DocumentarIES
Through a communication course my interest in film production and hard work were recognized by a professor who encouraged me to apply for the Social Justice Documentary course offered at Villanova University. Upon acceptance to the documentary crew, I have since worked on two student-run documentaries and a professional documentary following graduation. These experiences have allowed me to follow a project from conception to premiere. I was given the chance to research, work the camera and lights, interview characters, edit, and assist in the creation of a press kit. Apart from the production experience I gained through the student documentaries, I have made relationships and grown as a person through the close connections I have built with the characters in both projects. Each film gave me the opportunity to recognize a different way of life and to understand that all people have a story to tell. I brought my experience on student documentaries to a professional setting after graduation when I was hired by American Resilience Project, an environmental documentary crew, first as an intern and later as a production assistant on their latest documentary Current Revolution.
Current Revolution:
The Transformation Cannot be Stopped
American Resilience Project
Current Revolution is the first documentary in a series addressing the need for the country to modernize the electrical grid. Focusing on the impact renewable energy and microgrids can have on national security, economic prosperity, and environmental justice, this film hopes to make a nonpolitical argument for the change.
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The film has been screened at the DC Environmental Film Festival, San Francisco Green Film Festival, Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival, Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and the Chesapeake Film Festival.
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On this project I had the opportunity to work as a Production Assistant. During production, I took on responsibilities that included editing sound bytes, creating multiple rough cuts of the final film on Adobe Premiere, and running pre-interviews of possible documentary subjects. My role on the team continued to grow as I built trust in my performance. I took on more administrative tasks. These tasks included managing the ever-growing network of contacts the production company has utilizing databases such as Nation Builder and Mailchimp. Through my organization and social media use, donors and board members received film updates throughout the process of production. I became the head social media manager for the company's three social platforms to enable the conversation of renewable energy to take place outside of film screenings. I worked towards creating a community interested in modernization and change. Throughout my time at American Resilience Project I continued to research and educate our followers so that our impact on policy was greater than just our screenings.
The Mayor of Graterford
C-Block Films
The film addresses the ethics of Pennsylvania's use of the life sentence without parole. Currently, Pennsylvania is one of ten states in the US to still implement this punishment and offer no second chances for parole. The film follows the story of two men who were previously "lifers", prisoners with life sentences at Graterford State Correctional Institution, as they receive sought after commutations and reintroduce themselves back into civilization.
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Through Villanova's Social Justice Documentary Course I worked on this film from idea conception through post-production. The opportunity to head the research on the issue and visit a mass security prison to speak with current lifers was eye opening. I grew in confidence over the project, taking on the responsibility of being one of the two interviewers on the crew talking to prisoners, lawyers, and politicians on the issue.
Hope Works Here: A Camden Story
Bridgital Studios
The documentary follows three young adults, Adria, Corey, and George, as they attempt to have a second chance at a future with the help of the nonprofit organization, HopeWorks in Camden, New Jersey. HopeWorks is a small organization focused on teaching troubled youth web design, Geographic Information Systems, and Sales as well as counseling the youth to build their skills for future employment. Facing drugs, crime and homelessness these young adults battle the odds to make a good life for themselves.
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The filming of this documentary took me on a ride along with a police officer through the streets of Camden, New Jersey. Camden has been consistently named one of the murder capitals of the country. The opportunity to be a part of this crew enabled me to build relationships with people of my same age, but in drastically different positions. Due to the close nature of my relationship with Adria, the main subject of the film, I became the team chief correspondent with her, communicating film schedules, asking for childhood photos, and performing well-being checks as she moved into her first apartment while we were filming the documentary.
