Short film project dives into a mental void

BY MIA RAMIREZ THE MIRROR STAFF

Senior Anna Khondkaryan looked around the auditorium in anticipation. It was packed with her peers as her first film was being projected on stage at the school’s film showcase.

Her film “Exit the Void” was one of many being played that night.

She could see everyone’s gaze turn towards the screen as the audience took in everything that was happening.

A wide range of reactions filled the room as some members of the audience seemed to be connecting to it, while others were confused, struggling to understand the meaning behind the film.

Though some directors might have felt discouraged from a response like this from the audience, Khondkaryan had gotten exactly what she was looking for.

She had wanted the audience to question what the film was about and interpret its meaning in their own way.

“I knew that this kind of movie would be something that would make the audience think because its point isn’t really obvious,” Khondkaryan said. “Some people didn’t know what was happening and didn’t know what the film is about, but that’s the reaction I wanted to see.”

Khondkaryan’s film revolves around Lars, an artist who gets trapped in her own mental void.

Throughout the film, Lars must try to figure out how she got into the void in order to find a way out. The void itself is meant to represent the frustration that artists feel when they hit a mental block, where the only escape is to reconnect with their artistic selves.

Campus Briefs

SENIOR SUNRISE As per tradition, seniors will be celebrating Senior Sunrise on Nov. 3 from 6:45 to 8:15 a.m. The first 150 seniors that arrive at the event will receive free McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches.Senior Board members will be selling water and donuts for $1, as well as hand-brewed coffee and hot chocolate for $2. This is an opportunity for all seniors to socialize and eat some breakfast before going about their daily school activities.

The original influence of the idea expressed in the film was Buddhism.

“The main inspiration of the movie is the Buddhist theory that states that the void is one of the tools of creating your own world,” Khondkaryan said.

Khondkaryan first came across this Buddhist theory in Victor Pelevin’s novel “Chapayev and Void.”

“It’s a dystopian novel about a person who gets into the void and begins creating a world around him to try and get out of this void,” she said.

Khondkaryan and her production team took this idea and shaped it into a storyline that she and other artists could relate to.

“The script was written by my partner William and I,” she said. “I was the one who had the idea and he helped me with the writing and grammar aspect.”

In the original script, the production team had planned for Lars to be a boy. But plans changed when junior Adrianna Bean presented a new idea.

“The production team had envisioned Lars being a boy and when they were looking, they couldn’t find the right male actor,” Bean said. “So I pitched myself and said that Lars would actually be better as a female. The team really liked that idea and they put me in the production.”

Bean explained that after getting the chance to read the script, she felt like she really resonated with the character.

“I am an artist myself and I definitely understand what it feels like to have that block,” Bean said. “We’ve all had a point in our life where we just feel very stuck and we’re trying to figure out how to get out of that.”

Once the script had been written and the role of Lars had been decided, the last step in the making of “Exit the Void” was filming and editing, which in total took about five weeks.

WINTER FORMAL | According to ASB, the annual winter formal dance will be taking place in either November or December. Details regarding the date of the dance as well as ticket sales will be released later. ASB encourages students to attend. Food, props, music and activities will be provided for students to enjoy throughout the night. Deep red, bold green, royal blue or classic black attire are suitable choices for an outfit to match the occasion.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS In honor of the Mexican American religious holiday Dia De Los Muertos, Spanish teacher Mr. Josue Rodriguez and his students organized an altar in the hallway of the main building to honor loved ones who have passed on. This is an opportunity for students to build community by bringing pictures of their late friends or family members. Students who aren’t Mexican are also highly encouraged to bring pictures if they would like.

The majority of the film was filmed in front of a green screen in the video production room. The green screen was used to create the illusion that Bean was in an all-white space, or a void.

This posed a few challenges. Khondkaryan explains that the green screen made some of the images depicted feel flat, especially with the lower-quality lighting in the video production classroom where the project was filmed.

“That was one of the reasons I decided to make the movie more creative than anything, because I knew that the video quality wasn’t going to be the greatest,” Khondkaryan said.

Despite these hiccups, Bean feels accomplished with her overall performance.

“I’m really proud of my performance,” she said. “I feel very lucky and happy that I was able to work on this production. Anna is an amazing director and I’m excited for my next film.”

Khondkaryan states that the process of bringing “Exit the Void” to life was made even more enjoyable by the fact that Bean was able to truly embody the character of Lars.

“I wanted to have a connection between the director and the actor, which I think I achieved because Adrianna really understood the character,” Khondkaryan said. “She understood the emotions I needed from her and it was a magical process.”

Since filming “Exit the Void,” Khondkaryan has entered the film production program and has learned new skills that she hopes to apply to future productions.

FRESHMEN FUN DAY On Nov. 7, freshmen will meet at either the football or softball field to partake in Freshmen Fun Day activities. They will be exempt from their fifth and sixth periods that day. ASB will be hosting the event, and encourages freshmen to attend and socialize with their peers. There will be snacks and games provided for the students. Though it is quite late into the semester, ASB hopes this event will help excite freshmen for high school and allow them to meet new friends and play exciting games

COFFEE BEFORE FINALS

Senior Board is hosting a Morning Java Jam before finals from Dec. 13 to 15 to help students prepare for their exams. Coffee will be served from 8 to 8:30 a.m. All students are encouraged to stop by and energize themselves before testing. Information regarding the location and pricing will be provided at a later date. Senior Board hopes that this event will energize students and start them off on the right foot with their final exams.