Documentary

"A Toy's Life" Location Photos

 Kitchen

Living Room

Bedroom

Dialogue: How People Talk

5 Phrases 

1. "I'm a confident man, but I'm not cocky. You know what I mean?"

2. "And the truth of the reality is I didn't sleep with Yolanda, I didn't have any sexual relationship with her when me and my wife split."

3. "My mom said I was born with one gray hair."

4. "It's not that big of building but it's charming looking."

5. "When you're just sitting there at night, every knuckle head that's trying to get a fix is stealing and causin nothing but trouble."

Dialogue 

I based this conversation on one I actually heard while we were shooting our documentary at the coffee shop. 

One evening in the local town coffee shop, Carla sat talking with her friend, Steve. He was worked up about some drama with his ex-wife, Stacy, who had accused him of cheating on her while they were still married.

Steve: “I just don’t understand why she’s gotta come busting into my life causing all this drama when we aren’t together anymore. She swears that I was cheating on her with Yolanda, says I was always actin like I was hiding somethin. And the truth of the reality is I didn’t sleep with Yolanda, I didn’t have any sexual relationship with her when me and my wife split.”

Carla: “Why does it even matter at this point whether you did or not? Its not like she wanted to be in the relationship anyhow.”

Steve: “I dunno, I guess she thinks I have too big of an ego and that I let my image go to my head, at least that’s what she always used to nag about. She says that’s why things weren’t workin out, that I thought I was too better than her and all this crap about not respecting her. I’m a confident man, but I’m not cocky. You know what I mean?”

Carla sat there listening to him go on and on about how he had done no wrong and that Stacy was nothing but a nagging ex-wife. She had hoped this conversation over coffee would be more than just complaining about someone that wasn’t, or shouldn’t, be a big part of his life anymore. She was hoping it would be more of a date than a venting session.

Carla: “Did ya ever think that maybe you should just ignore her? What’s done was done and is in the past and I think its time to move on. All she wants to do is cause you drama.”

Steve: “Its hard to ignore someone that’s so annoying. She just begs for attention. She says I have too big of an ego? Ha, well I think that attention whore should take a good long look in the mirror.”

Carla: “And you’re giving her exactly what she wants, the center of attention in your life. Whether its good or bad attention, she wants it and you’re giving it to her. Just leave her alone.”

Carla just wanted her chance but Steve couldn’t see past what Stacy’s little games were really about. She sat there just sipping her lukewarm coffee, hoping Stacy would leave the conversation.  

Documentary Movie Poster

Documentary Subjects

Dan Reisen 

Dan Reisen is the worship leader at GracePoint church in Valparaiso and he does a lot of his own performances in Valparaiso. He does a lot of cover songs and is a well loved singer in his town. I would want to explore where he started and what motivated him to become a singer, how he discovered he could sing and where the life of a performer has taken him. I would also want to explore his present and what he thinks his future will look like. 

Anthony Lesniak

Anthony Lesniak is a friend of the family and he's been riding motocross for most of his life. He spends most of his time practicing and competing. He's ranked among the top 3 in the state of Michigan. Its been his goal to become a professional and in this documentary, I would like to discuss how he started riding, his experiences with riding and what he's learned from it, and how he plans to reach his goal. For most professional motocross riders, they have an intro documentary clip that plays before they ride at big events and this would be able to serve as that video. 

GracePoint: Those Behind the Scenes

GracePoint is a church that started because they wanted to create a church that the unchurched people would love. Starting with only 24 people 5 years ago, they have now grown to 800 people. Ben Lamb (lead pastor), DJ Murvine (pastor of operations), and Cindy Hall (office administrator and assistant to lead pastor) would be the three main people I would interview for this documentary. I would want to explore how they started and the struggles they faced with starting a new church. I would also want to talk about how they expanded and some of the stories and memories they share as their church grew from 24 to over 800. 

My Emotion Video: Loneliness

Emotion Photos

Loneliness

Music Video Analysis

This music video uses performance and narrative form. Most of the video is live performance (concert), which is in a cool tone to emphasize the seriousness and darkness of the lyrics at the beginning of the song.Throughout the song, there are flashes into a few strangers' lives and this happens during the verses of the song. These scenes have a high contrast with a lot of dark shadows to relate to the "demons" described in the lyrics. Slow motion is used for each verse to add impact to the content of the video and lyrics its illustrating. Once the chorus hits, regular speed resumes. Depth is created in a lot of the frames by all the hands of the audience being in the foreground with the band performing in the middle ground/background. 

The intent of this music video is to promote the band's performance while being able to use the lyrics to relate to each individual out there-connecting to them and their inner demons, whatever they may be. It also adds a Dedicated to ending to the music video in order to raise awareness. 

Brainstorming

1. Music Video

Under Water

"The Change that Refreshes"

For this music video, I would like to have a friend, who does a lot of covers, sing "Changed" by Rascal Flatts. This song is about baptism and the changes you make in your life after be baptized. There is a baptism event going on at GracePoint in Valparaiso at the end of September and I would like to use this event as most of the footage for the music video with clips of my friend actually singing the song in a studio. 

2. Documentary Video

Two Tires, One Engine, Zero Limits

"Make Every Lap Count"

Anthony Lesniak is a family friend that has been into motocross for most of his life. He spends most of his free time practicing to become pro. He has made it into the top three in Michigan state competitions. In the documentary, I would like to explore how he got started, what motivates him to practice, and some of his good and bad experiences. 

3. Narrative Video

Teddy Krueger

"Does Your Teddy Bear Help You Sleep at Night?"

For the narrative video, I thought it would be fun to do a parody of Freddy Krueger with a teddy bear as the antagonist. This video would be fun to make since the bear would have to be "animated" and look like Freddy Krueger. 

About Me and My Association to Media

Hi, I'm Loren. 

I believe this photo says a lot about who I am. I am an introvert-I enjoy time to myself and I come off as shy at first before I get to know you. The cross stands for my faith and what guides my life. 

Some fun facts about me-I am a HUGE animal lover. If I never had to work for the rest of my life, I would spend all my time with animals in some way (I grew up with horses my whole life). I love photography-videography is an unknown field to me so I am excited to see what this class brings out in me! 

My favorite T.V. shows consist of mostly medical/science based shows such as House, Lie to Me, and Criminal Minds. I have a BUNCH of favorite movies but just to name a few would be The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Avatar, and How to Train Your Dragon (not a fan of scary movies, AT ALL). 

Why am I interested in making media?
Well, I've been an artist for a long time. I started filling up sketchbooks in third grade and my fascination grew from there. I love being able to create things with my hands (even if it involved a mouse) and making things look appealing. I enjoy illustration and design, as well as photography and more of the fine arts, such as painting and drawing. 
For most of high school, I thought I was going to decide to go into the medical field until I partook in a summer studio at the American Academy of Art in Chicago for two weeks. It helped me realize that art and design is where I really want to spend my time and effort. So far, I haven't been wrong.