I sit in the in the large green armchair stationed in the middle of my living room. The backrest is stretched out to its fullest potential while I lay curled up on the chair’s soft leather with my laptop balanced precariously on one of the arms.  The armchair has been a part of my family since before I was born. It has seen me through tears, smiles and sickness. It is my favorite chair in the house. It is a good place to retreat from the looming pressure of a large and somewhat amorphous assignment.

Yet I am not here to talk to you about my armchair, I am here to tell all you expectant readers about my in-depth.  Last January I made the decision to pursue an in-depth study on the art of filming. At first I wanted try to do a bit of everything: the filming, the script writing, the editing and the directing. However, as time drifted away and I experimented with different ideas, I realized an important fact: I have no talent for script writing.

Like most students, I have written my own share of stories through my lifetime for various English classes.  I have written stories about adventures up in the clouds, stories about worlds that only exist in the folds of a book, and stories about the cold reality of the real world.  And more.  Nevertheless, whenever I start imagining all the possible stories I could bring to life, the potential plot lines tangle up in my mind and I can’t find the start and end pieces in all that mess.

Perhaps, it is just because I am stuck in an ill-timed rut.  Perhaps it is because I have not written a story that I, myself, have enjoyed in years and for my first film I want the story to be perfect.  I know I am being snobbish and a bit perfectionist but the plots I want just aren’t flowing.

Aside from the script, I am actually quite excited about the rest of the jobs.  For weeks now, I have been imaging new and different ways of filming transitions and the different angles you could produce from a camera.  I find myself walking down the hallway at school, picturing upside-down worlds and spinning frames.  Even at home I have started going out for walks, just to look at the scenery and scout the most creative shots.

Actually, I have recently discovered that I really enjoy editing. Some people may look at editing and see it as the tedious extra job you have to do after all the fun but I see it as the final place where you really create all the magic.  Editing is the place where you get to tinker with film and add the final touches that makes everything look realistic. It is the place where you add special effects and create things that are not possible in the real world. Without editing, a movie would be nothing but a bunch of jumbled, choppy shots.

As for a mentor, I can say nothing else but that I am unsatisfied.  I have sent out a few emails to various people but am still awaiting a response. If worse comes to worst I do have a two candidates that I have worked with before and that I am sure would accept the job as my mentor. However, considering that this is my first in-depth project, I prefer to have someone who I have not worked with before, so I can get an entirely new point of view and suggestions from them on my work.  I am completely open to anyone who might have any suggestions on someone who has experience with filming and would like to sacrifice their time on a wide eyed, hopeful student.

With a sigh, I lay back onto the familiar back rest of my green chair.  Yet again today, it has proven to come to my aid when I am in most need of enchantment. The green chair is not only my place of retreat to but also my place of inspiration.