Documentary Interview . . .Snapchat and Tattoos *wink wink*

For the Documentary Interview Project I have the pleasure of working with Grace, Sarah, Naomi, and Kayla. Our project will be shot at the Hardwire Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio in downtown Wilmington. Through various vox pop interviews and a few expert interviews from tattoo artist our documentary will explore individuals emotional ties to their tattoos and the motivation behind tattoo artistry. We want to receive a candid perspective from both the recipients of the tattoo and the tattoo artist.

Expert Interviewee: Jason (in house tattoo artist)

Location: Hardwire Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio

Tone: emotional, adventurous, and sentimental

Ten questions for expert interviewee:

• ·      How long have you been tattooing for?
• ·      How did you get started tattooing?
• ·      What is your favorite style of tattoo & why?
• ·      What does it mean to you to give a tattoo that is so significant to someone?
• ·      What is your favorite tattoo & explain the tattoo?
• ·      Why does it have meaning?
• ·      What’s your favorite tattooing story?
• ·      What would you say to someone who thinks negatively of tattoos? 
• ·      What was your first tattoo experience like? [getting a tattoo]
• ·      What was your first experience as an artist like?

Vox pop footage will be shot in front and around the tattoo studio

Three questions for vox pop interviewees:

• ·      What is your favorite tattoo & explain the tattoo
• ·       Why does it have meaning?
• ·      What would you say to someone who thinks negatively of tattoos?  

Light Observations

 Rain and Stop Lights

The journey from Raleigh to Wilmington is something I have experienced way too many times to count. I often go home (to Raleigh) on weekends to spend time with my family and return just in time for school on Monday. Usually the drive is very mundane and uneventful and I generally leave and return around the same time each trip. The only thing that shakes things up a bit is the random MONSOON’S that Wilmington loves to unleash without warning during the fall semester. Darkness and torrential down pours make for a less than desirable travel conditions. However, one thing that always catches my attention is the way the stoplights diffuse themselves into the slippery wet road. The road becomes a canvas of red or green puddles that seem to hold their color even when splashed in or disturbed. This catches my attention because it makes it difficult to see the lines on the road but is also very distracting.

 Nana and Her Stripes

Up until my first year of college I went to West Texas every summer to visit my Nana and cousins. One thing I can say about West Texas is that there isn’t a sunset IN THE WORLD that can compare to the sun that sets over Big Spring and Midland, Texas. Specifically, I remember how the amber light entered through the windows of my nanas ranch and the way it warmed your skin when it touched you. I remember the cast shadows of the blinds that stripped my nanas face as she routinely washed dishes and looked out the widow at us playing. Knowing that she was walking down the hallway towards us because I could see her warm shadow first.

A very rough sketch of what is to come !

On the left is a medium shot and on the right is a close-up 

I'm Just An Underdog Taking Notes . . .

I have always had a passion for film and a wild and random imagination. Growing up I always felt that I had a transcendent relationship with film. Whatever I saw, smelled, felt, heard, tasted (figuratively) were engrossed into the world of the film that I was watching. As I got older I became curious in the elements of a film that made it feel like an EXPERIENCE not just a spectacle. Throughout middle school and high school I was mostly interested in acting. I took acting classes and attended John Casablanca Modeling and Career Center. No I did not get sucked into some scam that promised fame I knew that when I signed up for that opportunity that is was to refine my acting skills and knowledge of the industry . . . NOT to be famous! During this time I was afforded the opportunity to be on a few film sets as an extra; Idlewild and Blood Done Signed My Name as well as Army Wives. However, while I was on set I realized that I was interested in the behind the scenes aspect. During my last two years in high school I took on directing a few school plays. At first the head of the theater department let me observe as he directed, then allowed me to assistant direct, and finally allowed me to solo direct two small productions. I fell in LOVE with directing. However I wanted to direct films not plays so I took a film course at my high school that was, to put politely, MEDIOCRE!!!!

            And this leads me to where I am now. I chose to attend UNCW because of its reputable film department. I felt that the film major would give me the structure and guidance to create refined work. I have VERY limited knowledge about the technical aspects of filmmaking and the process of filmmaking as a whole. You could say I am the ROUGHEST diamond in the mine and definitely an underdog. Creativity, passion, and an eagerness to learn are my strengths but that’s about it at this point. I didn’t come into this major with repertoire of knowledge, experience, lingo, or personal works but I hope to come out with one.

            In a perfect world I would love to be an actress and direct independent films with a diverse, creative, and tight team of people that love film as much as I do. However, I know that life rarely turns out the way you think it will so . . . I will settle for a variation of the above ;)

            Something unique about me . . .

                        ~ I had six wisdom teeth instead of four (does that count?)