Final Portfolio
Below is the final portfolio I submit in the course BIDS 390 "The Video Essay."
The first essay is a reflection on the course.
The second essay "A Star Named Will" is a script I wrote for the autobiography reimagined assignment. Because of formatting issues with the website, the script does not appear in proper font or spacing.
The third essay "The Co$t of Success" is a critical analysis of a video essay titled "Success."
The video essay "A Star Named Ari" is a video essay I made analyzing the star image of Ariana Grande in her music video "Focus."
The first essay is a reflection on the course.
The second essay "A Star Named Will" is a script I wrote for the autobiography reimagined assignment. Because of formatting issues with the website, the script does not appear in proper font or spacing.
The third essay "The Co$t of Success" is a critical analysis of a video essay titled "Success."
The video essay "A Star Named Ari" is a video essay I made analyzing the star image of Ariana Grande in her music video "Focus."
The Video Essay: An Unedited and Unreal Reflection
My first encounter with the video essay was last spring, and it was the messiest thing I had ever done. I never thought I would have to open iMovie again, unless I was making cute party videos for my friends recreating the nights we could not remember. I appreciated being in this course because having the time to look at different video essay genres and making them, invited me to build my faculties with this discipline. Being in this BIDS course married my two passions, media studies and rhetoric. This class was a dream come true because while I had always made the connections between my majors, I was finally in a space that encouraged the overlap of the essayistic and video traditions. This course not only challenged me to reinforce my analytical scopes, but it also introduced me to texts that made me even more engaged as an emerging rhetorical and media studies scholar.
The first essay “A Star Named William” invited me to do something I had never done before, I wrote a script. This essay’s form was alien to me, and so I reached out to my peers to find support in this endeavor. I shared this essay with peers with faculties in scriptwriting and it helped me better both my script and my knowledge of this art. I then shifted gears and went into a familiar avenue with my second essay, “The Co$t of Success” that was an analytical essay. This essay was the most difficult to write because it made me review the video and dissect arguments from seconds. While I used some of what I learned in my previous writing courses, this essay was driven by my growing knowledge of media theory. I read articles outside of this class and contacted professors who I have not had formally. Overall, writing it was hard but super rewarding. I understood how the body is a complicate entity that carries and shapes power and its politics.
The video essays I made for this course were the most laborious assignments, but they were also the height of the class. The essay “PART[IT]TION” was my attempt at creating an essay video and luckily my partner agreed to this idea. My partner comes from the English tradition, and so it was interesting watching us two writers come together for this media project. My partner learned a lot from me, and I grew comfortable with using more essay techniques in my video essays. The second video essay turned from a joke into a serious piece of visual prose. I did not think I would, or could, use a pop star to form a serious argument, but I did. The second video essay explores how Ariana Grande follows the star formula, and it was such a theory based project that I could not help but keep reading.
Overall, BIDS 390 “The Video Essay” was a course that I would love to see evolve because the exploration of the essay and “self” done in this class was enriching.
The first essay “A Star Named William” invited me to do something I had never done before, I wrote a script. This essay’s form was alien to me, and so I reached out to my peers to find support in this endeavor. I shared this essay with peers with faculties in scriptwriting and it helped me better both my script and my knowledge of this art. I then shifted gears and went into a familiar avenue with my second essay, “The Co$t of Success” that was an analytical essay. This essay was the most difficult to write because it made me review the video and dissect arguments from seconds. While I used some of what I learned in my previous writing courses, this essay was driven by my growing knowledge of media theory. I read articles outside of this class and contacted professors who I have not had formally. Overall, writing it was hard but super rewarding. I understood how the body is a complicate entity that carries and shapes power and its politics.
The video essays I made for this course were the most laborious assignments, but they were also the height of the class. The essay “PART[IT]TION” was my attempt at creating an essay video and luckily my partner agreed to this idea. My partner comes from the English tradition, and so it was interesting watching us two writers come together for this media project. My partner learned a lot from me, and I grew comfortable with using more essay techniques in my video essays. The second video essay turned from a joke into a serious piece of visual prose. I did not think I would, or could, use a pop star to form a serious argument, but I did. The second video essay explores how Ariana Grande follows the star formula, and it was such a theory based project that I could not help but keep reading.
Overall, BIDS 390 “The Video Essay” was a course that I would love to see evolve because the exploration of the essay and “self” done in this class was enriching.
A Star Named Ari
A Star Named William
By
William Samayoa
BIDS 390 The Video Essay
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Somewhere in the middle of nowhere New York, NY 1234 Sesame St
12345678
You Got My Email Gurl
FADE IN:
BIDS THE VIDEO ESSAY – DAY
TRACKING SHOT of Professor Ristow and Professor Shafer handing out the first essay prompt. Noise fades in as first student starts reading the prompt.
DISSOLVE IN:
BIDS THE VIDEO ESSAY – DAY
MEDIUM SHOT follows WILLIAM, loud mouthed Latino boy from L.A. going to college in Upstate, NY separating two of his peers so he can sit in the corner of the room. He is in his early 20s, hungover, and is poorly dressed in a leather jacket for the subzero temperatures raging outside. Next to him is CLASSMATE, a random student who enrolled in the class and was sitting in WILLIAM’s seat. PROMPT is slender, Caucasian complexion, covered in several small tattoos, and is a piece of paper-quite literally, an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper.
PROMPT
This essay assignment is intended to challenge your concept of self as it relates to the reader, so transitioning from personal content to the world around is the task of the essayist.
WILLIAM
Okay that seems simple enough.
PROMPT
Remember the five-paragraph essay? Well, this is the sacrificial burial.
Classmate turns to William who is sipping out of his Swarovski encrusted Starbucks tumbler.
CLASSMATE
Will what does that mean?
William puts his cup aside and looks at Prompt in the front of the class.
WILLIAM
Calm down. Let’s keep listening, prompt always has a lot of fluff in what he’s saying. It’ll make sense soon.
PROMPT
The specific challenge of this assignment is to move beyond the plodding, chronological rendition of your life we typically think of as autobiography.
WILLIAM
Okay that’s…cute.
Classmate begins to spin her brunette hair in between her fingers and jotting down points in her Lily Pulitzer notebook.
PROMPT
As we assess your work, we’ll be looking for three criteria: 1. Willingness to experiment with form in a way that’s innovative and effective in representing the content-
WILLIAM
Wait. Actually that doesn’t make sense.
PROMPT
It means what you write about should have a connection to how you write about it.
2. Stylistic excellence. The essay has voice and attention to the way language expresses it.
3. The writer is considerate of the needs of their reader-
WILLIAM
I’m not gonna be able to write this the night before. Damn.
William turns to the right and looks at his peers.
WILLIAM
Y’all thirsty Thursday is probably not happening.
PROMPT
The writer is considerate of the needs of their reader, including connecting their personal story to aspects of the world around them. Writer explores self while seeing readers' wishes.
WILLIAM
Little brown boy from L.A. wins a scholarship to go to a school he’s never heard of in the middle of nowhere. He’s shook everyday and is always cold.
Prompt directs its attention to William.
PROMPT
What’s the real story?
WILLIAM
What do you mean?
PROMPT
How did you get here? To HWS, to that seat you’re sitting in.
WILLIAM
I’m literally being paid to be here; do you really think I would leave the comfort of my home to come here? To a place where everyone but me has an “in” in the industry?
PROMPT
Well what’s so bad about here?
William rolls his eye and points to Bart Bro sporting
Vineyard Vines, Sperry’s, and a confused face. Bart Bro is oblivious of Prompt’s gaze and spews out speech.
BART BRO
Yeah so this essay is an essay, but is it really an essay? How am I supposed to write an essay that’s not an essay and still know how many pages to do?
PROMPT
That does not seem so bad.
WILLIAM
Just wait for it…
BART BRO
My friend had a cow once and he just barbequed that bitch up! Can I write about that and you know connect it to econ and movies and and show that I’m here to work on wall street?
LONG SHOT now shows the class room and Classmate raises her hand.
CLASSMATE
So umm… I like writing and I wanna work in marketing but I have no actual marketing skills. Can I write something fun and cute?
TRACKING SHOT follows William as he grabs his Swarovski tumbler and leaves the room to the nearest water fountain. A MEDIUM SHOT now shows William seated near the fountain and Prompt floats nearby.
PROMPT
Don’t you think you’re being overdramatic?
WILLIAM
How I just needed a break?
PROMPT
Well you didn’t say anything in class, you we’re on your laptop the whole time, and now your texting your friends.
WILLIAM
Like I said, if I had known what this school has going to be I really would have reconsidered my choices…But who am I kidding I’m contractually obligated to be here…
Prompt floats to the seat adjacent to William and stands on the arm rest. Quite amazing how this piece of paper is so autonomous huh?
PROMPT
Talk me through it. What makes you unhappy about this class and this college.
WILLIAM
When I started the interviews for Posse I was told that I was competing against 2000 other students for only 1 of 100 spots to go to a top tier school.
William puts his phone away and turns to prompt. He does not know what to look at exactly, so he looks at the title assuming that would be Prompt’s face if he had one.
WILLIAM
I sacrificed it all. It was the emotional hunger games! I was willing to humiliate myself, leave Hollywood, and not see my grandma! Prompt I come to this school to find out that half of the people here are waiting for trust funds to kick in, most of them have the dimensions of a plank, and they’re about as real as the Desperate House Wives.
William pulls out his phone and starts typing. Prompt stands on the arm rest, swaying ever so gently with the wind.
WILLIAM
Here Prompt rea- wait can you read?
PROMPT
I can so just show me.
William holds out his iPhone and clenches tightly onto the Michael Kors cased device.
701 Students Win College Scholarships Worth $118 Million | Spring 2015 National Posse Newsletter
This year, a record 701 new Scholars were welcomed to the Posse community at Awards Ceremonies in nine cities. Selected from an extremely competitive pool of more than 16,000 high school students, Posse’s partner colleges and universities awarded new Scholars $118 million in four-year, full-tuition scholarships.
New Scholars will matriculate on campus in the fall after completing the eight-month Pre-Collegiate Training Program that will help prepare them for academic success and campus leadership.
Since 1989, Posse has recruited 6,275 Scholars who have collectively won $806 million in leadership scholarships from the nation’s top institutions of higher education.
DISSOLVE IN:
THE VIDEO ESSAY – DAY
MEDIUM SHOT shows WILLIAM placing phone back into his jacket and look at PROMPT.
WILLIAM
Look I wanted it so much Prompt. You see the article? I really thought that coming here was going to be the greatest thing ever. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never heard of the schools adorning the glossy pages.
PROMPT
Why don’t you try to make the best of it?
William stands up and pivots to the bathroom leaving prompt at the couch. Prompt flows behind him into the stall.
WILLIAM
We’re supposed to sign a contract never having set foot on these colleges. This is my future.
PROMPT
William where is this going?
WILLIAM
What do you mean?
PROMPT
How is this telling me who you are?
WILLIAM
How does it not?! I’m telling you why I’m here! This story is quintessential to me.
PROMPT
What’s the effect of this story? How does it tell me who you are?
WILLIAM
This is the story of how I learned to lose. This is my biggest loss. Everyday I’m here I…lose part of that kid who was so excited to be here…
PROMPT
I’m sorry Will…
William stands up and straightens(lol) his clothes. He smirks and Prompt is confused.
PROMPT
Are you okay?
WILLIAM
You see Prompt throwing yourself a pity party is fine and all, but a star shines regardless of whose around to see it?
Prompt maintains a stoic demeanor, because he cannot do anything else.
WILLIAM
Prompt you saw that the people inside that room aren’t the brightest. Or the best. Or much of anything…but they are my audience. Yes I’m a loser. I don’t go to a big school. I’m not majoring in marketing. I don’t know how to use anything but iMovie. But one thing I do know is how to lose.
WILLIAM pivots on his boot’s heel and walks out of the bathroom and back into the room, phone first.
PROFESSOR SHAFER is trying to keep the conversation relevant while several PEERS are going so far off topic that not even the English majors cannot make sense of it. William returns to his seat and makes room for Prompt on the table.
WILLIAM
Look Prompt, I can tell you a story. I can tell you a dozen. But nothing tells you more about me than me.
PROMPT
Huh?
WILLIAM
You see my extroverted nature Prompt? Stars are born through gas, fire, and pressure. And I do all three.
PROFESSOR RISTOW and PROFESSOR SHAFER hush everyone as they try to make sense of the cacophony produced by the class.
PROFESSOR RISTOW
Everyone let’s get back to focusing on the essayistic tradition of this piece. Now excuse me as I fix my not-skinny skinny tie.
PROFESSOR SHAFER
Now everyone, who can tell me what that reading that none of you did means and why I shouldn’t flip this table right now?
PROMPT
Okay William Professor Shafer would never say that!
WILLIAM
I know but c’mon she should! Also, it just adds drama! I love it!
WILLIAM raises his hand and says some really profound analytical statement that just swoops over everyone’s head. PROFESSOR RISTOW and PROFESSOR SHAFER think, ‘Wow he did that.’ WILLIAM knows they thought that, but he doesn’t say anything else. Why? Because he’s humble. The class ends and WILLIAM and PROMPT walk to benches outside of Stern Hall.
WILLIAM
You see Prompt, there are many layers to me. Lots of labels, titles, and masks as people would say. But really, I’m just a simple boy trying to make the best of what he’s been given. I’ve learned not to fall for the boys with moonlight colored hair, and not to fall for the girl from French because she’s practicing with everyone else. I am Holly Golighty, I am Vicki Lester, granted if they were bisexual Latinos from L.A. I am a son, a scholar, a person who wakes up everyday trying to make it shine!
PROMPT
You’re nuts! Like what does any of this mean?!
WILLIAM
Prompt, when you’ve had the life I had you find out that this world doesn’t make sense. But I’m learning to love my crazy beautiful life. You know prompt, people enter entertainment for a number of reasons. Some people do it for the attention, do get what they never got. Some people do it for affirmation. If you can make it in Hollywood or NYC you can do it anywhere-
PROMPT
Why do you want to enter this industry? Why do you go through all this?
WILLIAM
I do it Prompt… I do it for that split second when you feel yourself shine. That moment when you hear that line, sing that song, or see that set that looks like your home. When you see yourself on the screen you feel like you are the star, like despite all the shit you’ve been through, you made it. Prompt I lost my dream when I came here. But I got something better, I found my north star. I found a direction.
PROMPT
What role do I have to do with this? You’ve strung me along this whole time, for almost 8 pages. What is the take away from this?
WILLIAM
The take away is…I’ve honestly just never sat down and written like this before…I have written narratives before, but this is different. Prompt, this is the most introspective I think I have ever been. Cutting aside everything else, this is me on a page really. This is me saying my truth. So Prompt, by staying for these 8 pages I can say you know something about me.
WILLIAM’s phone begins to ring and he looks down at it. PROMPT flows down from the chair onto the grass.
PROMPT
I think I get it Will. I think I get you. You are a story teller, and you want to make the stories that will help people find themselves. The same way you found yourself.
WILLIAM
Yeah Prompt, a lot of people don’t know that. A lot of people think I’m just a loud stereotype that wants to be a Smithie. But really, I’m just trying to make the best of my time here while I try to make it back home. Because home is where I can write, produce, and craft the stories I want.
PROMPT
You have tenacity kid. I wish you the best.
PROMPT begins to walk towards the soccer field, well do what he can to walk. It’s more like the bottom corners are swaying side to side as he moves forward. He turns around to look at WILLIAM one last time.
PROMPT
Stars aren’t made they are born, and William you were born the minute you landed in New York.
PROMPT walks further towards the soccer field and WILLIAM sits in awe at both the honesty he just had, the piece of paper he came in contact with, and the fact that “Don’t You Forget About Me” is playing from a speaker he can’t see.
BIDS THE VIDEO ESSAY – DAY
TRACKING SHOT of Professor Ristow and Professor Shafer handing out the first essay prompt. Noise fades in as first student starts reading the prompt.
DISSOLVE IN:
BIDS THE VIDEO ESSAY – DAY
MEDIUM SHOT follows WILLIAM, loud mouthed Latino boy from L.A. going to college in Upstate, NY separating two of his peers so he can sit in the corner of the room. He is in his early 20s, hungover, and is poorly dressed in a leather jacket for the subzero temperatures raging outside. Next to him is CLASSMATE, a random student who enrolled in the class and was sitting in WILLIAM’s seat. PROMPT is slender, Caucasian complexion, covered in several small tattoos, and is a piece of paper-quite literally, an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper.
PROMPT
This essay assignment is intended to challenge your concept of self as it relates to the reader, so transitioning from personal content to the world around is the task of the essayist.
WILLIAM
Okay that seems simple enough.
PROMPT
Remember the five-paragraph essay? Well, this is the sacrificial burial.
Classmate turns to William who is sipping out of his Swarovski encrusted Starbucks tumbler.
CLASSMATE
Will what does that mean?
William puts his cup aside and looks at Prompt in the front of the class.
WILLIAM
Calm down. Let’s keep listening, prompt always has a lot of fluff in what he’s saying. It’ll make sense soon.
PROMPT
The specific challenge of this assignment is to move beyond the plodding, chronological rendition of your life we typically think of as autobiography.
WILLIAM
Okay that’s…cute.
Classmate begins to spin her brunette hair in between her fingers and jotting down points in her Lily Pulitzer notebook.
PROMPT
As we assess your work, we’ll be looking for three criteria: 1. Willingness to experiment with form in a way that’s innovative and effective in representing the content-
WILLIAM
Wait. Actually that doesn’t make sense.
PROMPT
It means what you write about should have a connection to how you write about it.
2. Stylistic excellence. The essay has voice and attention to the way language expresses it.
3. The writer is considerate of the needs of their reader-
WILLIAM
I’m not gonna be able to write this the night before. Damn.
William turns to the right and looks at his peers.
WILLIAM
Y’all thirsty Thursday is probably not happening.
PROMPT
The writer is considerate of the needs of their reader, including connecting their personal story to aspects of the world around them. Writer explores self while seeing readers' wishes.
WILLIAM
Little brown boy from L.A. wins a scholarship to go to a school he’s never heard of in the middle of nowhere. He’s shook everyday and is always cold.
Prompt directs its attention to William.
PROMPT
What’s the real story?
WILLIAM
What do you mean?
PROMPT
How did you get here? To HWS, to that seat you’re sitting in.
WILLIAM
I’m literally being paid to be here; do you really think I would leave the comfort of my home to come here? To a place where everyone but me has an “in” in the industry?
PROMPT
Well what’s so bad about here?
William rolls his eye and points to Bart Bro sporting
Vineyard Vines, Sperry’s, and a confused face. Bart Bro is oblivious of Prompt’s gaze and spews out speech.
BART BRO
Yeah so this essay is an essay, but is it really an essay? How am I supposed to write an essay that’s not an essay and still know how many pages to do?
PROMPT
That does not seem so bad.
WILLIAM
Just wait for it…
BART BRO
My friend had a cow once and he just barbequed that bitch up! Can I write about that and you know connect it to econ and movies and and show that I’m here to work on wall street?
LONG SHOT now shows the class room and Classmate raises her hand.
CLASSMATE
So umm… I like writing and I wanna work in marketing but I have no actual marketing skills. Can I write something fun and cute?
TRACKING SHOT follows William as he grabs his Swarovski tumbler and leaves the room to the nearest water fountain. A MEDIUM SHOT now shows William seated near the fountain and Prompt floats nearby.
PROMPT
Don’t you think you’re being overdramatic?
WILLIAM
How I just needed a break?
PROMPT
Well you didn’t say anything in class, you we’re on your laptop the whole time, and now your texting your friends.
WILLIAM
Like I said, if I had known what this school has going to be I really would have reconsidered my choices…But who am I kidding I’m contractually obligated to be here…
Prompt floats to the seat adjacent to William and stands on the arm rest. Quite amazing how this piece of paper is so autonomous huh?
PROMPT
Talk me through it. What makes you unhappy about this class and this college.
WILLIAM
When I started the interviews for Posse I was told that I was competing against 2000 other students for only 1 of 100 spots to go to a top tier school.
William puts his phone away and turns to prompt. He does not know what to look at exactly, so he looks at the title assuming that would be Prompt’s face if he had one.
WILLIAM
I sacrificed it all. It was the emotional hunger games! I was willing to humiliate myself, leave Hollywood, and not see my grandma! Prompt I come to this school to find out that half of the people here are waiting for trust funds to kick in, most of them have the dimensions of a plank, and they’re about as real as the Desperate House Wives.
William pulls out his phone and starts typing. Prompt stands on the arm rest, swaying ever so gently with the wind.
WILLIAM
Here Prompt rea- wait can you read?
PROMPT
I can so just show me.
William holds out his iPhone and clenches tightly onto the Michael Kors cased device.
701 Students Win College Scholarships Worth $118 Million | Spring 2015 National Posse Newsletter
This year, a record 701 new Scholars were welcomed to the Posse community at Awards Ceremonies in nine cities. Selected from an extremely competitive pool of more than 16,000 high school students, Posse’s partner colleges and universities awarded new Scholars $118 million in four-year, full-tuition scholarships.
New Scholars will matriculate on campus in the fall after completing the eight-month Pre-Collegiate Training Program that will help prepare them for academic success and campus leadership.
Since 1989, Posse has recruited 6,275 Scholars who have collectively won $806 million in leadership scholarships from the nation’s top institutions of higher education.
DISSOLVE IN:
THE VIDEO ESSAY – DAY
MEDIUM SHOT shows WILLIAM placing phone back into his jacket and look at PROMPT.
WILLIAM
Look I wanted it so much Prompt. You see the article? I really thought that coming here was going to be the greatest thing ever. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never heard of the schools adorning the glossy pages.
PROMPT
Why don’t you try to make the best of it?
William stands up and pivots to the bathroom leaving prompt at the couch. Prompt flows behind him into the stall.
WILLIAM
We’re supposed to sign a contract never having set foot on these colleges. This is my future.
PROMPT
William where is this going?
WILLIAM
What do you mean?
PROMPT
How is this telling me who you are?
WILLIAM
How does it not?! I’m telling you why I’m here! This story is quintessential to me.
PROMPT
What’s the effect of this story? How does it tell me who you are?
WILLIAM
This is the story of how I learned to lose. This is my biggest loss. Everyday I’m here I…lose part of that kid who was so excited to be here…
PROMPT
I’m sorry Will…
William stands up and straightens(lol) his clothes. He smirks and Prompt is confused.
PROMPT
Are you okay?
WILLIAM
You see Prompt throwing yourself a pity party is fine and all, but a star shines regardless of whose around to see it?
Prompt maintains a stoic demeanor, because he cannot do anything else.
WILLIAM
Prompt you saw that the people inside that room aren’t the brightest. Or the best. Or much of anything…but they are my audience. Yes I’m a loser. I don’t go to a big school. I’m not majoring in marketing. I don’t know how to use anything but iMovie. But one thing I do know is how to lose.
WILLIAM pivots on his boot’s heel and walks out of the bathroom and back into the room, phone first.
PROFESSOR SHAFER is trying to keep the conversation relevant while several PEERS are going so far off topic that not even the English majors cannot make sense of it. William returns to his seat and makes room for Prompt on the table.
WILLIAM
Look Prompt, I can tell you a story. I can tell you a dozen. But nothing tells you more about me than me.
PROMPT
Huh?
WILLIAM
You see my extroverted nature Prompt? Stars are born through gas, fire, and pressure. And I do all three.
PROFESSOR RISTOW and PROFESSOR SHAFER hush everyone as they try to make sense of the cacophony produced by the class.
PROFESSOR RISTOW
Everyone let’s get back to focusing on the essayistic tradition of this piece. Now excuse me as I fix my not-skinny skinny tie.
PROFESSOR SHAFER
Now everyone, who can tell me what that reading that none of you did means and why I shouldn’t flip this table right now?
PROMPT
Okay William Professor Shafer would never say that!
WILLIAM
I know but c’mon she should! Also, it just adds drama! I love it!
WILLIAM raises his hand and says some really profound analytical statement that just swoops over everyone’s head. PROFESSOR RISTOW and PROFESSOR SHAFER think, ‘Wow he did that.’ WILLIAM knows they thought that, but he doesn’t say anything else. Why? Because he’s humble. The class ends and WILLIAM and PROMPT walk to benches outside of Stern Hall.
WILLIAM
You see Prompt, there are many layers to me. Lots of labels, titles, and masks as people would say. But really, I’m just a simple boy trying to make the best of what he’s been given. I’ve learned not to fall for the boys with moonlight colored hair, and not to fall for the girl from French because she’s practicing with everyone else. I am Holly Golighty, I am Vicki Lester, granted if they were bisexual Latinos from L.A. I am a son, a scholar, a person who wakes up everyday trying to make it shine!
PROMPT
You’re nuts! Like what does any of this mean?!
WILLIAM
Prompt, when you’ve had the life I had you find out that this world doesn’t make sense. But I’m learning to love my crazy beautiful life. You know prompt, people enter entertainment for a number of reasons. Some people do it for the attention, do get what they never got. Some people do it for affirmation. If you can make it in Hollywood or NYC you can do it anywhere-
PROMPT
Why do you want to enter this industry? Why do you go through all this?
WILLIAM
I do it Prompt… I do it for that split second when you feel yourself shine. That moment when you hear that line, sing that song, or see that set that looks like your home. When you see yourself on the screen you feel like you are the star, like despite all the shit you’ve been through, you made it. Prompt I lost my dream when I came here. But I got something better, I found my north star. I found a direction.
PROMPT
What role do I have to do with this? You’ve strung me along this whole time, for almost 8 pages. What is the take away from this?
WILLIAM
The take away is…I’ve honestly just never sat down and written like this before…I have written narratives before, but this is different. Prompt, this is the most introspective I think I have ever been. Cutting aside everything else, this is me on a page really. This is me saying my truth. So Prompt, by staying for these 8 pages I can say you know something about me.
WILLIAM’s phone begins to ring and he looks down at it. PROMPT flows down from the chair onto the grass.
PROMPT
I think I get it Will. I think I get you. You are a story teller, and you want to make the stories that will help people find themselves. The same way you found yourself.
WILLIAM
Yeah Prompt, a lot of people don’t know that. A lot of people think I’m just a loud stereotype that wants to be a Smithie. But really, I’m just trying to make the best of my time here while I try to make it back home. Because home is where I can write, produce, and craft the stories I want.
PROMPT
You have tenacity kid. I wish you the best.
PROMPT begins to walk towards the soccer field, well do what he can to walk. It’s more like the bottom corners are swaying side to side as he moves forward. He turns around to look at WILLIAM one last time.
PROMPT
Stars aren’t made they are born, and William you were born the minute you landed in New York.
PROMPT walks further towards the soccer field and WILLIAM sits in awe at both the honesty he just had, the piece of paper he came in contact with, and the fact that “Don’t You Forget About Me” is playing from a speaker he can’t see.