The 12 Hour Delivery

In Unit 2 of Endurance, we read more of Dante’s Inferno looking more at what the nine rings of hell were like. We mainly looked at people that put themselves in situations that call for a lot of enduring. One person we looked at was David Blaine, the magician, and his process for staying under for 17 minutes. Then, we looked at this girl Laura Dekker, who traveled the world on a boat by herself at the age of 14, and looked at her process through doing that. Both of these people had goals in their life that they need to fulfill to be whole. That’s where the action project comes in we had to figure out what our goal was in our life, for me it’s filming and becoming a director. So for the action project, we needed to figure out what we could do for 12 hours to get one step closer to our goal. I in these 12 hours I wrote a script, found actors, location scouted, filmed and edited my video together. We also had to document what the process was like and show what things we had to prepare for and random things that came along the way when trying to do these 12 hours. For myself, I made a film called, “The Briefcase” where this one man has to make a life changing exchange to get money for his family. I faced a lot of small challenges during this process, such as writer's block for example. What I liked about this action project was it really helped me get back into filming and that process and also taught me so much. Something I didn’t like was having to document myself while filming and doing tasks because it became a nuisance. Down below is my film I made and the video my process and all the things I experienced, a behind the scene if you will.

                                                                                   

The Process behind filming:

Chapter 1 Of My Life

In unit of my new class endurance we looked at different things people in the past had to endure both mentally and physically, and how it got them to be the amazing people they are known to be. We even did some endurance challenges of our own; the first one we did was sitting for 10 minutes without moving or sitting, something a lot of us were not able to do. The second one was holding a chunk of ice for 1 minute, two times; some people didn’t make it the first time and everyone did second time. Lastly, we had to do a boot camp training exercise with a teacher of Karate. As for the action project, we had to imagine ourselves 50 years in the future, for me that would be the age of 68. In this age I am writing an autobiography about myself and the mission I have for myself when I was a kid turning into an adult. I had to talk about the many things I had endured and how they got me here. I enjoyed doing this because I have such a strong mission to be in the film industry, and this only helped fuel the passion. There wasn’t anything I struggled with, I would’ve liked to have tried this not in essay form possibly. Below is the first chapter I have created my future book, hope you enjoy!  

                                                                                               

Chapter One:

Understanding

p3MediaWorks"On Set" 2016.

I was born in Bulgaria and adopted when I was the age of one by a Greek family in Chicago. I was raised in the northwest side of Chicago, having a more privileged life than others, but it would take longer time to realise that. Growing up I would always make sure that I was good student, always messing around with friends on the weekends. When I was growing up a lot of people would want to go partying, where my friends and I would just drink pop, and play video games till the sun came up. Then as soon as the week started, I would jump into my school work, pushing through all the stuff I needed.

Then sooner than I could see, high school hit me. I was a very poor test taker and because of that I would make sure in the classroom I was doing amazing. I was going to go to school called Notre Dame, having to be part of their special ed program. This was something my parents and I weren’t happy about, but I was determined to prove them wrong and make my way up to an A in my classes. Then a funny little thing happened, I was found on the waiting list of a school named GCE Lab School, a small school still starting out. I visited this school and saw that this place was for me, classes where every student had a say, not just in the classroom, but the entire school the students would have freedom. In the school, there were two classes and instead of tests, it was mainly projects. This was a big mental challenge for me at first and something I struggled to adjust to, but after I did everyone saw that I was growing as a person. The school taught me so much about myself and the city I lived in.

Outside of school, I was doing various activities such as teaching myself to learn to ride a skateboard, taking martial arts, and learning more about my Greek language. I was always pushing myself to learn new things to help my body and my mind. My freshman year was when I when I had big physical challenge of breaking my arm for the second time, and after that I always to take care of it and make sure it wouldn’t break again. If it did break again, I would have to do special programs to make sure it was taken care of. I would take care of it by doing yoga and sports, this making me more careful with my body. In my years of high school I kept changing my idea of what I wanted to do with my life, when I would go to college and work. At first, it was an architect because my that was dad did, and I liked art and math which architecture catered to. Then in my sophomore year and junior year, I wanted to work for the CIA because I was training with martial arts, and I wanted to use those moves to some good use. After finding out what I would really have to do to get into the CIA, I decided it was something I wasn’t interested in. Late into my junior year, I wanted to do art more, and I was more into films. That is when I found my passion and what I knew what I could do: become a director.

To become a director I knew I had to go to a school, that would have great classes for that. I started applying to a lot of art schools with film programs, because I also wanted to study various art styles. I applied all over, but knew I wanted to stay close to home, the place I wanted to into the most was Pratt in New York, because for one it was a great art school, and to study film in New York was my idea of amazing and the perfect school. I had a list of all my school from which one I wanted to go to the most and the least:

1. Pratt Institute
2. Rhode School of Design
3. Art Institute of Chicago
4. Columbia College
5. Savannah School of Art and Design.

To prepare I was making my own films each one better than the other. I was even taking classes at a small art school called Marwen to get more knowledge, doing animation and GIF making classes. Everything I was doing would be to prepare myself for film school.

One of the biggest road bumps I never saw coming was making an art portfolio. I didn’t rush to make one, but was smart and found old things I have done that I have done as a projects and found out those would work, plus my films I made, making the art portfolio I knew I could put together.

Now let’s jump forward a little, to my time in college studying film at Columbia College, and yes it wasn’t very high up on my list, but after looking at their film set, I knew this was the perfect place. My first year was very difficult having to adjust back to normal school tendencies; I hated having to take normal core classes such as English, math, science, history. But, I knew that if I could do great in those classes and pushed through I would be able to get to the filming.

Once I was filming I was loving it, getting to work with so many people that all had the same passion as me! Having such a great place to work on my ideas and learn more, to study all the things I ever dreamed for. There have been a lot of times where I will argue with the people I am working with because one of us wanted the film to a certain way. We would always come to some agreement, not really happy but able to still make it amazing. I would learn to make so many films, some being a noir style, some being animation, POV, anything you can think of! I was trying everything.  I needed to fuel my need to learn and grow, because I was determined to work my butt off to show what I was made for!

I got the second chance of life by being adopted, and I was going to show that it was worth it! When I was 18, my friend and I were talking at Starbucks and he was said that, “A strength you show is powering through extremely difficult situations that could make or break a young adult.” I took that in such a positive way that I knew that I could do this and that I could be the film director I decided to be in my junior year of high school. My journey through all these parts of my life reminds me of Frank Worsley the captain of The Endurance, because on his journey he a lot of challenges, but each one only made him stronger and fight harder. All of my challenges lead to the best moment ever, the film I am most proud of.

The film I am most proud that I made when I was a senior was an action film that incorporated animation in it, I called it Surfer. It is a style that has been done before but not very common anymore, and at the time I knew it would be amazing… and it was! The film was about a man that discovers and he can enter any TV show he wants and make his life just like the show. This was something that took me months to make from all the design aspects, but my professors loved it and so did everyone I knew! I was able to bring another style to life. Not only did this film get my myself an A but it was able to get my name around in Hollywood and the filming community. Soon more people wanted it to be shown all around. This lead for so much success, and I learned something important: Understanding the things you endured as a young person are what got me where I am today, is the most important thing ever.

Greek Films

For community service I have been working for the Greek FilmHellenes as a helper in any event that they have going on. The Greek FilmsHellenes is a group of Greek people that help independent filmmakers that are Greek. They do this by getting a collection of films, selecting what they see best and showcasing it at the Skokie Theater. My role was to help around with any events. That included; helpingset up and promote the organization at other Greek events. Each year at Navy Pier they hold an events called, "Neighborhoods of the World" this is for Greek artists, businesses, and resturants to showcase what they have for the public. At this event I took pictures and directed the public to see if they wanted to make a quick video to submit so they could earn free tickets to the Skokie Theater showcasing. Also, each year there is a Greek parade which celebrates Greek independence. During that event I walk with the Greek FilmHellenes and hold up signs to show my pride as a Greek person. 

NVA. "Greek FilmHellenes." 2015. 

From this experience I have learned a lot, in showing pride for a community, how to run a non-for-profit, and how certain films will be judged. I am someone that wants to be a filmmaker and this shed light on what people really like in films and what they don't. I will contunue to help out this organization and hopefully be a full on member one day. I was, from working with them for so long, considered to be a leader in a youth program they are thinking of starting up. This would be for young people, probably in the teens, that want to be filmmakers of their own.

Chicago Mix

In my new class Mixtapes, we studied Blues and Jazz and the historical context about those styles of music. We also learned about what goes into making music today versus the past, and how to improvise different sounds together. For FEs we went to Columbia College to sit in on a music theory class that was learning what we were learning and we learned more about Bebop Jazz music. We then the next day went to Stony Island Arts Bank to learn more about House music and how it grew in Chicago; we looked at some pieces from Frankie Knuckles, who was the founding father of House music. Lastly we went to Electrical Audio Studios to look at recording studios and how people record their music. For the action project we had to create a playlist of 5 different song that we think would be good for the Pitchfork Music Festival and explain how they show an attitude towards the world. I liked the range and the freedom we had with this project, because I feel the songs I picked were great, and have a nice range of genres. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like because I thought that this was a very fun project to do and think of. Below is my podcast of the 5 songs I thought would be best for the festival, hope you enjoy!

                                                                                                   

   

To listen to the full version of all these songs click the links below: 

1. Childish Gambino - Me and Your Mama

2. Panic! At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor

3. J Balvin ft. BIA & Pharrell Williams - Safari

4. Chance The Rapper - Summer Friends

5. Georgie Porgie - Life Goes On

The Vision

In unit 3 of my class System and Models we learned about how to make a company or group work the best, and different methods that are used to have the best working group. This includes looking at measures like Total Quality or Six Sigma, then looking at Commons, which are resources that are shared but not regulated. We also looked at the different work environments and how they can change the amount of productivity in a company. For an FE we talked to the head of the school Eric Davis about the different functions of our school. For the action project, we had to take a system with in the school, could be anything, and talk about about it through SWOT. I will explain SWOT in the presentation below. While explaining it through SWOT we also had to show how it relates to different trends that businesses do, the Commons, and Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. We then have to figure out how to make this system better and explain why it would work. I chose to talk about the teachers and how they collaborate with each other. Something I thought was interesting about this project, was there have been times when they use what we say and implement in the school itself. Something I thought was difficult was coming up with a way to present all of this, because it didn't need to be a presentation, that is just how I ended doing it. I would have liked more time so I could have made it more interesting and creative.

 

A Civil Future?

In unit 2 of my class Equality, we learned more about what we did in the past unit, but focusing more on the present and future of what race, gender, and class looks and will look. For a FE, we had Elizabeth Dozier come in and talk about what she is doing to help the people of Chicago. We also we went to go see the new film Hidden Figures. This helped a lot at looking at how race put our nation very behind in the mission to get to space. For our action project, we had to create a newspaper article for the future, 2117, on an issue we see would be alive during that time. Then create a toy that we think that children would have to play with, and a law/policy that should be in place to that future issue. For my issue I chose the subject of class, and how when there is a lack of a business in a certain neighborhood it can affect a lot. Something I liked about was that it pushed my creative mind to try to think further than the here and now. Something I didn’t like was the openness of it, because it was a little difficult to think of what can happen in a 100 years. Please enjoy reading my news article!

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NVA Times

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Feb 28th, 2117

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Mariano Foods Stop Putting Stores in Low Income Neighborhoods:

History and Present: Back in 2019 Whole Foods and Mariano’s boards came together and joined as one company, sharing resources and profit. The new company blew out the competition, even putting Aldi’s out of business. After many years business has been slow and quality of products lowering from expansion of stores, the board decided yesterday that they are taking their stores out of low income neighborhoods. The president of the company has this to say, “We have for years been losing money from all these stores in low income neighborhoods they are placed in. We decided to put them in high income neighborhoods so we can make the quality of food as good as possible again.” Responses have been very negative from people in the neighborhoods they are pulling the stores from. An estimate of 1 million people have lost their jobs, and others have now to take a longer commute to get their jobs. Because of this, we are going back into our old ways of having food deserts where only fast food is the option for people in these neighborhoods. Sean Israel has this to say, “I had been working in that store for 5 years providing for my family, and now I have to work at Wendy’s which isn’t paying as well.” Sean is one of a million to have lost their jobs due to the company's decision to take their stores out. For further expectations, we will see from the company if this was a smart choice or it will make it worse for them. Many cities are worried that now we will be back tracking into the early 2000s because very hard working people can’t have fresh food available to them. Mother Jean Harris has this to say about her children, “I am someone who wants my children to always eat healthy. How are they supposed to do that now that Mariano Foods is taking their store out of my neighborhood. I can’t drive up to the suburbs to get that food.” This is a very tragic event for many people, with cases from losing their jobs and fresh food, to now having food deserts again.

NVA. "Pop UP Tea Ad." 2117 New amendment signed into order: 28th Amendment: Each state must have an equal amount of store and restaurant options in every part of the cities.

Response: Today is Feb 28th, 2117, my name is Valentin Lubinov. Living in this world is very interesting, so much better technology than the ones my parents and grandparents carried. I really don’t understand how they were able to survive that way. Because of Donald Trump’s election many things were set into motion over seas. A war has been raging for a while now, but it is mostly just threatening and no true action as been done yet. Racism is alive still although many people try to pretend that it is gone, but nothing is changing. Funny, my grandparents said something very similar to that me when I was younger. As for the Mariano Foods moving their business to high income neighborhoods only, many people have lost their jobs, including some of my friends. I think it will blow over, and the company will realize that they need to go to being everywhere. It really helped people with their jobs, I don’t really understand why they would do something like that. Then due to that they might sign the new amendment into place that says they can’t do that, so that these people can have their jobs back; I would be more than happy to see my friends get their jobs back. Our new President who is the second female president since 2020 is wanting to see a lot of change. For a long time, our society has been falling back onto old trends, like when I was reading about Donald Trump when he was president. I can’t believe a man like that became president. I am really glad that this president wants to make good change, and see more equality in our world today. As for the environment itself we are really trying to keep everything healthy but it is very hard with population we have the amount of needs that need to be met. Our new president, Mary Frank will make sure that we start to preserve land even more, and make sure that each town has some kind of park.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

In my advisory class, Math Camp, we had to pick a math subject that we were interesting in learning more about. Then work on it for the entire class practicing the subject and getting good at it. We only met once a week on Mondays, we would give ourselves homework, or just use our class time to work on it. My subject is Card Counting, which is very popular when playing Blackjack aka 21. The point of the game is to get 21 in your hand to win, in casinos you are playing against whoever is at your table, and mainly the dealer. Card Counting is used to win the game, or have a better chance at winning, usually used to make sure you know what to bet when playing at casinos. This is related to math because in order to count the cards you need to be able to add and subtract very fast, it is very important to be able to remember things and adapt very quickly that is happening in the game. It is something that uses a lot of very simple math, but in such a fast pace that it can help you win a lot of money when you come out a casino. Hope you enjoy learning Card Counting and hopefully get good at yourself!

                                                                                                     

Now first thing you need to know to be good at Blackjack in general is basic strategy:

Blackjack Institute. "Basic Strategy." 2002

This chart shows you what you should and shouldn’t do when playing. This is an easy way to keep yourself ahead of the game. Now for counting cards it is very simple. Whenever a card is played you make sure you know how that affects the count. So I will tell what card does what.

• 2 through 6 = +1
• 7 through 9 = 0
• 10 through Ace = -1

Now that you know that when the deck is being played you just add or subtract numbers now. Say a 6, 5, 4, 7, ace, and 10 are played, the count would then be +1. This is because the 6, 5, and 4 made the count +3, but because the Ace and 10 were played it was dropped to +1. The count is very helpful in that it can tell you what to bet, and if you should go high or low. The main thing you should always know is that 10 has the most cards in a deck; you have the 10, Jack, Queen, and King. That is 16 cards out of 52 cards. Meaning they are the most likely to be played. You have always have to remember what is being played so you can also change your moves, because if a lot of 10 cards have been played then the chances of you getting another 10 are very low.

Lastly there is a thing called True Count, this is basically when you are playing a game with more than one deck. The way this works is, say your count currently in a game is +3, and there are 2 decks being played the true count would be +1.5. You divide the count by the amount of decks that are being played. This isn’t the easiest thing to do though because all casinos use a different amount of decks, and they have shuffle machines that can change everything in an instant. There is even a machine that keeping the true count is impossible because you can’t focus on how many decks are being played when it is constantly shuffling the cards.