Student Blog: Online Classes as Time Passes

The classes I am taking this semester are all within my current decided major– film production.

Student Blog: Online Classes as Time Passes

As noted in my previous blog, I am taking a semester off— living at home, working, and taking enough online classes to maintain the required credit count for a scholarship. It is an odd feeling of being home. While it feels like an extension of the summer, it also feels like every day is part of a long weekend. Nothing is routine except the weekly due dates for my online classes. Each week is different, which makes things interesting, but also each week has the same priorities, which is not so interesting. Each week is composed of work shifts and class assignments, but all the same, there is no given structure. 

The classes I am taking this semester are all within my current decided major– film production. I am taking Editing I, Foundations Of Story, and Writing Scripts– which is technically a creative writing class. When I signed up for the script writing class, I was anticipating that we’d explore the forms and formats of scripts— stageplays, teleplays, and screenplays– however, that is not the case. Fine by me, it is still an interesting class. The course is set up in a workshop style, where we step by step develop, what will be our class final, a 10-page screenplay. So far I’ve enjoyed reading scripts and digging into how screenwriters can use words to develop a visual emotion. 

Two weeks ago we were asked to write a script outline and treatment for our 10-page story. Digesting the advice to “write what you know,” I decided to focus my screenplay on a protagonist who has a similar story to my own— the story of a Chinese adoptee. Knowing I only had 10 pages to write a story, I knew the story had to be small and simple, but being an adoptee I also wanted to avoid writing a story that used the ‘journey to my past’ and the 'cultural identity crisis’ cliches. Rather than writing a protagonist who aches over her lost beginning and is perplexed by her thought racial facade, I wrote an outline about an adoptee whose past comes to her. 

But this Friday I had my first phone call with my professor to get critiques. While he made some amazing points and suggestions about my story, he also pointed out the whiteness of not just my character, but of me. With this being my first interaction with my professor, I didn’t want to get political about my identity as an adoptee. I wanted to be professional and focus on my story. 

I ended the call with a bunch of notes, but also a bath of tears. But writing what’s personal hurts, right?



RELATED STORIES

1
Student Blogs This Week - Audition Day Experiences, Study Break Tips, and More Photo
Student Blogs This Week - Audition Day Experiences, Study Break Tips, and More

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. Finding the joy in rejection, favorite theatre moments, a letter to college friends, New York Fashion Week, a love of Shakespeare, learning to say no, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

2
Student Blogs This Week - Poetry and Theater, Senior Year Excitement, and More Photo
Student Blogs This Week - Poetry and Theater, Senior Year Excitement, and More

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. Portraying Cinderella, an interview with a theatrical producer, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

3
Student Blogs This Week - Dealing with Burnout, Maintaining Vocal Health, and More Photo
Student Blogs This Week - Dealing with Burnout, Maintaining Vocal Health, and More

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. An actor turned Assistant Stage Manager, planning a student-run cabaret, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

4
Student Blogs This Week - Discovering a New Passion, Looking Ahead to Summer Theatre, and  Photo
Student Blogs This Week - Discovering a New Passion, Looking Ahead to Summer Theatre, and More

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. The joy of Avenue Q, a return to normalcy, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

From This Author - Student Blogger: Aubrey Donovan

Aubrey Meiling is a Chinese adoptee from the sunshine state of Florida. She grew up surrounded by the arts. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, Aubrey has participated in the dramatic arts... Student Blogger: Aubrey Donovan">(read more about this author)

Videos


A Very Broadway Christmas in Tampa/St. Petersburg A Very Broadway Christmas
Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater (12/15-12/15)Tracker
On Your Feet! in Tampa/St. Petersburg On Your Feet!
Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater (12/07-12/07)Tracker
Girl From the North Country in Tampa/St. Petersburg Girl From the North Country
Straz Center [Carol Morsani Hall] (4/02-4/07)
Clue in Tampa/St. Petersburg Clue
Straz Center [Carol Morsani Hall] (5/28-6/02)
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! in Tampa/St. Petersburg I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!
Richey Suncoast Theatre (1/19-1/28)
Moulin Rouge! in Tampa/St. Petersburg Moulin Rouge!
Straz Center [Carol Morsani Hall] (2/07-2/18)
Pictures From Home in Tampa/St. Petersburg Pictures From Home
Florida Studio Theatre (12/13-2/18)
El Maleficio De La Mariposa in Tampa/St. Petersburg El Maleficio De La Mariposa
Jobsite Theater (5/15-6/09)
The Nutcracker in Tampa/St. Petersburg The Nutcracker
USF Theatre 1 (12/02-12/17)
The Smuggler: A Thriller In Verse in Tampa/St. Petersburg The Smuggler: A Thriller In Verse
Jobsite Theater (8/14-8/25)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You