My theme was to focus on the racial inequality present at UCSD and throughout the world. It is really horrifying how differently people are treated based on nothing else but their ethnicity. It is a detestable prejudice that has always left me puzzled as to why people treat others in such a way. Because of this and from the recent discriminative acts of a few, prompted me to focus my final project on this issue, racism. How the treatment of minorities on campus and throughout the nation and the world continues to occur and many do nothing about it. Those in power remain idle. As large of a problem racism is, it sill occurs even at a liberal public university. I thought it was quite relevant to discuss racism especially when UCSD has quite a history with discrimination.
Racism also hits very close to home as I know many who have been affected by it. I as well, can empathize with others being treated unfairly. I wanted to raise attention to this issue and show the world that though there are still prejudices throughout the world, they are the few and most are good people who are striving for change and a better future.
I wanted to present this topic in a very straight forward way. I wanted to hear from individuals who knew a lot about discrimination. I interviewed Communication professors Patty Ahn, Zeinabu Davis & Davis Serlin, as well as The Cross Cultural Center’s (CCC) director Edwina Welch. I felt all had huge insights into the realm of racial discrimination and that it would be extremely enlightening to interview them all. Professor Davis is very close to many that were effected by the Compton Cookout and the more recent actions of Identity Evropa, a Neo-Nazi group, on campus. Professor Serlin was extremely active during the Compton Cookout and held talks following the “party” to provide a medium for students, professors, faulty, etc. to express their feelings. Edwina Welch’s work focuses on P.L.A.C.E. an acronym which is the CCC’s core philosophy for fighting for equity, diversity & inclusion.
B-roll for this film consisted of webpages and pictures of the events being talked about in the documentary. As well as many slo-motion shots that dramatized the documentary allowing for an artsy and solemn touch to the piece.
I wanted to pull at the emotional cords of the audience. Starting off with a powerful note of how racism operates in a society. Then moving to the horrifying affects it has on others and how truly evil racism is. Then wrapping the piece up with hope and optimism along with a call to action for everyone to come together and defy the odds as one.
The pacing of the story had me cutting pretty quickly between shots, mainly for the piece being so short this was what had to be done because of how much information I wanted to convey. I wanted to engage the audience with the interviewees but also keep them engaging with very creative b-roll shots tying what was being heard to what was being seen.
A style of my work is emerging the more I create. This style is slow, thoughtful, artistic and evocative. This is a style I especially wanted to do for this piece. To be somber and slow and throwing all sorts of harsh realities at the viewers, so as to wake them up and create a call to action.
I learned that life can be very cruel, rewarding and punishing people without reason. That there remain great many evils throughout the world but that change can happen, slow it may be, it does happen and there is always hope.
