Author: Anirudh

Website:

http://atekalkote.com

Reel:

Updated version. Subtitles generated by YouTube.

For the Breaking News assignment, I plan to visit Central Park during the eclipse. Several people are expected to visit the park during the eclipse’s peak period. I will interview atleast two or three people and asked them about their experience witnessing this one of a kind phenomenon. I plan to use my phone or camera to film the B-roll and interviews.

According to the website consumeraffairs.com, “Almost all Americans own and use a smartphone”. While there are several applications for smartphone use ranging from consuming content to conducting business, experts have raised concerns about its potential overuse. This is particularly interesting since smartphone use is almost second nature to most people. 

However, this widespread usage has brought with it several complications and challenges especially in a fast-paced and population dense city like New York where people seem to be engrossed in their phones while on sidewalks, subway stations, and in other public spaces. Though this behavior is commonplace and often overlooked by most, it is a hindrance to commuters and everyday travelers who see this phenomenon as an irritant that often impacts their lives directly or indirectly. According to a 2015 Pew Research survey, 77% of the population consider this behavior “Not Okay” especially while walking down the street. 

Do people use smartphones for mere communication/entertainment or does this public behavior have sociological and psychological precedent and implications? 

Join me as I intend to explore this behavior and get to the bottom of the issue by observing, investigating, and interviewing different stakeholders and experts about the topic. The tone of the doc will be mixed: while expert interviews will be serious to get to the bottom of the issue, interviews with students/general audience will be interactive and “fun.”

Main Characters: CUNY studentsDr. Elizabeth Miller (Sociology)Prof. Linda Kalfayan (Communications)Psychology professor (TBD)	Crew:Producer/Director: Anirudh Tekalkote
Filming Locations:Manhattan, NYWestchester, NY	Timeline:Weekends of April 5, 12, 19April 15th rough cut due.

Title: “Stopped in My Tracks”

Concept: Picture this: You have to catch a train and you strategically navigate through hordes of people on the sidewalk and you only have few seconds before the train leaves the station. As you do your best to rush through the crowds, you are stopped in your tracks; by random people immersed in the world of their smartphones, texting and scrolling; oblivious to the fact that their callousness cost you dearly. 

You are enraged at the random strangers and blurt out almost loudly:

Why didn’t you move out of the way!!??

Why do you have the irrational need to look at your phone when in public??

Join me as I observe, analyze and document this behavior while asking imperative questions:

Is public smartphone use related to our inherent desire for privacy and need to feel secure? 

Or 

Are we merely A-holes who can’t wait to reply to that text or swipe up on a TikTok video. 

Interviews with: 

1. Professors of Sociology, Communications and Psychology to understand this behavior and to understand if there is any precedent. 

1. CUNY students/people on the streets and ask them about their phone use. 

Shots: Busy city streets, subway stations, crowds, interviews, B-Roll (with a two cam set up). 

Music: YouTube royalty free music and sound effects. 

Narrated: Self narration or narrated by a friend. 

The documentary 20 Days in Mariupol by journalist Mstyslav Chernov tells the harrowing account of the siege of Mariupol by Russian forces. Chernov’s documentary follows the traditional framework of storytelling. 

The theme is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the motivation is to report the war from ground zero in real time. The exposition is the foreshadowing of the imminent invasion complete with shots from a city awaiting a catastrophe, the rising action is Russia’s actual attack on Mariupol, the climax is the aftermath (death and destruction), the turning point is the team’s continued journey to cover the war and the falling action is the minimization efforts and apathy espoused by Russian politicians and others. Since the war is ongoing, there is no resolution or denouement. 

The documentary breaks the narrative into three main perspectives: Chernov’s narrative complementing the visuals placing him in the midst of action, the viewpoints of displaced, angry, helpless residents of Mariupol comprehending their pathos and the outlook of the first responders trying to salvage life from rubble despite the ramifications. 

The scenes are grim and depict the unpalatable reality of war especially the distressing visuals from the hospitals and makeshift graveyards. The edit alternates between these threads: Chernov’s narrative and the impact it has on the team filming the documentary (such as Vladimir), the interviews presenting the sorrowfulness of the residents and the mitigation efforts (and interviews) illustrated through wide, medium long shots, and close-ups for maximum effect. 

The raw nature of the documentary is astonishing and eye-opening. The fallout of war is jarring to say the least and the courage of those telling such stories is commendable. 

Title: YEARNING 

Concept (semi-fictional):

Last week, I lost my one of my AirPods on a field trip. 

Tracking it revealed that the thief is taking it around the City. I tried contacting them, but they responded with not-so-nice words and taunts by sending videos of the lone AirPod in front of different locations.

The other AirPod is alone and sad — yearning for its partner.

This video documents the efforts to reunite them. 

Composition:

Told from the perspective of an AirPod as it journeys through the streets of New York longing to find its companion. 

Style:

AirPod in the foreground and iconic locations in the background.

Music:

Sounds recorded on a recording device to capture the City and its chaotic atmosphere.

Background music (from Youtube audio/Royalty free music) to match the mood and tone of the visuals.

Editing Style:

Use of split screens, fast paced edits and slow-mo shots to anthropomorphize the AirPods and tell their love story.