running overtime because the scene causes it to do so, then I have accepted I'll have to omit that last portion of my storyboard. 

    Third, I briefly questioned how I would be able to include the dialogue spoken by the characters during the wide shot of the two friends walking away from the restaurant. Illustrated here: 

I left this concern for last because this is the one conflict I was able to resolve almost immediately. I plan to record the scene from when they begin talking in both the medium shot, seen here 

as well as the wide shot. Even though the words spoken at first will be heard while the pair is viewed via a long shot, they will have been recorded and the audio will have been extracted from the video of the medium shot that comes right after the long shot. With this, the audio will not vary in closeness or sound weird because of noticeable differences in quality.  

     I'm actually glad I am finding these small issues within my planning because it reflects the reality of every day tasks that require thinking in order to resolve a problem. 

And Thus, There Was a Story...

     I promised a finished storyboard, and I intend not to break that promise. In this post, I will be elaborating on the finalized storyboard for my two minute introduction. No reason to stall, so *drum roll*......

     In this second portion of the 2 minute introduction, Maria arrives at the restaurant and finds Lucy/Luke already sitting at one of the patio tables outside the location. She approaches them and they begin to converse as she sits adjacent to them. They share a lively and easygoing conversation. When Luke/Lucy points out and jokes around about April having hickies on her neck, the tone shifts and they realize that those aren't hickies in the first place. April tells them not to worry and Lucy/Luke comply for the time being. They continue eating their food. The next portion of this scene cuts to a wide, two shot of the characters walking away from the restaurant, implying that they have finished their meal. The pair of friends are talking as they are seen in this frame and continue when the camera cuts to a medium shot of the two. They stop walking when Luke/Lucy brings up the bruises and the camera cuts to an even closer shot. April starts to walk away but Luke/Lucy calls from behind her and stops her in her tracks. 

     A couple of obstacles I have discovered are technical filming problems. First, there's a point of view shot in the first scene of the introduction that I'm not quite sure how I'll film. The shot can be observed in the blog post I made with my first storyboard, however, I am going to include a picture of the specific frame here: 

Holding the camera down in such a way for the amount of time needed for it to be completely still is hypothetically difficult. I've considered two solutions. On one hand, I could create a contraption that would allow the camera  

The Name Is Bond, James Bond

     No one's name in this film is James or Bond or James Bond contrary to the silly title of this post. But the good news is, I have finally named the characters of this story. 
     The main character's name will be April. In English, the name stands for the "opening buds of Spring" and is reflective of the season of Spring. The name given to this particular character highlights the potential growth ahead of her and the beauty that comes out of a cold, rough Winter. 
     The gay male character will be named Gabriel. This name translates to mean "God is my strength." I wanted to add depth to this character even though he isn't a prominent figure in the grand scheme of things. The inspiration for a name associated to religion derives from my reading of a personal essay from the book "Gender Outlaws" by Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman in which a queer male describes how his belief in God has helped him cope with coming out and his experience as a gay man. Regardless of the toxic words he delivers to April without realizing the severity of his actions, I think challenging the common idea that being gay and religious are separate identities contributes to the dismantling of common false beliefs about the LGBTQ+ community. I don't plan to make his religion a central theme in the narrative, but I see no harm in having him wear a visible cross around his neck and briefly mention something about going to his old church during the break. 
     The friend from high school will go by Lucy or Luke, depending on the gender the actor for that role identifies as. As a French and English feminine given name, Lucy means "of light," deriving from the Latin masculine name Lucius. Relating to light, like the beacon of light and hope Luke/Lucy will be for April, is fitting for the character. 
     Last but not least, the abusive girlfriend's name will be Maria. There are several interpretations of the name Maria. However various individuals believe it means  "sea of bitterness" or "sea of sorrow." Considering a sea of sorrow is what she drowns April in, the name is also fitting for this respective character. 
     In my next post, I will be uploading the finalized version of the 2 minute introduction's storyboard. I have already begun drafting a script, which will hopefully be done by tomorrow. I am currently locating a website or program that will help me properly format the short film's script. I will make sure to keep you guys updated! 

Story Time!

     2 posts later and it's finally here.... The storyboard for the first scene! Disclaimers: my drawings are not illustrated with the exact proportions and the environments depicted are not entirely accurate. For example, I focused on the positioning of characters and their movements rather than showing the bed and walls behind the characters. In the real film, there will be a bed behind the characters with open luggage and clothes spilling out of it to imply that someone just traveled to this location. The wall behind the characters will be decorated to best reflect the personality of the main character, but again, I omit those particular details from the storyboard. Without further ado... 

     To summarize the events shown, the scene starts out with the main character and her friend getting ready in her bedroom. Her friend (soon to be named) begins applying make up on her face and covering the bruises she has from the fight she had with her girlfriend the night prior. The dialogue reveals that although her friend cares for her well being, he is adamant about her not exposing her girlfriend for being abusive because it would give the community a bad image. There are several close shots of the main character so the audience can see the emotions she is expressing. Then, both of the characters turn their attention to the phone on the desk, which is being ignored by the main protagonist because she thinks it's her girlfriend again trying to apologize. To her surprise, it's someone else; a friend from high school who she planned to see that day. She checks her phone and replies, while also deleting her girlfriend's messages without reading them. The character is feeling distant and alone, conveyed through her distraught facial expressions and her attitude towards her girlfriend's attempts to reach out to her while they are away. Finally, the characters are ready to leave. Dialogue throughout this scene is essential for revealing key details about the setting, time, and situation the characters are existing in. I also chose to have the credits spread out in the scene, only absent in a frame when it's necessary that the audience pay attention to writing on the screen (the texts) or the micro expressions of the main character during one of her closer shots. 

     For now, that's all I have. But with a set location in mind, I have an abundance of ideas ready to be sketched out and developed. Hopefully I will be posting the rest of the storyboard soon! 

The Perfect Place

     As promised, I am here to discuss my official first-scene storyboard! However, not quite in this post. I will be reserving storyboard discussion for my next post since I have had several developments unravel throughout the day that I would like to dedicate some words to. Not only did I figure out the transition between the first scene and the second of the 2 minute introduction, I also decided on a location for the second scene! I reasoned that the Perez Art Museum wouldn't be as intimate as I would like the scene to be and Krispy Kreme seemed a bit silly and out of reach (the nearest Krispy Kreme is 10 miles away). I have happily settled with 100 Montaditos, a nice restaurant in an even neater plaza in Miami Lakes. Pictures and reviews of the locale can be found here. I believe this restaurant setting will be perfect for the vision I intend to bring to life in the second scene. I will be making a call to their management some time in the next week to approve of my filming during Spring Break. 
     Now that I know where the second scene takes place, I am prepared to finish my storyboard and start writing a script. I am very familiar with the location, therefore I find it easier to sketch out the frames I would like to capture for the film. I plan to have this finished by Wednesday so that I can distribute the scripts to my intended actors and have them review it by the time I get back from Washington DC on Sunday. I am very satisfied with the progress I am making and I'm beyond excited to proceed with the project. 

Group Meetings = A Burst of Ideas

     Hey folks! I haven't been able to sit down and recap my last class' endeavors until now. Our teacher put us into groups so that we could review our progress among peers. For me and the others in my group, it went really well. The three people I was with were very impressed by my project and the idea I've been brewing. Additionally, they were able to help me with concerns I've been having as I continue planning the logistics of the whole film.
     One concern I had was in regards to the location of the filming for the second scene that will be shown in the 2 minute introduction. One of the members of my group pointed out that filming in a potentially loud environment while lacking any good sound equipment would be a poor choice. Having been to the Venetian pool during this time of the year, I know that it can get fairly busy due to the abundance of families in attendance. The same could be said for a lot of the locations I'd be filming at in Wilton Manors and Ocean Drive. With this taken into consideration, I have narrowed down my potential filming locations to the Perez Art Museum in Miami, Krispy Kreme, and 100 Montaditos, all of which provide the intimate setting I am attempting to capture. Aside from this, I also realized I must be careful to film on windy days if I have any frames taken outside.
     Another thing I noted from the meeting was the intended emotion the main character has to convey in the first scene. Another member of my group specified that the character's emotions must be very evident so the audience knows how she feels about the situation she is in and how her friend's words are affecting her. They also pitched that I should do a voice over of the fight her and her girlfriend had the night before when she is reading the apologetic texts her abuser sends her. However, upon further review, I have decided to omit that choice from my film because I am attempting to have a more realistic approach to my movie. Having a voice over during that particular moment may take away from the severity of what's happening to our main character.
     During the conversations I had with my group members, I thought of a potential way to transition from the first scene of the film to the second. I've been stuck on how I'm going to move the characters from the first scene to the second, but I believe I have figured out what I want to do. When I sketch out the transition as well as the second scene, I will explain in further detail.
     I know that my specification of certain parts of the film may be confusing since I haven't exactly explained the exact direction for the film yet. Luckily for all of you, my friends, I am going to dedicate a post later to the first scene I have sketched out and explain the storyboard thoroughly. I'm glad the group meeting gave me a lot of good ideas and gave me more confidence in my project.

Genre: Self Explanatory? Not Quite

     I realized I haven't addressed what specific genre my short film will be. My film is without a doubt dramatic. But today I had a discussion with my teacher about whether my film would fall under "LGBT+ Drama" or simply "Drama" because it revolves around queer characters and a lesbian relationship. Upon further research, I have chosen to have my film be regarded as a dramatic film, rather than a queer dramatic film.
     I have several reasons as to why I have omitted including "LGBT+" in the genre of my film. The emergence of a "LGBT+" genre is indisputable. With Netflix having a queer genre as one of its main categories for their content, queer movies are becoming evidently more popular. However, despite the specification making it easier to find movies about LGBT+ topics, separating LGBT+ content poses no significant difference in defining the movie. For example, some of the more popular queer films released in the last two decades are considered dramatic or romantic by official websites such as Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB.

     Award shows like the Oscars don't recognize the difference between a dramatic LGBT+ movie and a dramatic movie either, mostly because they both include similar elements of drama that make the movie dramatic. 

     I've chosen to stick with a solely dramatic genre for my film since I don't feel it's necessary to distinguish the film as an "LGBT+" film. 

The Seed to a Soon-to-be Plant

     Hey guys! I've spent the last two days outlining some basic things for my project such as characters, the period of time this film will be taking place in, and other additional things to consider. 
     As for characters, I would like to include 4 total: the main character who is the woman in the relationship being abused, a gay male friend, the woman in the relationship who is the abuser, and an old friend of the main character who is in town to catch up with her. I don't yet have names for them, but I have a good idea of who I will be casting as these characters. I did my planning for the characters loosely in one of my journals since I brainstorm better on paper. Here is a picture of my rough work: 

     My handwriting may not be suitable for all readers, therefore I want to quickly brief over the more important aspects of the characters I plan to show in the first 2 minutes of my short film. 

     The main character is a woman in college who is stuck in an abusive relationship. I want her to be quiet and not very outspoken. Her insecurities lead her to blame herself for the s**t she receives from her significant other. 

     I want the gay male character to also be in college who believes in the "it was just a cat fight" mentality and pressures the main character to remain silent in hopes of preserving the image of the LGBTQ+ community. He will be helping the main character cover up her bruises and cuts with make up. I imagine filming him from the neck down, never showing his face in the frames he's included in. I want to use the same technique some cartoons use when showing parental figures in their shows because I want him to reflect a patronizing figure who has a negative influence on the victim. Ideally, this character represents a greater being: the shadowing idea that one must not address queer issues so that the reputation of the queer community isn't tainted. 

     The abuser is also a woman in college. However, I don't necessarily want her to show up physically in the film. I want to portray her through overbearing phone calls and texts. I want the focus to remain on the victim and the effects the abuser has on the victim. 

     The old friend catching up character is vibrant, lively, and a great listener. I envision this character trying to be funny with the main character and joking about a "hickey" the main character has, only to find out it's a bruise instead. The tone would shift as they become concerned with the situation their friend is stuck in. 

     As for the time I want my film's story to take place within, I would like it to be in the present time: March 2018 during college spring break. I figured that considering the fact it's Spring Break, the couple would be in separate places visiting their families in their respective homes, and it would contribute to the abuser's overly protective attitude while they're not together. 

     I'm going to continue expanding on these characters and I would like to begin drawing a storyboard as well as writing a script for the film. Otherwise, that's all for today folks! 

Shoving the Problem Out of the Closet

     There are numerous similarities between heterosexual couples and homosexual ones people seem to ignore. For one, marriage is nearly identical. That is, if you forget how some people refuse to bake wedding cakes for gay couples. Regardless of the hardships queer people face, common foundations and trends are present in both kinds of relationships. One particular similarity that is almost always forgotten is the shocking parallel between queer and straight couples in regards to domestic abuse. 

     The pressing issue that comes with queer domestic abuse is the way these cases are ignored. In her article about same-sex domestic violence being a "silent epidemic," Maya Shwayder explains that "Typical framing of partner abuse as a heterosexual issue—with men abusing women—does a disservice to victims in abusive homosexual relationships." In other words, the way the media and the general public perceive domestic abuse affects the responses victims of domestic abuse in queer relationships receive when they speak up. Aside from the fear of having people dismiss your claims, Shwayder adds that "there can be a fear of making the community look bad" as well. I would like to portray those causes and effects within my film. I feel it's important to show why queer people don't speak up at all and the devastating effects domestic abuse has on the community as a whole, so I have this idea that I may include side characters that will influence the main victim negatively. I have thought of including dialogue that reflects the "it was just a cat fight stop being so dramatic" attitude people hold towards these situations. 

     With the help of my friend from camp, I discovered the British soap "EastEnders" and an article describing the impact their portrayal of lesbian domestic abuse has on the perception of those relationships. The couple on the show, Tina and Tosh, have shown viewers that the behavior typically believed to be reserved for toxic straight couples can also be present in lesbian relationships. "From the aggressive behavior leading up to the first violent offense, to the elaborate apologies laced with flowers, accusations of provocation, and everything in between," Tina and Tosh are destroying the common idea that men need to present in a relationship for it to be considered valid domestic abuse. Similarly, I am selecting a lesbian relationship to be the queer relationship my short film revolves around. I would like to contribute to the dismantling of the harmful perception that lesbian domestic abuse is less important due to the absence of a male figure to do the damage. I also want to convey realistic events in the film so that the audience is aware that domestic abuse in queer couples is almost no different than domestic abuse in heterosexual couples. 

Short or Long

     Today I finally asked my teacher the question I have been itching to ask since the minute we began our portfolios: are the first two minutes of the film I'm creating from a feature film or a short film? I now know I have the ability to choose whichever I please. But choosing for such an indecisive person like me... This is going to be hard.
     On one hand, if I were to be planning a feature film, I would only have to introduce the main characters and the initial conflict. On the other hand, a short film would require me to do much more in 2 minutes to establish the plot, characters, their relationships, and the conflicts that will be present for however long the short film would be. In other words, I have to decide which "big picture" time frame would make for the best 2 minute introduction.
     Luckily, I have other people's pieces to work off of as examples. Ali Vingiano and Brittany Ashley's 15 minute film about emotional abuse, as seen here;

is a great example I could use to frame my film. That is, if I choose to do a short film like they did. 

      Here's the thing. I am extremely lucky I was able to find a short film solely revolving around emotional abuse to serve as a basis. But when you look at the Wikipedia page for films about domestic violence, the 105 entries don't focus on domestic abuse. They only include aspects of domestic violence. Full feature movies about domestic abuse are scarce. There are a few movies, like "It" and "I, Tonya," that vividly show domestic abuse, not only between couples but within a parent/daughter relationship in the case of "It." In my last post I listed a few movies about emotional abuse that base the entire movie on the abuse. However, having seen "Gone Girl" and others like it that portray abuse in the span of 2 hours, I feel like my idea would be better developed in a shorter time frame rather than a long one. 

     In conclusion, SHORT FILM HERE WE COME! 

     

     

Domestic Abuse in Film

     Depicting domestic abuse is difficult, as agreed upon by Craig Gillespie, director of the critically acclaimed film "I, Tonya." The movie is unique in the way that it "breaks the fourth wall" during the domestic abuse scenes between Margot Robbie's Tonya Harding and Sebastian Stan's Jeff Gillooly. Gillespie wanted to approach the scenes while maintaining the correct tone. To do so, he has Harding stop in the middle of the scenes and state how she is feeling. "To see her disconnect from what’s happening in that moment and address the audience candidly" is significant to portraying how Tonya is immune to the abuse she receives, according to Robbie. I have gathered from this particular approach to violent domestic abuse that the tone, the abused character's perspective, and the visualization of the violence or the effects of the violence on the victim are all imperative in accurately illustrating domestic abuse. As I have seen the film myself, I understand that for this movie it was necessary to show the graphic violence, but as a student, I feel like it's inappropriate for me to include vivid and accurate depictions of violence such as the violence shown in "I, Tonya." I have thought about alluding to the violence though, since I know I could enlist a close friend who works with extravagant make up designs to create bruises and cuts on whoever the person being abused in my film is. I won't omit the possibility of including these allusions until I discuss that with my ideal make up artists and further develop the direction I want my film to go in. 
     However, as I continue learning more about emotional abuse in film, I am inspired to revolve the film more around this idea, simply because there are barely any films that follow this kind of abuse. Some noteworthy entries to the "emotional abuse" movie category include "Gone Girl" (2014) and "Two Can Play That Game" (2001). The lack of films about emotional abuse most likely attributes to the way emotional abuse is often excused. This Huffington Post article explains that certain actions linked to emotional abuse "are so often excused — like constantly monitoring who a partner is texting, demeaning a partner in front of their friends and being generally passive aggressive and controlling." I am even more compelled to depict this kind of subtle violence through film knowing that it goes unnoticed too often.
I will follow up my research with the information my friend from camp sends me in the next few days. I understand she is very busy with college preparations, so if she doesn't have the spare time to send some of her research over, I will start doing my own digging on the topic of queer domestic abuse and what content is available that has depicted the problem.
    

Establishing My Official Idea

     Going off my previous post, I would still like to base my movie on a queer couple. Preferably a queer couple of color. Because I have an abundance of queer friends, again with no solid background in acting, I am compelled to follow through with this idea. The mental image I have created is to illustrate the problem of domestic abuse within queer couples and how the violence, specifically between lesbian couples, is often brushed off as a "cat fight." The one obstacle I have encountered has been how to fit in that message in the initial 2 minutes of the film. However, I have faith that figuring that out when I am elaborating on the idea and creating the story's plot won't be a problem because of the various kinds of film openings that exist. If I have to resort to creating a direct address of memento film opening, then I will make that work as best as possible.
     More importantly as of now, I want to first conduct further research on how the two main types of domestic violence, physical and emotional, have already been portrayed on screen. Second, I would like to collect more information on the problems with the erasure of violence in queer couples. For this specific part of the research, I plan to contact a friend from the debate camp I attended last summer who dedicated her time there to crafting an argument that pinpoints the causes for the issue, highlights the effects, and proposes a resolution. I remember her evidence included articles and pieces of literature depicting domestic violence in queer couples, so I will be asking her to send me all of what she collected over the two weeks of camp so that I can assure my own vision of the problem is consistent with the trends presented in society. Once I have gathered all of my research, I will roughly map out the plot and create the main characters. After this, I would like to start looking for people to cast, locations to film, and plan when I want to shoot so that I have adequate time to edit my piece. I have already began thinking of potential shooting locations in South Florida that could establish the setting well. Some include: 
     - The Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
     - Ocean Drive 
     - Krispy Kreme (although this one may not necessarily reveal setting right away, I could kill for some donuts while filming, AND it's an ideal date spot)
     - Wilton Manors
     - Out of the Closet 
     - 100 Montaditos @ Miami Lakes Town Center (another AMAZING date spot) 
     - Venetian Pool 
     Eventually when I have decided on how certain locations will align with the plot, I'll have to contact the locations and coordinate filming. For some locations, however, I'll have to contact prior to solidifying a plot with locations. For instance, I'm not entirely sure PAMM allows filming to take place within the building, so I'll have to call or email to make sure that I can film there. The last thing I would like to do is to establish settings in my plot and then have those settings be unavailable. 

My Hearing Problem

     The moment I thought about making my movie about a deaf queer person, I had to google a simple question: Is it okay to cast a non-deaf person as a deaf person in a film?
     I don't know any deaf people myself. Let alone any acting deaf people willing to participate in my project. I've seen small producers on Twitter initiate casting calls through the social media app, but since my time is limited and my financial resources aren't suitable for paid actors, I didn't even bother to consider this as a possible course of action. In fact, I've chosen to cast people I know don't have any professional acting experience. This strategy has worked for Sean Baker, director of the movie "The Florida Project," who cast Bria Vinaite as the leading actress for the film. Baker "plucked [Vinaite] from Instagram to make her acting debut" and as a result, he told a story "about real people in a way that's not judgmental" and fairly accurate.
     Consequently, I don't know any non-acting deaf people. So that leads me back to my original question. Prior to doing research, I know the dangers of casting certain roles poorly in a way that harms a community instead of creating a true representation of a certain group. This article highlights the overall history of queer representation in the media, but more specifically in the "Film" portion of the piece, the article notes the controversy behind the movie "Brokeback Mountain." The film is in-arguably one of the most successful "queer films" ever, grossing over $178 million. However, "a movie about “straight-acting” gay men" led to mixed reactions from the queer community, many of which felt outraged that straight men were representing gay men. The same kinds of reactions were seen from the deaf community in 2013 towards the movie "Avenged," whose story is centered around a deaf girl, but opted to cast a hearing actor instead. The outrage erupted on Twitter, and the problem arose greatly because "so many deaf performers had never heard about the audition." 
     It's evident that casting a person without a hearing impairment for a deaf role is wrong, leading me to put aside my idea of revolving my film around a deaf queer person. I have to focus on the resources I have available to me, whether it be when choosing locations for filming or casting the right people for certain roles. Hopefully in the future I'll be able to elaborate on my previous idea and accurately represent a deaf person in a film through an actual deaf person. Representation matters. 
  

A Late Beginning

     Hey guys! I've been doing a lot of research in regards to what kind of direction I want my film opening to go in. More importantly, I've been dedicating time to the ideas I have in mind. Before settling on a solidified film pitch, I have gathered information on representation and how I should go about casting the roles for the feature I want to create. For example, I was considering revolving the movie's plot around a deaf character in a queer relationship. To do so, however, I had to investigate what would be okay and what would be deemed inappropriate when attempting to represent a person with a disability. As a queer person myself, I understand how to accurately portray that kind of relationship. On the other hand, I have no prior experience with deaf culture. Therefore, the next few posts will illustrate some of the research I've conducted to better develop my film idea.