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Film & Me :)

Growing up, I was exposed to the majority of my current passions through film. Since I was a little kid, environmentalism and animals have been driving forces of my life, specifically marine life. I was exposed to exponential adverse effects of plastic to marine creatures, coral reefs and climate change, and the plastic island in the pacific. Watching and learning all of this information led me to conduct my own research, to take up environmental activism, and eventually pursue a deeper education in college for a while. When I was an Environmental Science major, I secretly had the dream of creating documentaries about environmental issues in the world, so someone who may not have the opportunities to learn about these large scale problems can be exposed and maybe inspired to do their own research, like I was.  Although I have always been an incredibly creative and artistic person, especially when I was young, I was too nervous to admit it to anyone. Growing up without any money, it was always engrained in my mind that I need to pick a practical career that is guaranteed to provide me with health insurance, food, and a roof over my head. It wasn't until I was spending hours in labs while everyone around me were studying in art conservatories, that my itch for creativity was no longer avoidable.  I figured, I need to learn how to document these things so I can give the professionals the spotlight while I'm behind the camera.   

I couldn't afford another year of college which would be added had I transferred to the film conservatory, so I switched my major to Screenwriting in the film school, and minored in TV/Film Production. I had my second minor in Environmental Science, but due to COVID, I couldn't get to campus to take the in person labs in Fall 2021, so I had to drop it. I picked up History in its place. 

Throughout my later teenage years and now twenties, my topic of passions to document expanded to social justice the more I educated myself, as you can see in my "Volunteer Work" page. A documentary called Gather directed by Sanjay Rawal opened my eyes to the realities not only of the basis of historical and present injustices that indigenous peoples in this country face, but more specific infringements that are hardly covered at all.  The topic of food deserts, majorly within government founded Indigenous reservations, for example.  It's films such as Gather that inspire me to pursue my own work and dedication to make a difference.

So, why a Screenwriting major you may ask? Aside from not being able to afford another year as I stated above, I have forever been an author. My dad would sit with me and write my stories that would tell in a notebook before I knew how to write. Or spell. Or read. It still makes me laugh to read them. When I gained my developmental tools, I sloppily tore through notebooks filled to the brim with my worlds. i have a couple of "self-published" novels in fact. Illustrated and built by 6 year old me with cardboard covers, strung together by neon yellow lanyard and some duct tape. Credits include: Will Lammy Get Her Wish? and The Bravest Girl. 

In all seriousness, writing has endlessly served as an escape for me. TV shows and movies allowed me to immerse myself into a different world for a while and calm down from the realities around me. It's served as such a coping mechanism for me, and I truly think that my writing can offer the same solace for people. Whether it's a sitcom (which are fantastic by the way, filmbro) like New Girl or Brooklyn 99, The Mindy Project, or films like The Farewell, Aftersun, Before Sunrise, or Rough Night, they get me through life. The dream of course is to direct my own scripts, nod to Chloé Zhao, Charlotte Wells, and Greta Gerwig of course. 

So, any questions?