That one project thing

The introduction:

We are in a really weird and interesting state of development right now. We're about to graduate. We're all about to split up. We're really finding out who we are. We're in the process of having our minds blown and our limits tested. I want to document the immense change that has already begun t to shake our foundations and knock us loose from our good old suburbian comfort zone. This project is about the passage of time and growth of our frames of mind. It's about the youth of today and what's going on in their heads as they head out into the mad world of optional schooling, figurative umbilical cord cutting and career choices. It's about that emerging fission that's ripping through our minds and propelling us with ambitions to reach the top, enthralling us with daydreams of what's to come, and scaring the shit out of us with incessant uncertainty.

Basically, it's about us growing up.

The overview:

We all will film a little introduction to who we are, a day-in-the-life, and will talk about our beliefs and dreams and ideals for the upcoming future. There will be some clips of us hanging out, a couple lighthearted events - this will lead up to graduation.

After graduation, we'll film a little bit during the summer, pass the camera around to everyone just so we can keep a relative idea of what you've been doing all summer, your thoughts on college getting closer, and then make a montage of when everyone moves out or stays behind.

After some time passes and everyone gets settled in to their new homes/routines, I'll pass the camera around again (or if you're out of the state, I'll either visit or you can just make videos and send them to me online). How is everyone handling their new lives? What does the new dorm room look like? What does the campus look like? What's your class schedule? Basically another day-in-the-life.

Then, after that, I'll figure out what to do.

This is really important:

BE AS HONEST AS POSSIBLE. Be as explicit as you can possibly stand. This whole project is absolutely meaningless if you're not going to be honest. You only need to answer the questions provided, and if you are legitimately uncomfortable with answering something, you don't necessarily have to, but PLEASE don't hold back on any questions you do choose to answer. Yes, I will be viewing these, but I won't judge you for anything you say, and these clips will be edited, so if you make a twenty-minute video about religion, it will probably just be cut to a few key points, but without deep honesty, this project will seem empty. This is about the mentality of young adults in the situation we're going through right now and the way they think, not about fluff, though fluff is necessary too. :)


WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO HAVE THE CAMERA FOR A WEEK:

Day 1: Your face
Name.
Age.
Grade.
What are your plans for the near future? (Summer, college, etc.)
Tour of your house/room (room especially).
Three things you can't go without in a given day.
The coolest or most sentimental thing(s) you own.

Day 2: Your life story
Just list a few influential events in your life in some kind of chronological order and describe how they've shaped you into the person you are now, and please specifiy which event has left the biggest impression.

Day 3: Your general thoughts
What is your biggest pet peeve/turn on?
What takes up most of your time during any given day?
What is your favorite (all of these if possible) movie, show, book, band, song, color, quote, and why?
How do you feel about politics?
What are your religious/spiritual views, if there are any, and why do you feel that way?

Day 4: Your survivors (family and friends)
Show pictures or hopefully get a few people on video. (Not the whole family, please; just your nuclear family, the people you live with if that's not the same, and the people you see very often)
Describe which family member and friend you think you're closest to and/or who has helped you through the most. Give an example of such a time.
If you don't feel very close to your family or friends, explain why and if you wish things could be different.

Day 5: Your memories
What was the best day/night of your life?
What was the worst?
Who has been your friend the longest and what is your relationship status now?
Who was your first real relationship? Describe the significant events that took place.
What's a really significant childhood memory that sticks out to you?

Day 6: Your future
What college are you going to and why?
If you're not going to college, why not and what are your plans for the future, both near and distant?
What is your dream job and why?
Do you have marriage/kids in mind? Describe that part of your plan.
Are you confident with where you're going? Why or why not?

Day 7: Your soul
What's your passion in life? (not necessarily career-wise if you're not sure about it - just what gets you fired up)
Who or what influences the way you think the most?
Have you ever been in love? With whom and what happened?
If this applies, when did you first realize you were gay and how do you feel about it?
How do you really feel about yourself? (Be HONEST - if you hate yourself or if you think you're pretty okay or even if you think you're the shit, be honest.)


I'll make another list of questions when the next pass goes around.

Here's another biggie:

MY VIDEO CAMERA IS A FIVE-HUNDRED DOLLAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SO IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED LIKE AN EXTREMELY FRAGILE TALISMAN BESTOWED UNTO YOU BY A SACRED DEITY.
Seriously, if you break it or anything, I'll be pissed. And somehow, someway, I'm getting a new one, and that feat will be your responsibility.

Also, please don't spread around that we're doing this. You don't need to keep it top-secret or anything, but I can think of a few people who would not take too kindly to being left out. I chose you people because you're all extremely different from one another and also my closest friends.

This is THE LIST (which is subject to change if you don't want to take it that week or whatever):

Me
Tyler
Hannah
Joey
Nicole
Emily
Ray
Fernandez
Shianne
Gabby

Don't be afraid to ask questions or opt out if you don't wanna commit, but I'm super excited and I think this is going to be really awesome when it's all done.

Thank you all so much for agreeing to take part in this. The diversity is awesome and it's gonna be great.