So why a movie, you may ask?

Why did I choose to make a movie, you might ask?

Something from my childhood that stands out has always been my family’s weekly movie nights. The excitement of the new releases list on the TV guide was euphoric in our household. Because of this tradition, I grew up to be a movie connoisseur. I see a lot of artistic talent in the way movies are made. Through the processes of writing a script, taking an idea and putting it to the screen, the soundtrack, the directing, the editing, all of it. I love it. So, this has always been an untold passion of mine. Another passion of mine is mental health. I was introduced to the world of mental health at a young age, and since it has always been something that I am a strong advocate for, a topic extremely important to me, and something that I will always stress the importance of taking care of, especially within education. For my learning project, I plan to write and direct a short film that utilizes both passions. I want to create art in the form of a movie that encapsulates what goes on in one’s brain when dealing with mental illness. We understand physical pain, and we see physical pain. It is advertised. I feel as though I don’t see much mental health being portrayed for what it is. However, that is my own opinion and can be biased based on what I am watching. Is it possible for me to capture something that can make you feel like you are in the mind of someone with depression, anxiety, ADHD, ADHD, etc.? That is what I am trying to create.

From an early age, I became obsessed with movie films, and as I got older, I got even more interested in the artistry of it. Some of my favorites to this day are Top Gun, Interstellar, Moneyball, and Concussion. Etc.

I remember when Apple came out with all these fancy products. My best friend’s family got a MacBook computer. Instantly, we were obsessed… and then we discovered the photobooth app. We did everything we could to spend every spare minute on that thing. Every ‘hangout’ was now designated for time on the ‘Photobooth.’ And thus, every hangout from then on began with one of us saying, “Let’s make a movie.” 

^An example of a short film my friends and I made for a group project in the novel study for Of Mice and Men. 

What was it like growing up in North Battleford?

Hi! Welcome! If you’re reading this, thank you so much for being here! So, as you can read by the title, yes, I was born and raised in North Battleford, and trust me, there is no need to feel sorry. I love it there.

Fun Fact: Since moving to Regina, the most common thing I am told while getting to know someone is how sorry they are for where I am from. I get a kick out of this, but trust me, it’s not so bad. My name is Kate Nichol, and I am in my second year in the Faculty of Education, working on my Middle Years Degree.

I grew up in a family of five and am the oldest of my brother and sister. Growing up, I played basketball and volleyball. However, I wasn’t the strongest player, but I still took pride in riding the bench. Fact: I got a Hoopla Gold Medal and barely broke a sweat aside from warm-up. Gotta look at the bright side, am I right?

I am one of the biggest Marvel geeks you will ever meet. I love movies, lots of movies. I found a new love for knitting over the past year. However, my skill level stops at a rectangle, so depending on how big of a rectangle you are after, you’ll get a scarf or a blanket. I adopted my dog, Kaiser, two years ago, and he is 100% the center of my universe. Unfortunately, I don’t have him here with me in Regina, but I try to visit as much as possible!

 

My history with technology and media.

I consider my knowledge base for technology and media to be average. Being a 20-year-old in 2023, I can confidently say that I can tell you almost anything you need to know about how to work an iPhone, along with the apps Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. But, regarding technology in education, computers, different software, resources, etc. I think that I fell a little short. I am taking this course to improve my skills and be as technically aware as I need to, to succeed in the technological world of teaching. I know that the generation of students I will be teaching one day will be very knowledgeable about how to use and operate new technology, so I need to make sure I stay ahead of the game. And that means starting here, in a university class, learning to get around platforms like the one I am using now. The patience I have had to learn for myself and this blogging process has been very trying on me, let me tell ya. For my Learning Project, I want to explore the world of filming and editing while also attempting to write a short film!