The Color of Genius - Production Plan by Mafer Bencomo Arevalo

Ringling College of Art & Design

Production Plan The Color of Genius Project - The Color Of Genius - 2021 Class - INDE 499: Documentary Filmmaking Instructor - Claudia Cumbie-Jones Client - Wilma Davidson <davidson@usf.edu> & Diana De Avila <diana@dianadeavila.com> Director - Mafer Bencomo <mbencomo@c.ringling.edu> Co-Producers - Daniel Webster <dwebster@c.ringling.edu> & Mafer Bencomo <mbencomo@c.ringling.edu>

TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT Story Creative Brief Visuals - Moodboard Estimated Story Arc Interview Questions Production Details Cast & Crew Locations Production Details Shot List Day 1 Day 2 Shot Types Test Shots Prep Equipment Diana & Wilma’s Prep Checklist Cinematographer for Diana Director & Producer Checklist Cinematographer/1st AC Notes Sound Notes

3-5 3 4-6 7 8-9 10-12 10 11 12 13-14 13-14 15 16-18 16-18 19-20 19 20 20 20 20 20

CREATIVE BRIEF 1. OVERVIEW Diana De Avila is a Florida-based digital artist who unconventionally acquired her artistic abilities. After suﬀering a traumatic brain injury in 1984 and being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she developed acquired savant syndrome (a rare condition that creates new neurological connections in the brain and unmasks unprecedented abilities). Her art is rooted in fractal geometry, the intersecting of technology and the natural world, where quantum physics, chaos theory, and divine order converge. She is also the founder of the Savant Artists Collective, a space for savant people who communicate their extraordinary gifts through the arts.

2. OBJECTIVES

TANGIBLE GOAL #1 To showcase Diana De Avila’s inspiring and unique story

People interested in the arts, people interested in abstract and geometric art, people interested in the creative process, art collectors, art donors, doctors, psychologists, the veteran community, and, in general, people seeking an inspirational and hopeful story.

TARGET AUDIENCE

TANGIBLE GOAL #2 To bring attention to the Savant Artist Collective through De Avila’s story.

TANGIBLE GOAL #3 To inform audiences about Savant syndrome, showing the audience De Avila’s unique vision of the world.

4. COMPETITION Savant Artists Collective’s main competitors are any other small art centers and galleries that promote the work of emerging artists. However, Savant Artist Collective focuses speciﬁcally on highlighting the work of individuals who were born with or acquired savant syndrome. Such a mission is unique, and, thus, their video production content should capture that precisely.

5. MESSAGE

Sometimes, we spend a lifetime finding our talents, but sometimes those gifts find us. This is the story of Diana De Avila, a woman who never thought she could be an artist (nor was she interested in being one). Yet, she has produced more than 800 pieces of artwork while also surviving a lifetime of difficult circumstances.

6. TONE Inspirational, hopeful, creative, profound, heart-warming, technological, geometrical.

VISUALS - MOODBOARD “I love creating art that has never been seen or imagined before” Diana De Avila

ESTIMATED STORY ARC NOTE: This estimated story arc is not deﬁnitive. It is just an overall idea of how the story may ﬂow to facilitate the editing process. Thus, it is subject to change. The storyline is based on personal research, a preliminary interview with Diana, and Soldier, Sister Savant by Diana de Avila and Wilma Davidson VISUALS

AUDIO

LS, MS, CU of nature and Diana HOOK - DIANA NARRATES IN DETAIL THE ALMOST MAGICAL MOMENT IN WHICH seen through kaleidoscope, prims, SHE ACQUIRED HER ARTISTIC SUPERPOWER split diopter and anamorphic ﬁltres. ● The swimming pool story, when “the colors surrounded her”. ● The days after, the compulsion to create art ECU of Diana picking up stylus pen and starting to create art on her ipad MS, CU of Diana and Dr. Berit speaking. MS, CU of light-painting photography of Diana’s silhouette (representation of TBI and rewiring)

EXPOSITION - BUT WAIT, HOW DID WE GET HERE? ● Diana seeks diagnosis ● Diana ﬁnds an explanation to her accidental genius situation. Diana explains her unconventional path to art - she talks about the traumatic brain injury, MS, and how they may have led to developing her unique gift ● Audience gets an explanation of what acquired savant syndrome is ● Dr. Brit appears giving the medical and scientiﬁc back up information

CU of Miniature figures inside Diana’s digital artwork. MS, CU of Diana speaking MS, CU of pictures of Diana’s past, her childhood and past professions. Pictures are re-shot with kaleidoscope filtre, prism filtre, and other FX filtres.

MS, CU of Diana speaking

LS, MS, CU of Diana doing her artwork on her ipad. Some takes are shot with FX ﬁltres and some are not. Diana’s digital artwork

MS, CU of Diana speaking LS, MS, CU of Diana doing her artwork on her ipad. Savant Artist Collective Imagery

RISING ACTION - WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES AND DOES THIS RESILIENT WOMAN OVERCOME THEM ● What is life like now vs before being an acquired savant. Who was Diana before? And how has she adapted to life as an acquired savant artist? ● We highlight that this actually not the ﬁrst time that Diana had throughout a career and personal life shift. ● Diana describe the many professions that she had in the past (military, convent, psychology student, programmer) why she had to change them, and what she learn to be adaptable. She can talk about she has always been “a girl in a boys world”, the discipline learned in the military (SWAT training). ● “Learn to change your sails with the direction of the wind”“I get to wake up everyday with wonder. I want to learn what's next” A life of resilience “Roll with the punches”. “Enjoy life. Nothing is that important”. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”. CLIMAX - FINDING COMFORT IN ART, ESTABLISHING AN ARTISTIC CAREER, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING OTHERS ● “Art is my compulsion, my best friend, a gift to me that I can give to others” Diana De Avila ● Diana describes her artistic process. “For me, my pieces come to me like a bolt of lightning. Stop what you're doing and create.” “When I create art I really feel it on a muli-experiential level”. ● Creating the Savant Artist Collective - What the Savant Artist Collective offers RESOLUTION ● Envisioning the Future ● Envisioning a future for Savant Artist Collective ● Final messages. “Bringing light to something that she feels needs to out there”.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS SECTION 1: THE BASICS ● Who are you? Literal Answer. Address: your name, your profession, where you are from, and anything else that you think is important. If possible, practice answering this in a few sentences. ● Who are you? Philosophical answer. Get creative with this answer - tell me how you deﬁne yourself in the abstract: a dreamer? A server? A loyal friend? And accidental genius? ● Summarize your life in a couple of sentences (It would be would if you practice this one in advance)

SECTION 2: THE ARTIST AWAKENING ● Tell me about the moment where “it all happened” (the rewiring of an artistic view). Be as speciﬁc as you can be, tell me every detail of how the world shifted for you in that moment. ● What did you think was happening to you? ● What were the days before like? ● What were the days after like?

SECTION 3: SEEKING DIAGNOSIS ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

How did you figure out you have become an acquired Savant? What was the diagnosis process like? How did you feel when you realized you had such a unique condition? Why did you become an acquired Savant? Even though there is not fully clear explanation, what is the hypothesis? Describe the motorcycle accident that cause you the traumatic brain injury Describe the struggles with multiple sclerosis that came afterwards, the struggles with vision etc What is unique about your specific acquired savant syndrome? What is synesthesia? Describe your specific case of synesthesia

SECTION 4: LIFE BEFORE BEING AN ACQUIRED SAVANT Who were you before becoming an accidental genius? How did you adapted to this new life? What do you think makes you so adaptable? Tell me about all the many professions you had before being an artist (military, convent, psychology student, programmer). Why did you have to change them? and what did you learn from having to change every time? It would be would if you practice this one in advance so that it feels condensed and meaningful ● How did you feel any time you had to change your life path? How did you cope with that? ● Tell me about your self-taught experiences? ● How have you been able to teach yourself so many things throughout your life? ● ● ● ●

SECTION 5: YOUR ARTWORK ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

What is your artistic process like? Describe the process from start to ﬁnish What is the most enjoyable process about your artistic process? How do you generate ideas?What inspires you? How do you title your pieces? What is your art about? Describe the art piece you are the most proud of. What does it mean? How did you make it? What is a fractal? Describe one or your fractals Describe one of your synesthetic visions and tell me how you turn it into art What is your medium? What materials do you use? What has your artist process been like? From the start to now What do you like the viewers to take away from your pieces? How does your passion for service show up in your artistic career? How does your core resilient attitude shape your artistic career? Tell me about the red dot signature What exhibitions have you participated in? What are your goals as an artist in the future? What is synesthesia? What is art for you?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS SECTION 6: SAVANT ARTIST COLLECTIVE ● ● ● ● ●

What is the Savant Artist Collective? What is its mission? Why did you decided to create the Savant Artist Collective? What is your vision of it for the future? What is the most enjoyable part of being part of this project?

MISCELLANEOUS ● ● ● ● ●

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in life? How do you wish to be remembered? What is the biggest challenge of being an acquired savant with MS in the abelistic world we live in? What advice do you have for young people? Describe a day in your life

PRODUCTION DETAILS Cast NAME

TEL

Note

Diana de Avila

diana@dianadeavila.com

941 724-1150

Story Lead

Dr. Berit Brogaard

brogaardb@gmail.com

Wilma Davidson

davidson@usf.edu

Online Interview 941 735-1888

Company of Diana during production days and pre-production process

Diana De Avila and Wilma Davidson

CREW NAME

ROLE

E-MAIL

Phone

Mafer Bencomo

Director

mbencomo@c.ringling.edu

941-284-6439

Daniel Webster

Producer & 1st AD

dwebster@c.ringling.edu

941 203 9176

Calvin Callins

Cinematographer

ccallins@c.ringling.edu

813 541 1901

Justin Lombardi

Sound Mixer

jlombard@c.ringling.edu

978 882 3776

Peyton Leopold

1st AC & Gaffer

pleopold@c.ringling.edu

703 595 5894

Stefania Somma

Boom Operator

ssomma@c.ringling.edu

203 957 6514

PRODUCTION DETAILS Location A FILM HOUSE BACKYARD 1286 N Riverside Dr Sarasota, Fl 34234

Location B (in the case of rain) Larry Thompson Academic Center 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234

PRODUCTION DETAILS Schedule | 12 - 18 April Mon B-Roll Miniature Figures

Tue Motion Test shots

Wednesday Call Sheet is sent B-Roll Miniature Figure

Thurs

Friday 6:30 Equipment pick up Picking up stools

Saturday (7:30 am - 1:30 pm) Shoot Day 1 Interview and 2nd unit B-Roll

DATES & DEADLINES

Production

PRE-PRODUCTION

CREW CALL TIME Saturday: 7:00 am approx. Sunday: 2:00 pm approx.

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

First Script Draft Revised Script New Budget Casting

6 April 2021 12 April 2021 $0 [provided gear] Complete

PRODUCTION ❖ ❖

Shooting Begins Wrap Shooting

17 April 2021 18 April 2021

Sunday (2:30pm 8:30 pm) Shoot Day 2 - - 2nd Unit B-Roll - B-Roll of Diana doing her work outdoors Light Painting shots

CAST CALL TIME Saturday: 7:30 am approx. Sunday: 2:30 pm approx. WRAP Saturday: 12:30 pm approx. Sunday 8:30 pm approx.

POST-PRODUCTION ❖ ❖

Deliver First Cut Deliver Final Cut

June 15th 2021 August 15th 2021

SHOT LIST - DAY 1 -

(SCHEDULING SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WHETHER)

Interview Shot - 7:30 am-9:30 am Shot #

Shot Size

Filtre

Movement

Lighting Notes

Description

Start

End

MCU

N/A

Camera Lock

Soft- Diffused

Interview Shot of Diana speaking

7:50 am

10:20 am

1AA

Prism

Camera loose on tripod - operator follows subjects through micro-movements

Soft- Diffused

Interview Shot of Diana speaking:

7:50 am

10: 20am

Start

End

10:20 AM

12:50 PM

B-ROLL - Group 1 - 2nd unit photography without Diana Shot #

Shot Size

Filtre

Movement

Lighting Notes

Description

Prism Ball

Static with FX ﬁltre movement

Flares as possible

Cutaways of Nature - Trees - Flowers -Water -Sky Sun portraying Diana’s vision of the world

Prism Ball

180 degrees pan with

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Micro pan

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Micro Tilt

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Static with FX ﬁltre Movement

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Pan/Tilt/Whatever works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Ball

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

ECU

Prism ball

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Kaleidosco pe

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

ECU

Kaleidosco pe

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

ECU

Kaleidosco pe

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

B-ROLL - Group 2 - 2nd unit photography without Diana Shot #

Shot Size

Filtre

Movement

Lighting Notes

Description

Prism Triangle

Static with FX filtre movement

Flares as possible

Nature - Trees - Flowers -Water -Sky - Sun portraying Diana’s vision of the world

Prism triangle

180 degrees pan with

Flares as possible

Same as above

Split Diopter

Micro pan

Flares as possible

Same as above

Dream FX

Micro Tilt

Flares as possible

Same as above

Prism Triangle

Static with FX filtre Movement

Flares as possible

Same as above

Split Diopter

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Dream FX

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Triangle

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Triangle

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Split Diopter

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

Start

End

10:20 AM

12:50 PM

SHOT LIST - DAY 1 -

(SCHEDULING SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WHETHER)

B-ROLL - Group 2 - 2nd unit photography without Diana | Continued Shot #

Shot Size

Filtre

Movement

Lighting Notes

Description

Dream FX

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

ECU

Prism

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

ECU

Split Diopter

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Same as above

ECU

Dream FX

Pan/Tilt/What works

Flares as possible

Start

End

10:20 AM

12:50 PM

Same as above

SHOT LIST - DAY 2 -

(SCHEDULING SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WHETHER)

B-ROLL of Diana’s Past Pictures Shot #

Shot Size

Filtre

Movement

Description