For my finalized thesis project, I decided to go with a version of my first project idea, building a water projection screen. This idea is a combination of several of my interests/passions: water, filmmaking, storytelling. I also enjoy this idea because it challenges me to develop some building skills as well as some minimal coding to program the water to use different amounts of water pressure at different times throughout the film. As a response to some of my feedback suggesting I seek out a purpose between the water and the storyline of my video, I decided to tie in The Thirst Project. The cause behind the Thirst Project was something I was ignorant to for most of my life so I would like to use my voice to help support this cause that other people may not know about either. Depending on how long the process for this project takes me, I might look into finding a way to divide the fountain between murky, dirty water and healthy, clear water and using the visuals in my presentation to demonstrate just how lucky we are to have the water we do. I think this project idea is also relevant as TCNJ recently had a water recently had a problem with access to clean water and students were unable to drink from any campus fountains or any dormitory/apartment taps nearby. For some students, this experience was a major struggle. When you put into perspective that we, as students, are being provided with water bottles from the school as well as have the means to find clean water at our local dollar stores, while other countries have to walk miles carrying their clean water home, it really highlights the privilege that is often forgotten through our daily lifestyle. All it takes is a quick search of “TCNJ water” on Twitter to see how helpless some students felt without clean water for a few days. I am hoping my short film may inspire students to take this helpless feeling and acknowledge that for some countries that is their entire life and we have the power to help change that.
In relation to my future, I think this project would be something the Walt Disney Company would love because I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and teaching myself something new as well as using my voice to help others. Disney is all about leaving your bubble and seeing what the rest of the world has to offer.
My project should look something like this in the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6TCX0jSc7E&t=88s although I have considered using metal PVC pipes instead of the wood that this man used for his project. I am hoping to be done with the basics of my project about two-three months before the Thesis showcase so I can spend a lot of time decorating my screen as well. I want my project to really immerse my audience and to do that I’m going to have to really pay attention to theming.
I believe that the collaboration between my video and the moving water screen will create a new time of storytelling for a nonprofit. These days the world is looking to improve itself in a million different directions and if you want your issue to be heard then you really have to find a way to grab everyone’s attention. I want people to come over and watch my project because it looks cool but I want them to stay because they realize that access to clean water is a very real problem and they want to learn how they can help.