Lauren Rodriguez Class Blog

The year 2020 so far has been unpredictable. Covid 19 turned the world upside down. Quarantine has really taken a toll on my motivation, creativity, and productivity. It has been difficult for me to adjust to the circumstances, however, this class helped provide me with some structure and routine which I appreciated. This was my first time taking a film class. Initially, I was hesitant to step out of my comfort zone. I felt very out of my element because I had no previous experience with film. The final project was my first time creating a film on my own. There were many challenges from the filming to editing. Despite the challenges, I found that being able to use my cellphone was comforting because I was familiar with it unlike the cameras we used in class. The response to my film was very encouraging and supportive. It was also very inspiring to see the work of my peers. Although the circumstances were not ideal, I still learned a lot this semester. I hope to apply these new princi...

UPDATE: I am planning on interviewing my mom, Jessica, for my audio portrait. She has health anxiety and I want to raise awareness for this type of anxiety through my project. The beginning will be her explaining health anxiety and how it affects her. The middle will be about her experience during quarantine and after. The end will be about how she feels life will be like after quarantine ends. Questions: Introduce yourself What is health anxiety? What has your experience been like with health anxiety? How did you handle your anxiety before quarantine? How did the pandemic affect your routine? How has the pandemic affected your mental health? How have you been handling your anxiety during quarantine? What do you think your life will be after quarantine and this pandemic blows over? I am planning on interviewing my grandma, Laura, for my audio portrait. She speaks Spanish, but she understands English for the most part. I will be interviewing her in Spanish addi...

1st shot: WS traffic outside  2nd shot: WS people walking outside  3rd shot: MS people walking inside  4th shot: CS people’s hands, working, writing, typing in the library  5th shot: WS inside the elevator as it opens 6th shot: WS the doors that lead to hallway  7th shot: MS inside empty classroom  8th shot: CS of empty seat  9th shot: CS of exit sign  10th shot: WS people walking inside  11th shot: WS empty hallway 

Guerdy and I chose the C-level in the North building as our location. The C-level with its white walls and narrow halls reminded us of a hospital or psychiatric ward. It is usually very quiet. The classrooms are small and windowless. The physical location of this floor is almost as if it’s separate from the rest of the building. We decided that we wanted to show the contrast between the very busy and chaotic atmosphere of the city and within the college. The C-level is seemingly a space away from the chaos. In this piece we want to depict isolation and seclusion. Although the C-level may seem as though it is a quiet space away from the chaotic outside world, it may also be isolating or unsettling. This is my first time actually shooting at a location since I have no previous experience in film.

Daydreams, delusions or whatever you call them, they are the foundation of my work. When I let my mind wander, my ideas start to flow.  I try to capture that dreamlike feeling in my work. My drawing tablet has become my tool of choice.  I primarily create art digitally using various software including Photoshop. I also enjoy sketching and doodling. This semester, I am taking MEDP250 which is a design course. I have become increasingly interested in graphic design. I have a background in animation as it was my major in highschool. Hayao Miyazaki is one of my biggest inspirations. Studio Ghibil’s animated films are whimsical and immersive. The storylines are captivating as you are pulled into these fantastical worlds. The pre-production of these films have always interested me, such as storyboarding and concept art. I am not sure if I want to pursue anything animation related, but it is still a source of inspiration for the work I currently create and want to create in ...