Main Idea: Documentary about how east and west coast street performers have adapted to the new circumstances brought by COVID-19
How have street performers adapted to the pandemic?
In what ways have they found new successful tactics?
In what ways has the pandemic limited them?
How does street performer culture differ between the east coast and west coast?
My hope for this project is to understand how street performers have been affected by the pandemic, as well as how some of them have adapted to these new circumstances. It will be feasible to compare east and west coast street performer culture since I’m moving to California this spring anyway. I’ll be working with Ajahni, who will have a dedicated portion of the documentary to discuss street performer culture in New York City, while I do my own section in San Francisco. This will be feasible during a pandemic because we will use telephoto camera lenses, which allow us to get close up looking shots while being able to easily stay over 6 feet away. The interviewees, Ajahni, and I will all be wearing masks as well.
Backup Idea: Free Zoom film class for students who don’t typically have access to film programs
How will the students share their ideas through the medium of film?
What stories do the students want to tell?
My love for filmmaking has helped me channel my enthusiasm for using creativity to communicate differently. I recently started tutoring a 10-year-old with special needs, named Marco, and communicating with him was difficult at times in the beginning. However, we have bonded through our shared interest in creating music and coding. I also began to realize quickly that my job was not just to tutor Marco, but to also be an enthusiastic listener for his ideas. His job was to do what he loved, and my job was to be supportive and understanding along the way. I want to continue this type of work for my senior project, specifically for filmmaking. I hope to positively affect others’ situations, offering hope and support so that people can express themselves creatively. I would like to teach a free film class for kids who do not have access to those types of programs because I want to be the person who can support them and encourage them to express themselves and show their creative side. In order for this to be possible, I would need to find ways to promote this program, as well as seeing which video conferencing service would work best for this program.