1. What is it that I am trying to investigate in my media practice? What I am most passionate about?
It’s difficult for me to narrow my focus, and I’m going to make a concentrated effort in the coming months to narrow it down. It’s very broad, but I want to explore humanity’s fears and anxieties, which is why I think I love the horror genre so much. But I don’t want to stick totally to horror because I know I can explore what’s underneath our rationality and everyday interactions in other mediums and genres. I’m proud of my audio recording for this class because I wanted to get across the things that weren’t being said in the conversation between the two characters, and how sad my rejected protagonist was before his bit of narration. I want to communicate to my audience subconsciously and beyond rational thought and language. My favorite films create a feeling of transcendence in me that goes beyond language, and I want to eventually tap into that with what I create and collaborate on.

2. What are my strengths and weaknesses?
I think I am good with deadlines and focusing on the details of my projects. I know I’m by no means excellent when it comes to the details, but I really try to focus on them because I know the whole project will benefit from it. A definite weakness of mine is following through on a technique that seems more difficult or advanced to me.

3. What are the core elements missing from my practice? How will I obtain them?
I want to strengthen my editing skills in Audition and Premiere, and work on my timing with editing.

4. What was my preferred media before the course? After the course?
Film was my preferred media before the course and it’s still my preferred media, but I am also very interested in photography and sound editing now. I’m taking a Sound Culture course in the Fall and I am looking forward to strengthening my audio muscles.

5. What is the next topic, theme, or question I would like to investigate in my next project?
I’m planning on directing a short film adaptation of The Stranger by Albert Camus with a friend of mine. We are making it a modern adaptation set in Salt Lake City, and we plan on shooting it from a first person point-of-view with a GoPro camera. We are both interested in exploring the alienation and depression involved in surviving day-to-day in this society. I hope to explore more social justice issues in this adaptation and have the disaffected male protagonist in more complicated situations.

6. What is something I learned in this class that I could teach to someone else?
How to outline a narrative using the three-act structure, I also feel fairly confident in my ability to edit audio and video now to show someone the basics.

7. What is something I will try to do next semester that I have never done before?
Produce my own song using Audition.

8. What is something I will try to do every day or every week that I did not do before this course?
Focus on the composition and lighting of the photographs I take with my phone.

9. What is a creative project that I would do with a budget of $150 million?
I can’t even begin to fathom how to make something with a budget that large. I think I would end up making something like a Terrence Malick movie, but not nearly as good. I like slow, contemplative films that focus on the little ineffable parts of life. So, perhaps it would be a massive horror film with the pacing of a Terrence Malick film. I would be the only person who likes it. And perhaps some of my friends.

10. How could I do the same project with a budget of $150?
I feel much more comfortable with the idea of that budget, even with how restrictive it would be. I’m still in the very beginnings of producing content. I would shoot it with my phone, or maybe a decent camera I borrow from a friend. With a budget this small I think I could make a slower paced horror film with a smaller scope, it would be more on par with films like Halloween or Paranormal Activity.