2nd Year Visual Essay - Deep Reverence
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About Me
Hi, I'm Jenise Whitehead - an emerging cinematographer based in Los Angeles. I'm currently in my second year of the MFA Cinematography program at American Film Institute. After training in Panavision Hollywood’s two-year program, I became a member of IATSE International Cinematographers Guild Local 600. Prior to my acceptance into AFI, I spent the last few years furthering my craft while crewing on award-winning shows such as Insecure, Gentefied, Unbelievable, Diary of a Future President, Waffles + Mochi, Young Sheldon, and many more. Since studying in AFI's inaugural Cinematography Intensive for Women, I'd decided to take the leap to work as a cinematographer.
2nd Year Visual Essay Project
One of the most exciting projects of our second-year curriculum at AFI is the 35mm Visual Essay Project sponsored by Panavision, Kodak, and FotoKem!
Fellows have the opportunity to shoot on 35mm film stock on location or on stage for two days. However, we are expected to finance the costs of production outside of the sponsored equipment and film processing.
I will be venturing into directing with this project, titled Deep Reverence, and will also serve as the exec producer, screenwriter and cinematographer.
I'd like to bring you along on this journey to show you how your generous donations will impact the success of my second-year visual essay.
Deep Reverence
Story:
- The same depth that provokes fear can also gently birth new beginnings by cleansing past traumas.
Plot:
- Haunted by the fear of drowning in deep water, from the memory of accidentally falling into a pool, a Black woman reclaims her space in deep water by learning to swim.
Themes:
- The joy and cleansing of being in deep water surpassing fear.
- Return of childlike innocence when in the water.
- Calming effect via blue hues penetrated by light.
- Freedom of buoyancy.
- Feeling humbled by the depth and vastness of the deep end.
- Developing a level of trust, intimacy, and respect for the depth.
- How the lack of perception of control is more mental than physical.
Personal Inspiration For The Story
The fear I had of deep water was inherited after my mother experienced a near-drowning incident in her childhood, thus I wasn't allowed near water that wasn't shallow throughout my adolescence as her greatest fear was being unable to save me since swimming lessons weren't as accessible as all of our other extracurriculars. I didn't learn how to formally swim until my mid-20s and have recently become acquainted with open water swimming via surf lessons - reclaiming my ancestral space amongst the waves and allowing myself to become fully immersed in the sea. The joy I felt riding the waves overcame my fear of drowning, as you must submit to the tide instead of fighting against it, to make it back safely to shore. The greatest lesson I've learned yet is to never turn your back away from the ocean, while you're in it, with respect to the damage mother nature can achieve within a split second. Although my swimming journey is not new, it is still not over as I have yet to conquer my fears of deep water in open water - without a life vest.
Why I Need Your Support
The burden of the cost of production, outside of sponsorship, is a personal obligation: film permits, location fees, specialty equipment rentals (underwater housing for camera body), rates for licensed personnel (scuba certified operator and 1st assistant camera, lifeguards for safety of talent and crew), crafty and catering, etc. Although I've been officially greenlit to begin prep in the new year for principal photography in February 2023, I do not have the financial support necessary to fully finance this vision from script to screen. I truly feel it would be wonderful to officially begin this new chapter in my career as well as the opportunity to share this experience with you as the project will be eligible for festival submissions.
Thank you so much for your generosity!
With gratitude,
Jenise Whitehead
Organizer
Jenise Whitehead
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA