Overall
this semester has gone smoothly, I believe. I have enjoyed being a part of this
class not only due to you being my instructor, but also because of the students.
It was a very comfortable environment which I enjoyed. Throughout this semester
we had numerous assignments all leading up to our major documentary. During
every project I wondered what exactly was the point of it, but of course did it
anyway. It was not until it came time to do the documentary that it all
clicked. Every single assignment this semester helped to prepare us and put us
in a position to have the best possible documentary. For me the hardest paper
to write was the Storyboard because I had never written a paper that length
before, but that did become my saving grace. While making my documentary I referenced
that paper numerous times, which came as a shock to me. I did not realize while
writing it just how valuable it would be to me. My biggest success, and most proud
moment, was when I finally got to present my documentary in class. To watch
something that was literally months in the making finally come together was so exciting.
Although I still have a lot to learn when it comes to iMovie, I was so happy
with out it all turned out. I was forced to step outside of my comfort zone
when it came to working with technology, but I made the best of it. I enjoyed
my topic because it was about a topic that I am so involved in. I learned so
much I did not know about Greek Life as a whole. I also learned good ways to
make arguments and how to structure things in a well organized manor.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Shelby
Glenna
Jennifer
Hudgens
WRD
110-055
11
October 2015
Storyboard
I plan on having the first scene at the beginning my
documentary be a pitch black screen. In white, bold, smaller letters I will
have the statement “Is sorority life all its cracked up to be: A peak inside.”
This will allow the audience to know what my documentary is about. I also hope
to show that although I am in a sorority I am not biased. I have conducted the
research, asked questions, and interviewed both sides. I hope this gives the
video a serious feel.
Next I plan on having a very paced 30 second or so.
The screen will fade to white with black letters to contrasted the first scene.
I do not want them the same. It will say “What does Kappa Alpha Theta mean to
you?” Three girls will be shown individually saying what it means to them in
one word. I have only conducted two interviews so far, but the others
scheduled. Picture one, to the left shows, a Theta. In this picture she was in
the midst of saying “Faith.” Picture two, to the right, is another Theta in the
midst of saying “Love.” Next, in black bold letters with a white background it
will say “What does Alpha Phi mean to you?” There will be again three
individual’s scenes with three girls, one at a time, saying one word that
describes their sorority to them. Lastly the words “What does Delta Gamma mean
to you?” will appear. Due to this being my sorority I plan on filming at our
next chapter meeting with all two hundred and fifty of us. I plan on having
them all scream “sisterhood.” That will be the end of that series of scenes,
and once again I plan on it being very fast paced.
Next I will include clippings of an interview with
Delta Gamma President Jordan Gross. I plan on having her name and title in the
corner. I chose to interview her because I believe she added credibility to my
research. She is a senior, holds the highest position possible, and is able to
answer any question I have about Greek Life. I have not yet filmed this
interview due to scheduling issues, but the series of questions I have and plan
on asking are as followed. I believe she can give good insight for she has
experienced everything first hand.
1.
Why do you think
so many people assume being in a sorority/fraternity is a negative thing?
2.
What doors has
being in Delta Gamma opened for you that would not be an option had you not joined?
3.
What advice
would you give to someone who is on the edge when it comes to weather joining a
sorority is for them or not?
4.
What is the
biggest obstacle you believe women/men involved in Greek Life face?
5.
Being a strong
sorority woman, how do you feel when people talk negatively about Greek Life?
Why?
6.
Do you believe
any negative things, for you personally, came along with joining a sorority?
7.
What has Delta
Gamma done to shape your college experience?
8.
What are a few
of the positive things Delta Gamma does, in general?
Depending on how the
interview goes I may include it all in one, or once I start editing I may go
back and forth between questions of this interview, and others.
Next I plan on having these quotes appear and disappear one by
one on a black screen. This will help set the tone for the topic of my next
interview.
·
“One of the
traditional selling points for Greek Life is the connections one can make, not
just with current chapter members, but with the network of former fraternity or
sorority members in the business world,” (Hageman Pg.1.)
·
“I have seen the
benefits of that for some students who look to their fraternity or sorority
upon gradation when they’re looking for a job,” Katherine Cohen (Hageman Pg.1.)
I have picked these quotes from a website I used to
conduct my prior research because pair nicely with my next scene. They will be
used to transition into my next scene all while being strong points. It will
allow the reader to know my interviews matched my research findings.
After these quotes are played I plan on transitioning
into an interview with my uncle, Michael Gillem. Due to him living so far I had
to email him the questions and he recorded his response. I chose to interview
him due to the fact that he is a very successful business man and was once in a
fraternity. He has a lot of knowledge on the effects it has long term once your
four years of being an active member are up. I thought this would gain insight
into my research stated above. Below is a transcript of our interview. The
interview will come into perspective with the words “Michael Gillem- Senior
Executive” in white at the bottom. I will have a voice over before every
answer, due to me not being able to conduct the interview one on one.
1.
Where did you attend college and what fraternity were you
in? What is your job position now?
I
went to Purdue University and I was a part of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. I am
currently a senior executive at a personalized medicine company and I’ve been
hiring people for about fourteen years that work either directly for me or
indirectly for me.
2.
Being an employer, do you think there are any advantages when
entering the work force if you have been involved in a Greek life?
I
do think that there are advantages of being a part of a fraternity or Greek
life as you enter into the work force. As you are in school you befriend upper
classmen. Those same people can help you upon your graduation to find
opportunities to get in front of certain employers and those connections can
just help open doors and possibilities as you enter into the professional world.
3.
What advantages has being in a fraternity given you over the
years?
I
think being apart of a fraternity has helped in two different ways. First from
a professional standpoint. We’ve lived in several cities and its always really
nice when we come across people that we might know that were part of a
fraternity. Sometimes even my fraternity. There is an instant connection there.
There’s a relationship there that we all know what we’ve been through. We share
many of the same stories and because of that you develop strong friendships in
these new cities whereas you might not have otherwise done that. From a
business stand point having relationships from east coast to west coast and
internationally has really proven to be quite beneficial. Both from opening up
opportunities with costumers that I have today and also with people that I know
that were in my fraternity or within the Greek system. Some are actually
customers of mine today so from that aspect its been really nice.
4.
When choosing between two people with the same prerequisites,
except one has been in a fraternity/sorority, who would you chose?
I
think if I were to hire two people or to interview two people that had the same
qualifications but one was apart of the Greek life and one was not I would
tend, in a hypothetical situation, to have more in common with that person
that’s coming from the Greek life. I think as a result we would have a personal
connection and that would lead them to ultimately get in the position.
5.
Do you believe being in a fraternity has shaped you into who
you are today in a sense?
As
I think back on my time being in a fraternity I think it played a very
favorable part of where I am today. First being apart of a fraternity helps
instil discipline. It instils respect for yourself and respect for others. It
also creates a scenario where you believe in yourself and you have a lot of
belief and passion and enthusiasm about what you’re doing. All those qualities
are very important as you enter into the work force.
Picture Three above is of Michael in the midst of his interview. After
this scene ends I plan on on having these words appear on screen.
“Just look at
TV, look what’s on cable. I can’t come up with one movie that portrays Greek
Life in a positive way,” (Hageman Pg.1.)
“Greek life involves many social
engagements that need to be balanced with the class workload. Then there's the
financial commitment. There are dues, functions, events,” (Hageman Pg.1.)
My next interview will appear on
screen and the words “Erin Mullen- Greek Life Drop” will appear in white at the
bottom, as shown in Picture Four to the left. She was once a member of a sorority but
decided to drop out after being involved for a year. I thought this would give
insight to the other side of the argument. I tried to ask hard hitting
questions about why she chose to leave the lifestyle that everyone claims is so
great. Before the scene begins I will do a brief voice over explaining what is
means to be a Greek Life Drop while those quotes are in screen. I plan on
saying something along the lines of, “This next interviewee is Erin Mullen.
After nearly a year spent in a sorority, she chose to remove herself.” Below is
a transcript of the interview I conducted with her.
1.
While you were
involved in your sorority did you enjoy it?
Yeah
I enjoyed it a lot. It was a lot of work and a lot of money but I mean I did
enjoy it while I was there. There were certain things that I enjoyed more than
others, but for the most part I did enjoy all of it.
2.
What was the
reason or reasons you decided to drop your sorority?
Basically
because it was very time consuming. I have a lot of other things that I have
had to do. I was working. I am very intensely into my school work right now
because I am a political science major and a history minor, so basically I just
had to prioritize what I wanted to do. I just didn’t have time to do all the
things that I needed to for my sorority.
3.
Do you agree
with the negative connation that Greek women do nothing positive?
No
I don’t think that at all. When I was in there we did a lot of volunteer work
and we raised a lot of money which one hundred percent is useful for the world.
There is so much that they do that people don’t really see. They just see kind
of the bad, negative connation towards it, but they really don’t realize that
they actually do a lot.
4.
What do you feel
the biggest problem Greek women face is?
Basically
the negative connation. People look at them and have a stereotype that they
feel about these people, but after me being in it I realized that most of those
aren’t true. Obviously you are going to get some that maybe fit that, but for
the most part most people don’t fit that at all. There are great great people
that are in sorority life. People don’t realize it, but they actually do do a lot
and they are good people. Just because there are stereotypes doesn’t mean that
every single person is like that.
5.
Do you believe
it impacted your life negatively at all while being involved?
No.
The only thing that I would say is that it was really time consuming and really
expensive. Just the combination of that was too hard for me to stay in, but for
other people it worked for them. I wouldn’t ever say anything negative about
it. It just wasn’t for me.
After this interview is over I will
be close to hitting my time limit. I plan on having a scene of Delta Gammas
interacting together at the house, but muted. Here I will do a voice over
concluding the documentary and my research. I will explain that Greek Life is
not what it is portrayed to be. In fact, 30% of women and 18% of men at the University
of Kentucky are involved in Greek Life, (McGrath Pg.1.) It is a lifestyle
that is in the spot light more and remembered for everything they’ve done
wrong, and not for all that they have done right.
The scene will fade out and the song
“Hold My Hand” will begin playing. This song means a lot to me because it was
in Delta Gamma’s sisterhood video and the lyrics represent a bond that one can
find in a sorority. The song is upbeat
and a very “happy” type of song, if you will. The part of the song is as
followed:
“Soul is like a melting pot
when you're not next to me
Tell me that you've got me and
you're never gonna leave
Tryna find a moment where I
can find release
Please tell me that you've got
me and you're never gonna leave
Break my bones but you won't
see me fall, oh
The rising tide will rise
against them all, oh
Darling, hold my hand
Oh, won't you hold my hand?
Cause I don't wanna walk on my
own anymore
Won't you understand? Cause I
don't wanna walk alone
I'm ready
for this, there's no denying”
While this song begins playing I plan on having the
following quote appear on a yellow background with white writing. This goes
along with the happy, upbeat feeling I am hoping to give off.
“For a freshman attending a large university far from home, a sorority or fraternity can be a home
away from home. It can be a way to find friends with similar interests. Most sororities and fraternities have a
volunteer service aspect to them, too, so participants feel they are giving
something back to the community as well,” (Barresi Pg.1.)
Picture Five, shown
above, will be in the corner because for me personally this is the group of
girls that has made Kentucky “home” for me. It does along well with the quote
because it represents a bond.
The song will continue playing and I plan on having a
slide show of pictures and rolling videos I have personally taken throughout my
time being in Delta Gamma, with quotes I plan on getting from my sisters about
their experience thus far. Picture six, shown above, is an example of one that
will be shown. After this is over I will be nearly at my time limit. I will
start my rolling credits where you will be able to find the names of everyone I
conducted interviews with.
My overall goal of this documentary
is not so much to convince the audience that sorority girls are perfect and that
Greek Life is for everyone, but to give them a peak inside. To show that we do
as much positive as we can and possibly, if anything, gain a little more
respect.
Barresi, Audrey. “SPEAK OUT: A sorority
experience, minus the hazing.” LexisnNexis
Academic. 7 October 2004. Web. 20 October 215
Glenna, Shelby. Picture One.
2015
Glenna, Shelby. Picture Two.
2015.
Glenna, Shelby. Picture Three.
2015.
Glenna, Shelby. Picture Four.
2015
Glenna, Shelby. Picture Five.
2015.
Glenna, Shelby. Picture Six.
2015.
Glynne, Jess. “Hold My Hand.” I Cry When I Laugh. Writers:
Bennett, Jenee, Patterson, Jack, and Glynne, Jess. Producer: Starsmith. 20
March 2015. CD.
Hageman, William. “Embracing the
Greek life. Or not.” The Chicago Tribune.
06 August 2013. Web. 11 October 2015.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-08-06/features/sc-fam-0806-greek-pro-con-20130806_1_greek-life-sorority-fraternity
McGrath, Anne. “Education Ranking &
Advice: University of Kentucky.” U.S.
News & World Report. Us News & World Report. 2015. Web. 11 October
2015.
Michael,
Gillem. Personal Interview. 12
November 2015.
Mullen,
Erin. Personal Interview. 10 November
2015.
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