Author: EMMALYN MEYER

https://emmalynmeyer.wixsite.com/emmalyn-meyer

I will be attending a private event aboard the Historic Lilac Steamship. There will be about 30 of us and we will experience the eclipse on the top deck. I plan on talking with other attendees as well as the staff who will have a more in-depth understanding of the eclipse and what is happening. Overall, I am excited and hope to captue some visually appealing and beautiful shots.

Pitch: Street skiing is a lesser-known snow sport category that, similar to skateboarding, uses cityscapes (railings, curbs, stairs, roof slopes) as tools for executing tricks and flips, stunts if you will. Being that it is not an Olympic sport, these skiers source their livelihoods through brand deals/sponsorships. It is a niche section of skiing that takes the skier out of ski resorts, into the streets, using built up surfaces to cushion their skies to then launching off buildings. Absolutely exhilarating and dangerous. Aside from the talent it takes to do street skiing, there is a street-ski culture that is ever-evolving and adapted by skiers to make a name for themselves. Due to the ‘non-officiality’ of the sport, it is eminent that skiers create a personal brand that is telling of their personal style (skiing style and fashion). For this story, the narrative will focus on Liam Baxter, a street-skier, with a self-brand (lemur ski) that he has built up over the years to make a name for himself in the industry. Liam travels nonstop for 7/12 months of the year, chasing the snow and emerging street scenes across the world to film for brands like Line Skis and Jiberish. For this documentary it will narrate his journey while illustrating the mental and physical toll that being a professional athlete has on individuals.

Characters: The main character will be Liam Baxter who is a professional skier that does park skiing/street skiing. Skiing is his livelihood, yet it is a physically and mentally exhausting sport. He depends on brand deals/sponsorships to finance his skiing. He has been skiing since he was very young and has overcome many challenges (injuries, mental illness) yet loves the sport way to much and plans to go until his body cannot keep up.

Shooting Plan: I already have some shots, all of which are of him skiing at a park within a ski resort, that I took while in Colorado/Utah with Liam. Furthermore, I will be with him for a couple days in Canada where he will skiing street. Visually, I think that the piece will cover a variety of shots to really set the scene and show the process of this unique sport. I will get shots of the natural surrounding so that I give my audience an idea of where something like this takes place. Then, most of my visuals will be of Liam- him skiing, scouting out spots, getting ready.  The visual style that I want to create will have notes of thrill with threads of seriousness (this is his lively hood and can be very dangerous- would like to do a flashback to when he sliced open his leg with his own ski), but also triumph to really show the passion, love, and community that these extreme-sport athletes have.

Shooting Timeline: I have already begun shooting. I skied with him at the beginning of February so I have some footage that I can use already. I am planning on going for a portion of his upcoming trip to Canada so I will get the majority of my filming then. Additionally, I can squeeze in some time at the end of April (Spring Break) to meet up with him in Utah and get more video if I need too.

Storytelling Plan: The structure will be a collection of ‘action-eske’ shots, starting with him ‘practicing’ at the park to then skiing the streets. I want to sequence the film according to the process of street skiing. The initial stages of scouting out potential spots to hit, to then preparing the spot- building up a jump, landing, lead way, etc., and then the actual skiing/hitting of that spot. It is an exhausting process so I will reveal that through the ‘buildup’ and initial stages that take place before any skiing takes place. Then, to capture the physical/mental pain and strength, that will come with the actual skiing- the nonstop trial and errors of making a landing or perfecting a trick. This will ultimately come through as they will hit one spot for an entire day, 12+ hours (i.e. trying to hit and perfect a single section of a rail over and over and over again). The end will be him successfully hitting a tricky spot (maybe a rail or jump) so that the story ends on a good note, but shows that their hard work pays off once they get the clip they need- a ton of work for a shot that lasts a couple seconds.

Theme: The larger truth is, one, the physical toll that this sport has on the body, but, two, the mental toll that being a professional athlete, especially in a more extreme/niche sport like street skiing, has on an individual. I want to relay the passion and die-hard love somebody must have to be successful in this industry.

https://youtu.be/NTJzDmhBgCQ

The documentary 20 Days in Mariupol by Journalist Mstyslav Chernov follows a more traditional framework of storytelling. In doing so, Chernov masters a narrative that is very intentional and emotional, with scenes that accurately relay the devastation and heroism of the  Mariupol community.

The theme of the documentary is war, being that the ‘plot’ is centered around Russia’s siege of Mariupol, but there is also a theme of truth. Truth, being the driver of this story which breaks the Ukrainans people’s silence (through the heroic storytelling of Chernov), reveals to outsiders the reality of what is happening to these communities and people. The exposition is the silence before Mariupol is attacked, before the pain and destruction. The rising action is the attack by Russia while the climax is the aftermath, when around every corner people are met with death and destruction. The turning point is Chernov’s and his team’s decision to continue their coverage and brave the danger so that Mariupol’s story is told. 

Although Chernov is behind the camera, he is experiencing everything that is happening on screen which translates into his perspective and storytelling in accompaniment of the visuals. This is a story that is very much his, but also one that connects to the conflict as a whole and the Ukrainian people. That being said the ‘end’ or denouement of the documentary is Chernov and his team leaving Ukraine despite the ongoing war, but they have a job, a duty to release their footage and bare the truths. 

Overall, I think this film is a true and very raw piece of journalism that is very appropriate in its visuals and exposure of graphic content. While watching, I had to turn away for certain parts or pause it, and most definitely cried during more than one instance. I think that reaction is telling of really well done reporting and something that journalism needs more of. This perspective of journalism, war and humanitarian crisis’ especially, is really heavy and deep, but these are truths that we have created and must confront in order to help/save ourselves and each other. Additionally, the authors point to now having a record of the atrocities that have been carried out in Ukraine and the potential impact their footage will have when the war becomes history and winners and losers inflict stories and their truths.

10 Shot Practice – Emmalyn Meyer

https://vimeo.com/910222232?share=copy