Between the Lines Documentary

If you told me 4 and a half years ago that I'd be traveling to Costa Rica to produce, direct, and film my first documentary, I wouldn't have believed you. This dream of mine to make something better of my life, to overcome and rise above my past struggles, seemed almost unattainable in the beginning. Having only a GED in hand and a dream in heart, I felt so far from the life I have always imagined for myself. 

Filmmaking has been the one constant in my life and I had my sights on Emerson College to be the place I would start to hone my craft. Emerson was my dream school.  After juggling multiple jobs, classes, and extra curricular activities at Bunker Hill Community College, I graduated with my Associates Degree and was accepted as a transfer student at Emerson. 

That juggling still continues as I work very hard to put myself through college. I would not be as successful as I am today if it weren't for all the people who have supported me along the way. I couldn't have made it this far without the amazing love and support of my friends, family, and colleagues. You've seen me through a lot. 

With that said, this project is my directed study and final project. It is the pinnacle of my time spent at Emerson and a testament to my hardwork and perseverance.

I am reaching out for help in the funding of my first documentary project. The funds will go toward the costs of my director of photography and I staying in Costa Rica (trip costs x2), round trip flight (x2), equipment and accessories, post-production costs, festival submisson fees, and distribution. 

Filming will begin May 16th and end May 27th. Post-production will begin shortly after (dates to be determined). 

Every little bit helps! Thank you all for being a part of my journey! 

P.S. the names of all donators will be added into the credits of this film. Yes, that includes those of you who also helped donate to my Emerson Enrollment Fee fund!

                                         Between the Lines

                                                   Summary
In May of 2013 I embarked on a journey that changed my life. Having been one of twelve Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) students chosen to study abroad in Costa Rica, I couldn't wait to leave my luxuries behind, explore the rainforest and live with an indigenous tribe. Although I loaded my backpack with everything I thought I’d need, nothing could have prepared me for that moment of clarity one has when discovering an indispensable life lesson.

Whenever I am asked about this trip, no words can fully articulate how special the experience of this particular program was for me. I found that while some lessons come second-hand from lectures, others can be discerned by reading between the lines. While I’ve learned a lot over the years in a classroom environment, I was excited for what I would experience in a fully immersive way.

When words become more than prepared rhetoric from the front of a classroom—when words become real—everything changes. It was this realization that inspired me to document these authentic and meaningful experiences on film.

The President of BHCC has granted me permission to travel with the next Costa Rica study abroad group in May of 2015 to record my documentary. Titled "Between the Lines", this film will examine the importance and impact of culture immersion and studying abroad. My aim is to have the audience partake in this special experience and live through the struggle, personal growth, and adventure offered by this program while also becoming informed about ecotourism, consumerism, conservation and ecology.


                                                      Why
Few people realize that these once-in-a-lifetime chances to see the world are, in fact, within reach. I received an opportunity like this, a chance to study abroad in Costa Rica, and would like others to realize that similar perspective-broadening experiences are also available to them.

It is my hope that this, in turn, would inspire the development of oneself through experiencing the vast, wide world. This offers new perspectives and truths, and, most importantly, incites personal reflection, which is an imperative step toward self-actualization. Reading about different cultures can only do so much; one must live this culture and live new perspectives. This speaks to the nature of diversity in its purest form. For this reason, documenting students’ enculturation on film would serve as motivation for others to become more worldly, sophisticated individuals.

My vision does not exist in a single-minded, philosophic vacuum, however; it must fit within the context of our society’s progressive values and civic engagement. The preservation of our environment, the world we live in, is of the utmost importance. In the rainforests of Costa Rica, nearly 20,000 acres are deforested annually, and recent approximations indicate that only a quarter of the original rainforest cover still stands. If we cannot interact responsibly with our environment, our journey towards self-actualization is for naught, and therefore my documentary also seeks to emphasize one’s impact on the Earth.

In this context my film would not only depict the benefits of this study abroad program in terms of personal development, but also in terms of the community in Costa Rica, the community of students who are becoming environmental activists, and, of course, the larger implication for the global community.