The answer is: never.
<This photo is of me and my Canon AE-1 film camera, given to me by my father.>
Simply because there's too much I want to already say and no, I don't have as much time as I'd like to to just sit here, drink coffee, stare out the window to see a vast city below me while a noir film is playing in the background.
This blog is intended for the readers to understand how my brain works, and to see the world through my eye holes. Essentially, a filter. Hence the title of my blog. In my experiences, (all 20 years of it) I've noticed that people are walking filters, pixelated with a trillion ways;beliefs;ideas;perceptions;thoughts and more.
I like to people watch when I get the chance. This is more applicable at places like L.A. or Disneyland, where staring at others is deemed normal (since there's nothing much to do but explore), but I do this everywhere since it's how my interests have influenced me.
I love to figure out how people work, what makes them tick, why they do the things they do. Of course, this isn't judgment free as it is impossible for me to do so, but I generally look at others objectively, otherwise my perception of them is already tainted from the labels that were ingrained into my brain the minute I was born. Ever project I've ever done has been in human interest, in humanism.
Disclaimer: You'll learn, eventually about my religion and divine beliefs, but not to the point where I'm trying to convert you. That would be wrong.
My definition of humanism would be this: the study of how people work in terms of thinking, acting, and reacting. And in that order. I don't look at this feat as an educational experience, but a personal one, and hopefully you'll stay with me on his journey, because it's one I plan to take through the world of FILM.
I think it's important for every person on this wonderful earth to embrace their humanity for three reasons:
1. Bringing out your individuality is a beautiful thing because you ARE unique.
Rod Serling, the creator, writer and narrator of the groundbreaking Twilight Zone series remarked:
"Being like everybody is the same as being nobody."
We've been bombarded with labels, stereotypes, and standards the moment we entered this world. As much as we'd like to think we have choice, there's a lot of ways we don't have choices. But don't let that mentality (of going by the book; of being conventional; of sticking with th status quo) rule you. The world is limitless.
2. To find and practice what you believe (which ties in with your individuality) will bring about success.
What I mean by success is happiness, in the context of personal achievement and not in the superficial, practical sense (as much as we would all like to be making more than 200 grand a year, there are honestly only an elite few).
SUCCESS is HAPPINESS. Doing what you love.
I am an independent filmmaker. It is my passion and I feel as though I have the strength and the 'fire in my belly' to do so.
3. Embracing your humanity means humility and humility means unity.
As different as all of us are from each other, we are unified by the one thing we cannot deny: WE ARE HUMAN. Knowing that you are and are not limited by certain things, you will reach a mentality that we are all the same and not the same. We're walking paradoxes, and realizing that makes us humble and humility makes us teachable, which unifies us as a whole.
My grandmother and mother grew up on the East Coast, were they knew her neighbors and played outside without worry and had block parties. We used to be great. Trust wasn't questioned as often as it is now. I'd like to see that happen again.
<Block parties like these must have been an experience.>
The reason for the 'Mementran' in the title of this blog, now that we've established the 'filter' part, was conceived about a year ago.
Let's go back aways, so this can make sense better: I was born and raised in Southern California in a small town called Apple Valley (no, we don't grow apple anymore just like Anaheim doesn't grow oranges anymore). I grew up a proficient student in school, great grades and social life. But I always found myself clung to the arts. The projects I would do in all my educational and advanced placement classes would be immaculate, to the point my mates would say 'you overdid it'. In truth, I never felt I overdid it because it was fun, but no high school student would ever admit they loved doing school work.
At the time, I wanted to attend BYU in Provo, Utah, to major in linguistics. I loved languages and wanted to be a linguist since I saw Atlantis: the Lost Empire. However, the more I researched the job the more boring it sounded and it didn't help that I was brutally rejected by BYU, my whole world fell apart.
What was I to do? Having parents that I did NOT want to disappoint and knowing what I wanted to do for years (linguist) only to have BYU reject me that path... what was I to do?
I got the epiphany to major in Film from many sources, since they all lead up to the moment I decided to stay home, attend a junior college and transfer to Cal State Fullerton:
1. Believe it or not, that rejection letter from BYU as an eye opener, even though it made my heart bleed for two long years. From 2011-2013 was a brutal period for me because my plans had faltered. It made me step back and think about what really made me happy. Nothing ever seemed to stick since I was proficient in a lot of things, but what would I like to specialize in? That's a hard thing to narrow down. Whoever said that seventeen-eighteen year olds need to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives by then is a BIG FAT LIAR. I realized all I would ever be excited by was film. I am a frequent movie theater goer. I like to go by myself. I love to criticize and analyze films, I love everything about them from the actors to the editing to the cinematography. It's a beautiful piece of art that was limitless.
2. My high school drama teacher, Renee Freeman was and always will be my rock in regards to finding what makes me happy. Theatre is always a gateway for many things and film was one of them for me. I love to act and I think I'm pretty good at it but not enough to method act a psychopath. I stuck with stage managing and assisting. Renee is one of my heroes because she was my mother during school hours when my own mother had to work and wasn't available ( my mother's an amazing woman). Renee would watch me grow and since I had her all four years during high school, we grew close. When I was her TA my senior year when everything was falling apart, she simply was my confidant when I was vulnerable the most. Thank you, you wonderful lady.
3. The film Memento. This film hit theaters in the year 2000, but I didn't know about it until 2010, when I started searching into Christopher Nolan after he created Batman Begins and Prestige. It was an early film with the rough and not so attractive Guy Pearce. It's about a man who contracted short term memory loss when he and his wife were attacked. He's trying to search for her killer while battling this disorder. Nolan tells the story backwards, using flash forward and flashbacks to fill the holes in the story. There's nothing in this film (theme-wise) that helped me personally, but the devotion and the effort that went into it inspired me.
****The background to this blog is based on the polaroid photos taken within Memento.
Christopher Nolan is known for only about 10-12 films, mainly the Batman series, but he began with independent pieces. He does films he wants to do and he has originality ingrained into each one, even though some of it may be based on an idea he loved or something his brother wrote. I admire his devotion to his films andI hope to someday emmulate that auteur mentality.
4. Last, but not the least: Youtuber Julian Smith.
He brilliantly put a twist in it, and it is hard to figure out but once you find that pearl, it is a mind blowing experience. I then felt his DEVOTION to film and was inspired.
You can view his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUycBeiK8TcU6WBRkTXRlg
and Kidnapped here:
The term 'Mementran' comes from the film Memento, but it also epitomizes my goal for every film project I will do: human interest. Polaroid cameras are not as common anymore, but in the film Memento and in real life, they capture moments that you won't ever get back, but you can revist them through the photos you took.
I want to make an imprint on the world. To capture moments that I believe are important to explore and to learn from. I don't want to shove my beliefs down people's throat. I want to offer different perpsectives, fresh ideas, and new worlds based on my curiosity of the human being.
Memento + Tran (last name) = Mementran.
Thus the Mementran Filter.
What I intend to do with this blog is to post my projects, both past and future projects from photography to art to film.
Disclaimer: There will be jokes, sarcasm, wit, double entendres, innuendos, endless film and TV references and many other little treasures in this blog. So look out for secret links and posts that I will frequently add so that you, as a reader and viewer, can also have fun while this blog is happening.
My future blog entries won't be as long as this one, but I hope you guys stick with me. Thanks for reading and see you next week!
You can find me in these other universes:
Facebook: Tawny Tran & Mementran (official page)
Instagram: @Midgetbones
Twitter: @Meemeesiku
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/midgetbones
Vine: Tawny Tran
Gmail: Mementrannn@gmail.com
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