The Senior Project

So, a big theme at the end of the school year is the graduation of the class of 2022. So, I wanted to make something related to graduation, growing up, getting older, change, and whatnot. The second the project was announced a month back, I opened up a notepad on my computer as the project details were being described, and I started shooting out what ideas I had. I really had nothing to think of for a creative film, so I just looked at what was around me. What could I do with it? A pen. Maybe the pen is moving around on its own. Maybe it's a senior's pen. Then, everything struck and I was off to the races typing out a very basic script. Seeing a new student grow into a senior through the lens of a pen, and the student doesn't want to change his ways but eventually learns that he has to change. The best part? It's called stationary.

I am so, so very proud of that pun. It's amazing in every conceivable way.

Filming was a real challenge though. For those interested, this is how you move a pen in a straight line without ever touching it:

METHOD 1: BLOW ON IT
Responsible for the straightest shot, but the shortest distance. Caused me the most trouble.
METHOD 2: FLICK
Distance, and straightness, but very very inconsistent.
METHOD 2: LARGE STICK
Can hit well, but the spherical end makes it spin out of control.
METHOD 3: LARGE (MEASURING) STICK
Hits well, hit straight, gets good distance but has a risk of spinning. The main method I used for most of it.
METHOD 4: JET ERIKSON
Good for dropping things while you have to film. Thanks for the help!

Overall, I severely respect the art of making things move in actual movies, and without the typical resources a puppeteer has, I did the best I could. Other than wild pen movement making up the most challenges in filming, the other big struggle was production scale. I had to conscript a lot of people, film a lot of places, and every day not spent filming was spent organizing said film into an edit. Editing and filming at the same time in the process was hard, but I think it got me done quicker than separating them. 
Most story elements had to be cut out for time, but I think what I ended up with is a pretty good result, all things considered. I hope it stands as a test to what I've learned from the start of the year till now, that's for certain.