#Creative Exploration

[careercounsellors]

Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Enrichment Programs for Children

In today's fast-paced world, parents are increasingly seeking opportunities to provide their children with experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning. Enrichment programs for children offer a wealth of benefits, from academic enrichment to creative exploration and social development. In this blog post, we'll delve into the world of enrichment programs, exploring the various types available, the benefits they offer, and how parents can choose the right programs for their children.

Understanding Enrichment Programs for Children

Enrichment programs for children are designed to complement and enhance traditional education by providing opportunities for additional learning, skill development, and personal growth. These programs come in various forms, catering to different interests, talents, and age groups.

Types of Enrichment Programs for Children

Academic Enrichment: Academic enrichment programs focus on enhancing children's academic skills and knowledge in specific subjects such as maths, science, language arts, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). These programs often incorporate hands-on activities, experiments, and projects to make learning engaging and interactive.

Skill-based Enrichment: Skill-based enrichment programs aim to develop children's practical skills and talents in areas such as music, art, sports, coding, robotics, and culinary arts. These programs provide opportunities for children to explore their interests, discover new passions, and develop valuable skills that can benefit them both academically and personally.

Creative Enrichment: Creative enrichment programs focus on nurturing children's creativity, imagination, and self-expression through activities such as drama, dance, theater, creative writing, and visual arts. These programs encourage children to explore their artistic abilities, experiment with different mediums, and express themselves in meaningful ways.

Benefits of Enrichment Programs for Children

Academic Enrichment and Cognitive Development: Academic enrichment programs provide children with opportunities to deepen their understanding of core subjects and develop essential academic skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical reasoning. By engaging in hands-on activities, experiments, and projects, children not only reinforce what they've learned in the classroom but also gain a deeper appreciation for the subject matter. Narrative: Emily, a sixth-grade student, struggled with maths in school. However, after enrolling in an after-school maths enrichment program, she discovered a newfound love for numbers. Through hands-on activities and games, she began to see maths in a different light, finding joy in solving problems and exploring mathematical concepts. As her confidence grew, so did her grades, and she soon became one of the top maths students in her class.

Skill-based Enrichment and Practical Learning: Skill-based enrichment programs offer children the opportunity to develop practical skills and talents that can benefit them in various aspects of their lives. Whether it's learning to play a musical instrument, mastering a new sport, or honing their coding skills, these programs provide a supportive environment for children to explore their interests, build confidence, and achieve their goals. Narrative: James, an aspiring young musician, dreamt of playing the guitar but didn't know where to start. With the support of his parents, he enrolled in a music enrichment program at a local community center. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, James learned the fundamentals of music theory, technique, and performance. With each lesson, he grew more confident and proficient, eventually showcasing his skills at a recital for family and friends. Today, James continues to pursue his passion for music, playing in a band and composing his own songs.

Creative Enrichment and Artistic Expression: Creative enrichment programs provide children with opportunities to explore their artistic abilities, unleash their imagination, and express themselves in meaningful ways. Whether it's painting, drawing, acting, or dancing, these programs foster creativity, self-confidence, and a sense of identity. Narrative: Sarah, a shy and reserved nine-year-old, struggled to express herself verbally. However, when she discovered a passion for painting in an art enrichment program, she found a new way to communicate and connect with others. Through her artwork, Sarah expressed her thoughts, feelings, and emotions in vibrant colors and bold strokes. With each painting, she gained confidence and a sense of empowerment, eventually sharing her work with the world at a local art exhibition. Today, Sarah continues to use art as a form of self-expression and advocacy, inspiring others with her creativity and courage.

Social and Emotional Development: Enrichment programs provide children with opportunities to interact with peers, collaborate on projects, and develop essential social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork, empathy, and resilience. By participating in group activities, discussions, and games, children learn to navigate social dynamics, build meaningful relationships, and develop a sense of belonging and community. Narrative: Daniel, a ten-year-old with autism spectrum disorder, struggled to connect with his peers and engage in social interactions. However, when he joined a theater enrichment program for children with special needs, he found a supportive and inclusive environment where he could express himself freely and connect with others through the power of storytelling. Through drama games, improvisation exercises, and group performances, Daniel learned to communicate effectively, collaborate with his peers, and express his emotions in constructive ways. With each rehearsal, he grew more confident and self-assured, eventually starring in a school play and inspiring others with his talent and resilience.

Overcoming Common Barriers to Participation

Despite the numerous benefits of enrichment programs, many parents face common barriers when it comes to enrolling their children in these programs. However, with proactive planning and creative solutions, these barriers can be overcome.

Financial Constraints and AffordabilityMany parents hesitate to enroll their children in enrichment programs due to financial constraints. However, there are often affordable or free options available, such as community-based programs, scholarships, and sliding-scale fees. Additionally, some programs offer payment plans or discounts for families with limited financial means. By exploring different options and resources, parents can find enrichment programs that fit within their budget and offer excellent value for money.

Time Constraints and Scheduling ConflictsBalancing children's enrichment activities with other commitments such as school, extracurriculars, and family obligations can be challenging. However, by carefully managing schedules and prioritizing activities, parents can create time for enrichment programs. Consider enrolling children in programs that offer flexible scheduling options, such as weekend classes, evening sessions, or online courses, that fit into your family's routine.

Access and AvailabilityAccess to enrichment programs can vary depending on factors such as location, transportation, and resources. However, there are often local community centers, libraries, schools, and online platforms that offer a variety of enrichment programs for children. Additionally, some programs provide transportation services or virtual options for families who may face barriers to access. By exploring different resources and reaching out to community organizations, parents can find enrichment programs that are accessible and inclusive for their children.

Choosing the Right Enrichment Program for Your Child

With so many enrichment programs available, choosing the right one for your child can feel overwhelming. However, by considering your child's interests, strengths, and areas for growth, as well as logistical factors such as location, schedule, and cost, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your child's needs and preferences.

Assessing Your Child's Interests and Goals: Start by talking to your child about their interests, passions, and goals. What subjects or activities do they enjoy? What skills or talents would they like to develop? By understanding your child's interests and aspirations, you can narrow down your options and focus on programs that are meaningful and relevant to them.

Researching Available Programs and Resources: Once you have a sense of your child's interests, research available programs and resources in your community. Look for programs that align with your child's interests and offer a comprehensive curriculum, experienced instructors, and positive reviews from past participants. Consider exploring online platforms and virtual programs that provide flexibility and convenience for busy families.

Considering Logistical Factors: When choosing an enrichment program, consider logistical factors such as location, schedule, and cost. Choose a program that is conveniently located and fits into your family's routine. Look for programs with flexible scheduling options, such as evening or weekend classes, that accommodate your child's other commitments. Additionally, consider the cost of the program and whether financial assistance or scholarships are available for families in need.

Seeking Recommendations and Reviews: Finally, don't hesitate to seek recommendations and reviews from other parents, educators, and community members who have experience with enrichment programs. Talk to friends, neighbours, and colleagues who may have enrolled their children in similar programs and ask for their insights and recommendations. Additionally, read online reviews and testimonials to get a sense of the program's quality and reputation.

Tips for Maximising the Benefits

Once you've chosen an enrichment program for your child, there are several strategies you can use to maximize the benefits and support your child's growth and development.

Set Clear Goals and Expectations: Start by setting clear goals and expectations for your child's participation in the program. What do you hope they will gain from the experience? Whether it's improving academic skills, developing a new talent, or building social connections, articulate your goals and discuss them with your child to ensure alignment and motivation.

Encourage Active Engagement and Participation: Encourage your child to actively engage in the program by participating in class discussions, completing assignments, and seeking feedback from instructors. Encourage them to ask questions, share their ideas, and collaborate with their peers. By taking an active role in the learning process, your child will deepen their understanding and retention of the material and develop important skills such as critical thinking and communication.

Provide Support and Encouragement at Home: Support your child's participation in the enrichment program by providing encouragement and support at home. Help them with homework or practice assignments, attend performances or showcases, and celebrate their achievements and progress. Create a positive and nurturing environment where your child feels empowered to explore their interests and pursue their passions.

Recognise and Celebrate Achievements: Finally, recognise and celebrate your child's achievements and milestones throughout the program. Whether it's mastering a new skill, completing a project, or overcoming a challenge, acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their successes. By celebrating their achievements, you'll boost their confidence, motivation, and sense of accomplishment, encouraging them to continue exploring their interests and pursuing their goals.

Case Studies: Real-Life Examples of Successful Participation

To illustrate the transformative impact of enrichment programs, let's explore some real-life examples of children who have benefited from their participation.

Academic Enrichment: Mia's Journey to Mathematical Mastery: Mia, a fourth-grade student, struggled with maths in school. However, after enrolling in an after-school maths enrichment program, she discovered a newfound love for numbers. Through hands-on activities, games, and projects, Mia gained a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and developed essential skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking. With each lesson, her confidence grew, and she soon became one of the top maths students in her class. Today, Mia excels in maths and attributes her success to the support and encouragement she received in the enrichment program.

Skill-based Enrichment: Ethan's Quest for Musical Mastery: Ethan, a talented young musician, dreamt of mastering the piano but didn't know where to start. With the support of his parents, he enrolled in a music enrichment program at a local community center. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, Ethan learned the fundamentals of music theory, technique, and performance. With each lesson, he grew more confident and proficient, eventually showcasing his skills at a recital for family and friends. Today, Ethan continues to pursue his passion for music, playing in a band and composing his own songs, thanks to the foundation he built in the enrichment program.

Creative Enrichment: Ava's Journey of Self-Discovery through Art: Ava, a quiet and introspective eight-year-old, struggled to express herself verbally. However, when she joined an art enrichment program, she found a new way to communicate and connect with others through painting and drawing. Through her artwork, Ava expressed her thoughts, feelings, and emotions in vibrant colours and bold strokes. With each painting, she gained confidence and a sense of empowerment, eventually sharing her work with the world at a local art exhibition. Today, Ava continues to use art as a form of self-expression and advocacy, inspiring others with her creativity and courage.

Conclusion

Enrichment programs for children offer a wealth of benefits, from academic enrichment to creative exploration and social development. By providing children with opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and connect with others, these programs play a crucial role in supporting their growth and development. Whether it's mastering a new subject, discovering a passion, or building lifelong friendships, enrichment programs empower children to reach their full potential and thrive in all areas of their lives. So why wait? Explore the world of enrichment programs and give your child the gift of limitless possibilities.

[crystal-charlotte-lynch]

Trying my hand at Willam S. Burroughs cut-out technique

Joseph Derito, an 81-year-old retired baker in Elmyra,Overall, about half the

New York, sees immigration

country - 49% - say democracy is not working traveled to Ukraine with

policy as not representing well in the United States, his wife, Kim Keon Hee,

the views of most following trips to Lithu-

icans. "The government compared with 10% who ania for a NATO summit say it's working very or and to Poland. It's his first

today is all for the people

extremely well and 40% visit since Russia invaded who have nothing - a lot of

only somewhat well. About Ukraine in February 2022.

them are capable of working half also say each of the Yoon toured Bucha and but get help," said Derito, a political parties is doing a Irpin, two small cities near white political independent bad job of upholding democ- Kyiv where bodies of civil-who leans Republican and voted for Trump. "They just racy, including 47% who say ians were found in the that about Democrats and want to give these people

streets and mass graves after

even more - 56% - about Russian troops retreated everything"Republicans.

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old retired data collec- them is doing a good job just South Korea, a key U.S.

tion worker and Democrat because of the state of the ally in Asia, joined inter-

in Cincinnati, blames economy - inflation is kill- national sanctions against

Trump for what she sees ing us," said Michael Brown, Russia and has provided as an erosion in democ- 45, a worker's compensation Ukraine with humanitar-racy. "When he got in there,WASHINGTON - Only ian and financial support it was like, man, you're about 1 in 10 U.S. adults to Ukraine. But the Asian trying to take us back to give high ratings to the way nation, a growing arms the day, before all the rights democracy is working in the exporter, hasn't provided and privileges everybody United States or how well it weapons to Ukraine in line fought for," said Wyatt, who represents the interests of with its longstanding policy is Black, adding that she's most Americans, according of not supplying arms to voted previously for Repub- to a new poll from Associ- countries actively engaged licans as well.ated Press-NORC Center in conflict. She sees those bad dy. for Public Affairs Research.

During a joint news Majorities of adults say conference with Ukrainian

prime minister took a fresh U.s. laws and policies do turn Saturday as the candi-

President Volodymyr Zelen-

a poor job of representing skyy, Yoon announced date who led his party to what most Americans want plans to expand support first place in May's general on issues ranging from the dozen years. The case election said he is open to economy and government endured through five police bowing out of contention spending to gun policy, commissioners, more than if he cannot win a second I immigration and abortion. 1,000 tips, countless theo-round of voting in Parlia- The poll shows 53% say ries and supposed conspira-

ment. Congress is doing a bad job zies. Then a fresh review last Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, of upholding democratic year tied an old clue, about the leader of the progres- values, compared with just a pickup truck linked to a sive Move Forward Party, 16% who say it's doing a victim's disappearance, to said he would be willing to good job.

a new name: Rex A. Heuer- let a coalition partner party 'Lawmakers failed to mann.

field its candidate. However, confirm Pita as prime minis- Energized by the truck

he indicated the political ter Thursday despite his sidbit, investigators charted battling could continue for party's surprising victory the calls and travels of

weeks. in the May polls, when it multiple cellphones, picked The findings illustrate garnered 151 seats in the part email aliases, delved widespread political alienation as a polarized country

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limps out of the pandemic assembled an eight-party and into a recovery haunted

- and even a pizza crust I

coalition that together holds or advanced DNA testing, by inflation and fears of a

312 seats, a clear majority in cording to court papers. recession. In interviews, the lower house, giving it the respondents worried less On Friday, Heuermann, 59,

bout the machinery of right to nominate a prime was charged with murder in

minister. democracy - voting laws

A second round of voting

and the tabulation of ballots is expected Wednesday.

- and more about the outputs.

[ur-daily-inspiration]

Cute cakes appreciation post

[rmhashauthor]

I was literally the unhappiest person before I finally met my husband and FINALLY got to explore my sexuality. I was frustrated and I felt lonely ALL THE TIME, not just in the lack of sex but the lack of intimacy. I couldn't talk about certain things with my friends, not that I had many at the time, and I knew I wouldn't get the same kind of connection I wanted from platonic relationships. I know there's a billion lines of literature about how women should be independent and able to express herself without the help of a man - and I do those things very well, thanks, and I was doing them LONG before he came along - but this was something I KNEW I needed, I just didn't know how to find it. I got lucky, in the most random, out of the clear blue sky way, to finally, FINALLY find the person who I could TRULY share EVERYTHING with and nothing compares to that freedom for me. And I say this with MASSIVE respect to asexual and aromantic people - you and your experiences are just as valid and unique as mine, and I don't want to give off the impression that I don't think this matters to the aro and ace community. It's just a different way to experience being human, and it's still beautiful and good.

So yeah, my stories are HEAVILY laced with sexuality and sensuality. I continue to explore mine through writing as well as with my husband, and every weird, funny, awkward, kinky, borderline bizarre experiment on paper as well as our bedroom makes me feel more confident, more real, more human. It's one of those things that I cannot BELIEVE is real sometimes, because there's nothing in the world like that vulnerability. I used to think romance novels were all garbage, until I started living mine. So I'm going to keep doing this, because it pleases me and keeps me sane and because I want to share how I experience the world. Art is art, no matter how sticky.

Arrrgh I already complained about it but man. Fucking hate how weird people are when it comes to sexuality in art. "Ohhh this only exists because the writer was horny it can't possibly have anything deep to say" fucking imagine if we applied it to other emotions. Sorry Antigones can't possibly be about anything meaningful the writer was clearly just sad. Hamlet isn't a good or interesting play actually it was just Shakespeare being angry.

[drsilasaslan]

Weathered Wall Beauty Close-up of a textured surface showcasing peeling blue and orange paint. A striking contrast of colors reveals the beauty in decay, hinting at a rich history beneath the surface. silasAslan.com

[brandonjohnbarnard]

Production history around: Broodiest Flunkey

Finally, I am getting to what I consider the ‘first’ film in my journey as an experimental filmmaker: ‘Broodiest Flunkey’.

This film is a bit rough — it was made as a university project, with a deadline and 3 minute time limit. It was also the first time I had played with many visual effects, and the first time I had shown my work to a live audience.

A lot of what I will be saying in this article will be recycled from my university essay, as my memory on a lot of the details has started to fade.

I created a timeline for this production, so I will try my best to be chronological in the retelling of the film’s creation. Some of the elements may seem tangential, though that is a lot of my practice in general.

I really like the above, because it shows that learning and developing a project (or even personal development), takes a mix of both consumption (books, media) and action (events, trial runs). It also shows how unexpectedly events morph into one another.

In addition to this timeline, I had also created a dated excel timeline of when each event happened (yes, I am thorough). While it shows how ‘Change Spaces’ and ‘Gacha’nce’ fit into the timeline, those won’t be covered here. Noteworthy is how many events overlap with one another, as opposed to being linear.

iDAT XXX

On the 18th of November 2024, I attended an event by Mike Philips, celebrating 30 years since the creation of their institution ‘iDAT’. As part of this event, they ran a ‘telematic performance’ — pretty much information is passed from one system to another, leading to a series of interesting corruptions. This, is then dressed up in a fun avant-garde coat of paint.

It would take a lot later for me to realise that this is a great use of chance as a form of creation. Collaboration, corruptions, improv, a digital exquisite corpse, etc.

MA Experience Design — Design Lab 2

In Design Lab 1, I made a short animation going over the concepts of DADA. Therefore, making video work was heavily on my mind.

The Design Lab 2 brief made me think about what I could do to help the local community. When looking at ‘don’t assume you know your audience’, ‘experiment with materials’, ’leave something beautiful behind’, and ‘make a difference’, it led me down the path of considering making a documentary where I interview people with autism to allow them to be heard and understood.

Autism Documentary

So, I started to plan a documentary about autism, taking the brief into mind. There were lots of worries about it, and I could lie and say they were mostly about GDPR, but it was more so social anxiety of needing to work with so many people!

The in-class activity about making iterative comics was really interesting to me. I wanted to take this idea but apply it to a documentary format. I wanted something similar to the longitudinal study method that ‘Seven Up!’ (1964) engaged in, but also have myself and my beliefs examined as well. This would potentially happen by having a new director for the second film, where they critically look at the first film, and this process is continued indefinitely.

[Accidentally making an exquisite corpse before knowing what that really was!]

Allister Gall Email

The module brief included: ‘collaboration with multidisciplinary partners’. As I was working with film as a medium, I decided to reach out to Allister Gall, the BA Filmmaking programme leader at the University of Plymouth on the 23rd of January 2024. I asked if he was able to send me down the right path, or potentially let me attend a filmmaking lesson.

He let me know about Imperfect Cinema, and that an event was coming up called Cinaesthesia 1. I was very lucky with the timing, as the event was only four days after I sent my email.

[It is funny, I consider this single email an extremely important pivot in my life. If I had not written this email, I likely would not be doing my current PhD, and would not be making experimental art videos. I wouldn’t have heard of Cinaesthesia, and Allister wouldn’t have become one of my PhD supervisors… This email took a minute or two to write, all it takes sometimes.]

The Reason I Jump

During my initial look into autism for the documentary, I read ‘The Reason I Jump’ (2007). The book was written by a 13-year-old mute autistic child living in Japan, and each chapter is them explaining why they do certain actions.

When reading, I realised that there were many areas in which I related to this child, especially thinking back to when I was the same age. While I did not relate to everything, I did more than I normally would with someone. With each example, I started to feel less embarrassed about some moments from my childhood. Moments that I used to fixate on, thinking ‘why did I do that?’ suddenly had an answer that didn’t make me feel as alone or weird.

This feeling of seeing yourself in a book, and this resulting in you being less critical of yourself, I decided to be the message I wanted from my film.

Cinaesthesia 1

This event was run by Patrycja Loranc in collaboration with Imperfect Cinema, and took place at Café Momus on Stonehouse. Patrycja is a PhD student focussing on psychepoetic filmmaking, and the event shared some of this energy.

(Jess Scott, Dutch Loveridge, and Patrycja Loranc at Cinaesthesia 1’s Q&A)

Imperfect Cinema is a Plymouth-based film project created by Allister Gall and Dan Paolantonio, which has the goal of encouraging local artists to create films, as well as to help facilitate events these artists can participate in.

[Side tangent — At this point (8 months since hearing about them), I have heard the two of them go over their intro so many times. It makes me think about what it means to be an academic at university — the need to tear up old ground constantly to explain who you are and what you do. It sounds kind of hellish. I’d struggle to not just make an intro video lol]

As a note for this event, and the ones I talk about later, the networking elements of these screenings are incredible. You get to ask questions directly, sample a lot of local talent, and see the effort of people coming forward. It takes bravery to put yourself out there, and most people there seem to appreciate that.

I was worried that the event would be too ‘heavy’, but it was very casual.

An element of the screening that really resonated with me was the diverse ‘quality’ and styles of work present. There were films presented that I thought ‘I could do that’, and that made me feel like less of an outsider at the event.

At this event, I learnt that a Cinaesthesia 2 and 3 were going to happen in the future, and that they had an open reel for submissions. I pivoted from ‘documentary about autism’ to ‘experimental art film that looked into my own personal experiences reading into autism’.

Getting into Cinaesthesia 2

In order to get a film accepted into Cinaesthesia there were guidelines that needed to be adhered to.

The brief was: “How can the sensory perception/subjective experience be communicated and challenged by filmmaking? How does film allow us to connect to others and the world by exchanging subjective realities?”

It also included that the film must be 3 minutes or less, and submitted by 9pm 21/03/2024.

Experimental Film Production Start

I started my pivot by looking into what made someone’s perception ’unique’, thought about there being so many variables with each person, that everyone’s perception was unique.

In addition to this, I started to consider that my own perception was likely the perception I could best put across to an audience.

I wanted to, somehow, make the audience experience a sense of uneasiness by seeing the world through someone who processes stimuli differently.

Rosemary’s Baby

On the 26th of January 2024, my wife and I watched Rosemary’s Baby (1968) for the first time. It is a great film. In it there is a scene where the main character is trying to work out an anagram by moving around scrabble pieces. I had no plans with this at all. It was just a theme dancing around in my head.

Experience Design’s Telematic Performance

For one of the Design Lab 2 session, Mike Philips wanted us to do a ‘telematic performance’. Since I had seen one prior via his iDAT XXX event, I feel that I had a step ahead of others in the class. This was due to me already knowing what it was meant to look like, and understanding that anything could be used as a step (as long as it caused transformation down the line).

As such, I pushed forward with using Scrabble pieces early on in the sequence, and planned out what the rest of the performance would be.

I would take scrabble pieces out of a bag randomly. Person 2 would make words out of these random letters. Person 3 would then do charades of Person 2’s word. Person 4, who was wearing headphones, had to guess what Person 3 was miming, Person 5, then drew this answer on a post-it note, and added it to a scene on the board.

This whole process was fun, and made me really like the idea of using Scrabble pieces to tell a story.

Scrabble Pieces

Mixing the themes of anagrams and chance, I decided to have one phrase dictate different elements of my film’s story.

I wanted the overall message of the film to be in-line with my takeaway from ‘The Reason I Jump’, so I chose the phrase ‘Be Kind to Yourself’.

Using an online anagram maker, I went through the list of 10,000 combinations, and picked phrases that I thought I could use to string together a narrative that told a story I was happy with.

I wanted to use stop-motion as the technique for these scenes, as it added an eerie feeling that the pieces had a mind of their own, especially since they were what decided the course of the story. Originally, I wanted to film the pieces, and cut out appropriate frames. This did not work due to the camera changing focus, as such I landed on taking still photos after each movement instead.

As stop-motion is a time-intensive process, there were moments where I lost track of what pieces should go where. A colour coded guide was made to make the movement and locations easier to follow.

Pre-Storyboard

Before storyboarding, I thought about elements I wanted to film and why.

I felt that if I went into storyboarding, some fun techniques may have been squeezed out of the production for the sake of narrative.

So instead, I thought about these elements first and how I could use them in the narrative.

Storyboard

Storyboarding your film is useful, however, I did not want to limit myself by structure. For example, knowing how much time was left, or being fixated on scene order. The scenes were drawn in ‘chunks’ and then moved around in order to fit the narrative.

After doing my rough outline of the story, I wanted to make sure I could include the entire narrative in the 3-minute window required by the submission guidelines. As such, I experimented with scene intervals.

‘Yolk Unfit Bedsore’, I thought it was perfect as an opening introduction for a character. ‘Bedsore’ and ‘Yolk’ can both be seen as elements attached to starting the day. Additionally, ‘Unfit’ matched the negative self-image I wanted the main character to have, so the ‘Be Kind to Yourself’ later in the film made sense. Embarrassment seems to be a common issue for some autistic people, so I felt building this into the character was important.

Using this way of thinking, I was able to pace out the Scrabble pieces in a way that completed a cohesive narrative.

With the phrase ‘Befriend — Too Sulky’, I thought I could illustrate that autistic people often want to make social-emotional connections with people, but are unsure how to do so, and the pain this can cause.

I decided on having three second intervals for the storyboard, as I felt this fit best. Any shorter would have been too jarring. Originally, I inserted the Hero’s Journey as a vague guideline for pacing. While this was useful as a rough guide, I did not adhere to it much, as I felt it got in the way of what I believed was a better narrative; perhaps because it made the pacing feel like it was made on a production line.

Once I had my storyboard fully created additional details such as sound effects present, whether it needed chromakeying, and what editing decisions I thought would be needed were added.

In retrospect, I feel that I over-relied on the storyboard. I feel the piece could have been transformed into something more artful by applying wardrobe, doing more area scouting, reframing, and creating some concept art.

Prop Creation

After drawing up the storyboard, I realised that I did not know how I was going to have the other characters in the film be acted. This caused stress as the deadline loomed closer, and I wondered how I would fill these roles.

In order to solve this issue, I decided to use cardboard painted with acrylic for the additional characters instead. I felt that having the main character be the only real-life human added a sense of surrealism, as well as the idea that the plot is ‘from their point of view’. In addition to this, people with autism often feel ‘disconnected’ from other people, and I feel this separate ‘plane of existence’ with 2D vs 3D illustrates this idea in an interesting way.

The character at 0:47 having a sudden expression change was important as it shows the main character trying to grabble with a complex emotional encounter, which is considered a struggle for some with autism.

With the characters being made out of cardboard, I had the worry that this would come across as too jarring to the viewer. To solve this, and to make the overall film feel like it had a cohesive style, I decided to make more elements out of cardboard.

Items like the phone, egg, toothbrush, etc. were made out of cardboard as well. I believed it would be funny to have these mundane elements, that would be way easier to have the real-world items, be recreated. The prop creation was the most time intensive part of the project, but I think it was worth it. When the screening of the film happened, the props were the most complimented aspect by the audience in attendance.

In the film, early on, I have a moment where I flip an egg, purposely showing the cardboard underside. This is to reveal to the audience that I am not hiding the fact that these elements are cardboard — this works as a way to let them in on the silliness.

To help with cohesion for scenes where no props were present, the backgrounds are also acrylic on cardboard. These were added by using chromakeying. The painted areas are purposely small and zoomed in, to make the fact that they have texture and are cardboard more apparent.

Book

The book in the film had two versions, one which was a ‘prop book’, and one that I bound.

The prop book was a cover and back, with painted cardboard sides to resemble paper, and three DVD cases in the middle.

Because the bound book contains pages that were filmed, including the book, this needed to be created after the prop book scenes took place.

In order to match the Scrabble description of the book being ‘finely rusted’, I followed a tutorial by Treasure Books (2023) using cinnamon to create faux rust. This, on top of the book also being obviously cardboard I believed was a fine compromise.

My Wedding

In the middle of this production, with a deadline looming over, was my wedding. I am so happy that the whole process was easy.

[Only while writing this piece had it dawned on me that my filmmaking and married life have been so overlapped.]

Filming

The film was shot on a Sony Alpha 6400 with a SELP1650 lens, and a fisheye shot was done with a 7 Artisans 7.5mm 1:2:8 ED lens. A Sony GP-VPT2BT grip was also used in many scenes to allow for filming while a light was being held.

Two ‘EMART 60 LED’ lights were used to light up the scenes, and a ‘Neewer 5’x7' Greenscreen’ was used for chromakeying.

Some elements of the storyboard needed to be adapted to make the filming process easier. Firstly, a printed breakdown was made of each scene with what happens in terms of editing, effects, sounds, and props present, etc.

For the scenes that were included within the book, a chronological edit of the storyboard was made.

There were moments when parts of the production didn’t go to plan, and as such improvisation had to happen. For example, When the book was put into shrubbery at 2:20 in the film, originally it was meant to be pulled out by string. However, during filming, the string kept snapping. As such, we made the book float behind the main character instead.

Editing

The editing process was turbulent for a few reasons. Primarily, due to Vegas Pro 18 crashing every few hours, however this is unfortunately an aspect to be expected.

The editing process was useful, because it really allowed me to consider which moments were important to the narrative, which I don’t think I would have realised if I handed the work off to another person to edit.

The original cut of ‘Broodiest Flunkey’ was 4 minutes long, and as such 25% of the footage needed to be trimmed down in order to be within the 3-minute window required for submission.

The music at the start of the film is ‘Toc de matinades’ by Rafael Caro (2016), and is Catalonian folk music which is played in the streets early in the morning to wake up people so they can get ready for celebrations. Since this was the day that the main character learnt to be kind to themselves, and that it starts with them waking up, I thought it was appropriate. Also, the tone shift from positive music to more eerie and atmospheric music I felt made the transition feel more contrasted, and as such have more impact.

The sounds of the Scrabble pieces moving was made by moving a container filled with Lego.

With this, the film was finished and rendered. I decided to keep the film internal until Cinaesthesia 2, as associating its premier with the event felt special. This process of keeping videos unavailable until an in-person premier is a practice I feel makes attending an event feel more worthwhile.

Behind the Scenes

Due to the large amount of footage available, I decided to make a behind the scenes video to both commemorate the experience, and as an excuse to remove all the footage from my PC without feeling too bad about it being harder to access.

Cinaesthesia 2

Cinaesthesia 2 took place on 23rd March 2024, and was a lot of fun. Members of my cohort attended which was greatly appreciated.

I would say that the reaction to the screening was extremely positive.

I worried that the subject of autism may have been a bit out of place, or that I would have felt ‘othered’, but then again punk environments have always embraced those that were seen as on the ‘rim’ of society.

Q&A

I was part of a Q&A after the screening, and this was my first time I would talk about my work in a public forum like this. There was something really special about this I felt, and it made me want to talk about my work with others more in the future.

Meeting cool people

It overall was a great night, which made me excited for the future. I met so many cool and talented people, who have stuck around in the peripheries of my life for several months now.

Also, Abi Ali, one of the filmmakers present, stopped me after the show to say my work was her favourite, and guess what, her work was my favourite too.

SO YEAH! This is where it all began. Or rather, where I arbitrarily decided it began. Has it even started yet? Find out next time, on Dragon Ball Z!!

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[crizescudero]

Y la luna declaró como testigo que su amor fue el culpable de aquella muerte. Sentada sobre el estrado confeso cada acto visto, cada palabra que escuchó, cada promesa pactada.

Y es así como el amor que una vez vivió entre los dos desfalleció ante el veredicto. Él fue el único culpable de la muerte de sus corazones.

Imagen y texto por mi Criz Escudero

[fourgondor]

Hello, all! I'm not much a poster (more of a consumer and sharer); however, I've been working on some writing about the happenings underneath the Woodland Realm canopy, and I wanted to share it so it wouldn't stagnate on my thumb drive. I don't exactly know where I'm going with it (hence why it doesn't have a comprehensive title), but I'll keep at it! I know there is so much more to the fandom then a swath of fir forest without much canon lore, but there is something about it that won't loosen its hold on my mind. Hope you enjoy this lil' snippet.

TW ... mild blood and references to violence and medical treatment

CHAPTER 1: Broken Beginnings

Soldier – The Hill

The scent of iron was at once a source of comfort and foreboding. It foretold the arrival of reinforcements, of saviors orchestrating a symphony of ruthless carnage, yet it also portends the upwelling of lifeblood from a fatal wound. The prone soldier was intimately familiar with this paradoxical philosophy. A soldier of a war-besieged land who was born upon the battlefield, and who would likely die upon it.

Ai, Naneth, he thought, why did you consign me to this fate? A life of sorrow, of death? Upon a field soaked by the mingled blood of the enslaved enemy and the free People, you found distraction, and creation.  I’m being unfair but dying allows one to view life in perspective. Consider this rant the comfort I demand from the doom you passed onto me.

Again, that word. Comfort. Ironic that it would haunt me now, not the dozens of elven soldiers I chaperoned to an untimely gathering in Námo’s Halls. Are they arranged around my broken body watching, waiting for my fae to flee into their bitter embrace?

The arrows protruding from his abdomen give a twinge in response. That’s the response he deserves. He led them into this massacre. He urged them forward; a retreat was not an option. A wall of rotting corpses would be sufficient for keeping the yrch from breaching their borders. From reaching them. With him gone, they would receive more income than he could provide them in five and ten years from the Valar-damned Halls. Many a comrade had cracked the formula, and if they leaned into the wind, providing the piercing shafts a target… Well, who’s to know in the chaos of battle. The thought had crossed his mind more than once these past years. Only the sorrow they would feel at his loss has kept his blade from turning on the flesh of its master.

Dark silhouettes crowd his muddled vision before a searing pain erupts from his front, either a finishing blow or an attempt to staunch the blood pouring forth like sap from a poisoned spicket. A fool’s errand, that last one. Already, the venom has numbed his limbs and dampened his senses, but he thinks, or perhaps hopes, that a voice pleads him to hang on, that he is needed, that he is wanted.

Blackness encroaches upon his vision; he raises his eyes to the sky one last time and lets it take him.

Navaer, eryn nin.

Healer – Forest Narrows Base Camp

Gondiath sighed in relief as he caught sight of the final thorn held securely in his metal pincers, his fingers having long lost their feeling. Not often was the healer subjected to such mundane toils of medicine; constant battle to the south brought broken bones and gaping gashes to his notice, not berry prickles.

So, he was rather surprised when a group of edain children shuffled onto his doorstep in the early afternoon bespeckled with blood and punctured with so many thorns as for him to mistake them for sniffling kindling. The ruffians were infamous for the chaos they sowed in the camp, for Gondiath himself had lost much of his dignity at the hands of this particular band of mortal rascals.

In the aftermath of their most recent offence a fortnight ago, the company had…

“S’bout time, Gondi! Thought as I’d have to bring their supper to ’em. A shame such pretty flowers and ripe berries have sharps as pointy as your kind’s ears, eh?” a broad shouldered shadow exclaimed from the archway leading out to the town proper.

Dropping the accursed splinter into the wooden bowl usually assigned for yrch arrowheads, Gondiath shook his head in fond exasperation at the approaching figure. “If the Captain could hear the crude manner in which you have spoken to me, he would strip you of your hide after all the time he put into your lessons. I’d say there’s enough of you for a winter cloak, but out of love for my sister, I will restrain such thoughts.”

An indignant gasp issued from the rowan stubbled mouth, followed by a flamboyant hand thumped against a breast. “There’s no need to be so hostile, brother. Aren’t you supposed to be dedicated to the healing arts, not wounding me so with such words?” the now illuminated man, Eardwulf, questioned with a twitch of his brow, a giveaway for his taunting sarcasm.

“I may have the hands of a healer, but let it not be said that my mouth extends the same courtesy.”

With a hearty laugh a stranger would have not ascribed to the lean man just passed his twenty-third year whose hair fought tooth and fiber to escape its leather confines at the crown of his head, Eardwulf herded the bandaged children out of the healing halls towards their simmering dinners with an over-the-shoulder farewell.

They had been lucky, reflected Gondiath, as he shook his head and began gathering his instruments. Blackthorn could pierce the toughest leather hide, and it was that very property the camp inhabitants embraced. Given proper tending and manipulation, the bushes became barricades that at once warned away invaders and grew sweet summer berries.

The musing awakened a tension in the healer’s heart. All the children were warned from venturing to the southern regions of the camp where such berries were to be found, for as the temperature began to drop and herald the coming of autumn, the vile creatures of the Hill would reawaken. We, too, have been blessed; there hasn’t been any activity, even after the final summer harvest. Despite the need to clean his implements before rust could cling to their gleaming surfaces, his eyes strayed to the doors opened to the southern entrance, the same entrance the captain and his company had left just three days ago.

Ai, Elbereth, return them home safe. I have bloodied my hands enough today.

Scout – South Guard Tower

Gleaming sunlight danced across the forest floor, encouraging the verdant leaves to join in a merry jig welcoming the evening. Not often did the light of Arien grace the camp with her summer fieriness, especially not as the winds changed from balmy to crisp. Eoforwine exhaled with a snort. Here he was, a hardened woodsman, waxing poetic about nature as if he were one of those crazed Wood Elves. Or, at least, one particular elf.

He supposed he could blame this new-found appreciation of his surroundings on their impending departure from the camp; the final harvest would also signal the final reaping of the settlement’s inhabitants; both would head towards the North before the unsavory creatures made their presence known. This would be his twenty-sixth season as head guardsman of the Forest Narrows Base Camp and its autumnal convoy, and his body knew it well. Rain, although welcome for its nourishment of their crops and as a marvel for the children to sing and dance in, was also a heralder of chronic pain for the aging soldier. Gondiath worried over him to no end, pressing soothing balms into his aching hands upon his return from every patrol. Even though the silva was as old as two generations of his family, Eoforwine viewed him as a son alongside that of his blood, Eardwulf. The two acted like brothers enough that an outsider would think of them as such, if not for the peaked ears of the former.

They’re likely bickering now, thought the soldier, twisting his head with the breeze towards where his family awaited his guardsmen and the Green Company. Captain and his elves had set out for a three-day expedition to the Narrows in search of healing herbs that did not flourish in the North as they did here, a wonder considering the malice lingering on their doorstep. Just like us.

Eoforwine stretched his arms overhead, hearing a satisfying pop! from his shoulders. It wouldn’t be long before they returned; elven eyesight may be able to see an orc from five leagues away but straining it to identify specific vein patterns and colors at night was asking too much. One herb always in demand, athelas, could be easily confused for any number of weeds if one could not identify its pinprick white blossoms. As in answer to his thoughts, a horn sounded from the forest, heralding the arrival of the company; however, after some minutes, Eoforwine felt his pulse begin to race.

Branches cracked and leaves crunched as the sound of thundering hooves reached his ears. No matter how much he yearned for their urgency to be the result of their eagerness for their northward journey, that breakneck pace could only mean one thing: something had gone terribly wrong.

His fears were confirmed when four horses materialized from the dense woods paralyzing minutes after the initial horn call. The leading two steeds were joined together by a hastily made stretcher, and upon it lay Captain, bleeding from the abdomen. Eoforwine’s world narrowed to the red coloring the elf’s front and that of his rescuers. It felt like he was watching from above the tower as he screamed for his guards to raise the gates, as he ran to the very edge of his post to get closer to the bloodied soldier, to his adopted son. He barely had the mind to look at the other two steeds, who carried not two riders between them but six, all of whom were covered in blackened blood.

As soon as the gates were at a safe height, the company urged their horses at an even more merciless pace past the outer towers. Shaking, Eoforwine found himself sinking to his knees, muttering prayers to their forest patrons.

Oromë, herald their coming with thy mighty horn.

Nessa, give their steeds the speed of thy deer.

Yavanna, bless them with the protection of thy canopies.

Thirty soldiers split between two groups had passed these very gates earlier that morning; only half would return by the time Arien closed her eyes in tired sorrow. A night of blood and pain was upon them all.

"Author" Note: If you'd like, I can post a character sheet with characterizations and relationship statuses, but I might just leave that to the text ;)

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