Final Reflection

  We're already towards the end of the project! Wow, this year has really flown by. This project especially made it so, though we've had plenty of time I underestimated the amount of planning and rescheduling this project would involve. I'm sure this would be the case in any regular time, but this is no regular time and so it was especially interesting to navigate this project during the beginnings of a pandemic, and now throughout quarantine in the hopes of preventing even more rapid spreading of COVID-19. For me, it has highlighted many things, and highlighted even more importance on the topic of my project.
  With this pandemic taking over all other news events, the murders of five transgender or gender-nonconforming people have already happened within only three months of 2020. Dustin Parker, 25, was fatally shot in McAlester, Oklahoma, early on New Year's Day. His employers released a statement shortly after his death, remembering Parker as “a steadfast friend, an amazing husband and father and generous to a fault. He loved fiercely, worked tirelessly and took on life with so much hope and enthusiasm that his presence brightened all of our lives.”Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, also known as Alexa Negrón was fatally shot in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, on February 24th. According to the Metro Puerto Rico, members of her community knew her as "humble" and "noble". When the media reported her murder, they misgendered her as "a man in a skirt". Latin trap artist from Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny, wore a shirt with the words "They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt" emblazoned in Spanish, as well as a black skirt during his performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/29/us/alexa-puerto-rico-transgender-killing/index.html). Yampi  Méndez Arocho, 19, was killed in Moca, Puerto Rico, on March 5th. Arocho, a transgender man, shared his love for basketball and the NBA, donning Miami Heat apparel on social media. The biography line on his Facebook reads, "Humility Prevails." Monika Diamond, 34, a Black transgender woman, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 18th. Diamond was active in the Charlotte LGBTQ and nightlife community and was the co-owner of an event promotion company. She was also the co-CEO of the International Mother of the Year Pageantry System - a pageant that honors LGBTQ mothers. Lexi, 33, a transgender woman, was killed in Harlem, New York on March 28th. According to reports, Lexi was fatally stabbed in Harlem River Park. "I really looked up to her because of her tolerance and respect," said Lavonia Brooks, a friend of Lexi. "Lexi had a beautiful heart, she was very gifted." Brooks also noted that Lexi loved poetry, makeup and fashion. (https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-trans-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2020)
  The fatal attacks on the transgender community that are only continuing to take place, especially against transgender women of color, continually reminds me of the purpose of my project. In the very beginning, I reported the murders of transgender people in 2019, 26 too many with startling research that the majority of these people were Black transgender women under the age of 35, living in the south. The biographies of all of these beautiful souls taken too soon and too brutally, additionally reminds me of my purpose. To humanize them, bring a face to the forefront so that those who view it and don't understand the severity of this issue look at somebody with this identity doing the same things they do when they get ready for the day. To bring light to the issue at hand. Most importantly, to give a happy spin to the life of a Black transgender woman, because they are more than what happens to them at the hands of hate. They are first and foremost, human beings.
  Unfortunately, my access to resources and being able to work with the actress for the main character has been severely limited due to quarantine and COVID-19 spreading. I have to work with the only footage I managed to get, which is about a minute of the two minutes maximum due to the lockdown as well as for safety reasons for myself and the actress. Due to non-essential stores closing down, it was very difficult to obtain the necessary props, so I have instead have had to make them. This was not the most ideal, as making a radio that looked realistic proved to be more difficult, so with the footage that the radio takes place in, I have to manipulate it with editing to the best of my ability. As for the rest of the footage, I still have to come up with a plan to fill in the rest, for which I already have some ideas that I'll have to soon try out and dedicate good portion of time out of my day to try out each one. I have planned to get filming done and to start editing by this Wednesday, take Thursday for the rest of the editing and hopefully upload it in a blog posting that day, film and edit the Creative Critical Reflection on Friday and have it uploaded by Saturday.
  Though my resources have been limited due to COVID-19 and quarantine, I believe in the cause of my project enough to make sure this is as accurate and great as it can be given the circumstances. I am passionate about this topic, and have worked hard throughout every process of this film opening thus far. I am grateful for you coming along on this journey, and for your patience during these difficult times as I navigate a highly important project during highly important times. I hope this project leaves those grading and viewing it with the lasting impact of the message I am determined to bring across. I will cover all of this much more thoroughly within the CCR posting.