“The 40-Year Old Version” by Radha Blank is my all-time favorite movie. A memoir, a romantic comedy, a drama, “The 40-Year Old Version” does it all effortlessly. The dialogue in the movie is extremely well-written and intimate, which makes each and every scene touching. I also loved the way segments of fictional interviews intercut with the main storyline. These fictional interviews often served as a comedic break from some of Radha’s (the main character, not the writer) more serious scenes. Not only is “The 40-Year Old Version" beautifully written, but the cinematography is breathtaking. Shot on black and white 35mm film, a handheld camera captures intimate scenes behind objects or doorways, adding to the viewer feeling as though they are an outsider listening in on a personal conversation. In this film, the creator, Radha Blank, explores her own trials in becoming a known playwright. What influenced me most as a future dramatic writer was the film’s truth: "Are you willing to sell-out for fame?" Though Radha comes around to her senses in the end and stays true to her art, I couldn’t help but imagine myself in her shoes. As an upcoming black creative, it’s only natural that I’ll receive push back and/or disregard from people in the industry who do not care about the stories that I want to tell. “The 40-Year Old Version” forced me to ask myself this crucial question, and more importantly-- answer it. As a dramatic writer, I never want to tell a story that I don’t believe in. It’s painstakingly obvious when a creator doesn’t believe in their work, and for no amount of money will I ever stray away from the types of narratives I aim to tell.

Everyone who knows me would describe me as intense. In every piece of artwork, and even daily conversations, I vehemently stand up for the truths that I believe in. A truth is defined as something that is factual, however, to a filmmaker, truths are much more. Truths are defined as the realities of life, each one distinctive in its makeup. Every person has a unique truth, but not everyone has the means to tell their truth. It is the job of a filmmaker to tell untold truths, truths that are not yet known or accepted by the general public. My name is Kaori Taylor. I am a senior film student at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In the future, I intend to work in the world of film. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people; people with dreams, with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. I want to change the narrative. As an upcoming filmmaker, my goal is to depict the beauty of black life and fight against the stereotypes pushed upon it. During my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned to create my first independent film within a span of three months. I had begun watching Spike Lee’s movies during the latter half of freshman year and instantly fell in love with his work. From his openness in discussing sexual relationships in his debut film, "She’s Gotta Have It", to his critical response to race in America in "The BlacKkKlansman" and "Do the Right Thing", Spike Lee has never shied away from expressing the beliefs he holds to be true. It was my aim to create a Spike Lee inspired film for my project. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a narrative short about a group of black teens, each creating art about the varied struggles they face, coming together to curate an art show. One of my goals in this film was to present different types of black beauty. The cast is made up of people with different hair textures, complexions, body types, and genders. The characters themselves also are diverse in background. Zora Petry, played by Jade Underwood, delivers her lines in sign language. When creating this character, I didn’t want her lack of hearing to define her as a person. My goal was to make Zora fit in with the other characters, so her use of sign language was never addressed. The reason why I created this short film was to bring attention to the forms of racism black people face. My favorite segment of the film dealt with blackfishing, a current-day phenomenon where people of no African descent use makeup and hairstyling to appear as if they have black heritage for popularity. I believe racism stems from ignorance and I choose to use filmmaking as a way to educate the masses. After the creation of my short film, I searched for any opportunity that would allow me to participate in the making of another film. During the summer of my junior year, I served as a documentarian for a local musical called Voices of Carmen. As a documentarian, it was my job to tell the stories of not only the cast, but the musicians and the crew members alike. Every day, my coworkers and I would go to the various departments and capture video of everyone’s daily routine. After the first two weeks went by, we discovered the unique stories of the people around us. These hidden stories are what motivated me to do the interview portions of the documentary. Not only did the film crew capture photos that could be used to promote the musical in the future, but we also captured the stories of the people involved in the production. The stories were powerful and moving, not only to the film crew, but also to the rest of the members of the play. The stories captured within the interviews were inspirational, having the ability to inspire other young people to pursue a dream of working in the world of theater. These powerful stories are what motivated me to continue working on the documentary outside of the workplace, even after the job ended; telling the stories of the people we captured became more important than any monetary amount. As an upcoming filmmaker, I want my work to not only come off as aesthetically pleasing but as something that connects with the audience on a deeper level. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to changing narratives, and film is the medium I want to do it with.

From the moment I took my first picture on a camera, I knew I loved photography. Something about the way the plastic felt in my hand, the way the camera hung from my neck, the way I could capture the essence of a person in mere seconds...it all appealed to me. I’m an avid writer who loves telling stories through words, but I also believe photographs are capable of telling powerful stories themselves. Before the rise of smartphones, my family and I would get our family portraits done by a local photographer. Every year we would go into a small studio, huddle in close, and smile for our pictures to be taken. The photographer was always sweet and it was easy to tell they loved their business. Throughout my years in high school, I’ve spoken to many other freelance photographers. Even though they have different art styles and accept different types of assignments, they all have one thing in common: they love what they do. My name is Kaori Taylor and I am a senior film student at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In the future, I intend to work in the world of film, however, I would also love to be a freelance photographer. Being able to create my own hours and do what I love would be a dream, and starting my own photography business would allow me to achieve it. I would mainly serve clientele looking for event photographers and/or photojournalists, as I love taking “in the moment” pictures and challenging myself by taking pictures in different environments. Even though I’d be given assignments as a freelance photographer, my work would allow me to show others the world through my perspective. No two photographers take the same photos, even if they are covering the same event. This especially holds true in the world of photojournalism. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people; people with dreams, with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. I want to change the narrative. As a photojournalist, I would not take photographs that would portray any group of people solely as victims. I would try to capture the lives of these groups and show the unique beauty that they contain. Devin Allen, a Baltimore-based photographer, received national attention for his coverage of The Baltimore Uprising. After receiving wide acclaim, he later released a photo book titled "A Beautiful Ghetto", displaying the beauty that can be found within Baltimore. Just like Devin Allen, I would use my work as a freelance photographer to change narratives. Not only would a photography business help me change commonly held beliefs, but it would also benefit my development as an artist. The more one practices their craft, the better they get, and I am positive that my work as a freelance photographer would aid my progression as a storyteller. The one thing stopping me from starting my own photography business is money. The upfront charges of being a photographer are expensive. A professional camera alone would cost me $560 and buying the prime lenses necessary to shoot on location would be another $200. I would also need a laptop that has a display accurate enough for photo editing and a 1TB external hard drive in order to save my photos. The African-American Entrepreneurs Grant Scholarship would allow me to achieve my dream of becoming a freelance photographer without breaking my pockets.

Everyone who knows me would describe me as intense. In every piece of artwork, and even daily conversations, I vehemently stand up for the truths that I believe in. A truth is defined as something that is factual, however, to a filmmaker, truths are much more. Truths are defined as the realities of life, each one distinctive in its makeup. Every person has a unique truth, but not everyone has the means to tell their truth. It is the job of a filmmaker to tell untold truths, truths that are not yet known or accepted by the general public. My name is Kaori Taylor. I am a senior film student at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In the future, I intend to work in the world of film. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people; people with dreams, with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. I want to change the narrative. As an upcoming filmmaker, my goal is to depict the beauty of black life and fight against the stereotypes pushed upon it. As a young black artist, there are many creators that I look up to such as Issa Rae, Barry Jenkins, and Shonda Rhimes, however, there is no one I look up to as much as Spike Lee. During my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned to create my first independent film within a span of three months. I had begun watching Spike Lee’s movies during the latter half of freshman year and instantly fell in love with his work. From his openness in discussing sexual relationships in his debut film, "She’s Gotta Have It", to his critical response to race in America in "The BlacKkKlansman" and "Do the Right Thing", Spike Lee has never shied away from expressing the beliefs he holds to be true. It was my aim to create a Spike Lee inspired film for my project. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a narrative short about a group of black teens, each creating art about the varied struggles they face, coming together to curate an art show. Within the film, I used many techniques that I had learned by watching Spike Lee’s filmography. The film was filled with direct-address shots and I was not afraid to experiment with low and high angles within the film. I owe all of this to Spike Lee. Even in my work today, I still use direct-address shots because I feel it’s the best way to connect the audience with the characters in the film One of my goals in “The Revolution will Not be Televised” was to present different types of black beauty, something that Spike Lee does often in his films. The cast is made up of people with different hair textures, complexions, body types, and genders. The characters themselves also are diverse in background. Zora Petry, played by Jade Underwood, delivers her lines in sign language. When creating this character, I didn’t want her lack of hearing to define her as a person. My goal was to make Zora fit in with the other characters, so her use of sign language was never addressed. The reason why I created this short film was to bring attention to the forms of racism black people face. My favorite segment of the film dealt with blackfishing, a current-day phenomenon where people of no African descent use makeup and hairstyling to appear as if they have black heritage for popularity. I believe racism stems from ignorance and I choose to use filmmaking as a way to educate the masses. After the creation of my short film, I searched for any opportunity that would allow me to participate in the making of another film. During the summer of my junior year, I served as a documentarian for a local musical called “Voices of Carmen”. As a documentarian, it was my job to tell the stories of not only the cast, but the musicians and the crew members alike. Every day, my coworkers and I would go to the various departments and capture video of everyone’s daily routine. After the first two weeks went by, we discovered the unique stories of the people around us. These hidden stories are what motivated me to do the interview portions of the documentary. Not only did the film crew capture photos that could be used to promote the musical in the future, but we also captured the stories of the people involved in the production. The stories were powerful and moving, not only to the film crew, but also to the rest of the members of the play. The stories captured within the interviews were inspirational, having the ability to inspire other young people to pursue a dream of working in the world of theater. These powerful stories are what motivated me to continue working on the documentary outside of the workplace, even after the job ended; telling the stories of the people we captured became more important than any monetary amount. As an upcoming filmmaker, I want my work to not only come off as aesthetically pleasing but as something that connects with the audience on a deeper level. Just like Spike Lee, I want to dedicate the rest of my life to changing narratives, and film is the medium I want to do it with.

From the moment I took my first picture on a camera, I knew I loved photography. Something about the way the plastic felt in my hand, the way the camera hung from my neck, the way I could capture the essence of a person in mere seconds...it all appealed to me. I’m an avid writer who loves telling stories through words, but I also believe photographs are capable of telling powerful stories themselves. Before the rise of smartphones, my family and I would get our family portraits done by a local photographer. Every year we would go into a small studio, huddle in close, and smile for our pictures to be taken. The photographer was always sweet and it was easy to tell they loved their business. Throughout my years in high school, I’ve spoken to many other freelance photographers. Even though they have different art styles and accept different types of assignments, they all have one thing in common: they love what they do. My name is Kaori Taylor and I am a senior film student at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In the future, I intend to work in the world of film, however, I would also love to be a freelance photographer. Being able to create my own hours and do what I love would be a dream, and starting my own photography business would allow me to achieve it. I would mainly serve clientele looking for event photographers and/or photojournalists, as I love taking “in the moment” pictures and challenging myself by taking pictures in different environments. Not only would a photography business benefit my pockets, but it would also benefit my development as an artist. The more one practices their craft, the better they get, and I am positive that my work as a freelance photographer would aid my progression as a storyteller. The one thing stopping me from starting my own photography business is money. The upfront charges of being a photographer are expensive. A professional camera alone would cost me $560 and buying the prime lenses necessary to shoot on location would be another $200. I would also need a laptop that has a display accurate enough for photo editing and a 1TB external hard drive in order to save my photos. The Support Small Business Scholarship would allow me to achieve my dream of becoming a freelance photographer without breaking my pockets.

5 Things I Love About You (An Ode to Rosey) One Your smile You own a smile so bright that the sun itself is jealous It’s rays break through the dark clouds on my cloudiest of days Your smile is one that reaches your eyes and turns them into crescent moons Your smile is one that reaches out to the hearts around you Two Your voice You rarely sing, but when you do... It sounds nothing like the voices of angels But when you speak Each lilt of your voice And every sweet phrase Pen a beautiful hymn One that I could listen to on repeat for hours Until my days end Three Your fashion sense You put clothes together better than anyone I’ve ever known Like a model on the runway Sashaying in different prints and colors and textures At least a quarter of the clothes in your closet were once mine But keep them, it’s fine Four Your sense of humor With spot-on impressions With outrageous storytimes With random screams We laugh together until the corner of our eyes well with tears To avoid pain, to ignore any fears Five Your heart Made of solid gold So full of love and goodness Of Care Of Compassion Your heart is the thing I love most about you And I’m pretty sure you know it, too

Graham Stephan - Graham Stephan is a 28-year-old millionaire. He made his fortune by pursuing real estate at the young age of 18 years old. Graham has a youtube channel named "Graham Stephan" where he interviews other millionaires, dissects the spending habits of millennials, and talks about his own saving and spending. Graham Stephan is a must-watch if you want to learn about budgeting and investing your money. CNBC Make It: Millenial Money -Sometimes, the most effective way to learn how to do something correctly is to see someone do it incorrectly. "Millenial Money" is a series on the youtube channel "CNBC Make it." Every episode we follow a millennial's spending and saving habits. The subjects of this series live in wildly different places and have wildly different incomes, which makes the series so interesting to watch. Millennial Money is a must-watch if you want to get better with budgeting. Two Cents -Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson are the husband-and-wife team featured on the youtube channel called "Two Cents." They dissect people's spending habits and explain everything you need to know about savings and investments. Two Cents is a must-watch for anyone looking to learn the basics of personal finance.

"Flower Child" by Nitty Scott is my all-time favorite song. Nitty raps about taking things slow and giving yourself time to grow and blossom as a person. The first time I heard it I was entranced, never before had I heard an artist speak so beautifully about human development. Every song on my playlist talks about developing as a person, whether spiritually, mentally, and/or physically. I chose to make a 17-track playlist to represent the 17 years I have been on Earth. I chose to incorporate an intro, interlude, and outro in my playlist to make the finished product cohesive.

Everyone who knows me would describe me as intense. In every piece of artwork, and even daily conversations, I vehemently stand up for the truths that I believe in. A truth is defined as something that is factual, however, to a filmmaker, truths are much more. Truths are defined as the realities of life, each one distinctive in its makeup. Every person has a unique truth, but not everyone has the means to tell their truth. It is the job of a filmmaker to tell untold truths, truths that are not yet known or accepted by the general public. My name is Kaori Taylor. I am a senior film student at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In the future, I intend to work in the world of film. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people; people with dreams, with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. I want to change the narrative. As an upcoming filmmaker, my goal is to depict the beauty of black life and fight against the stereotypes pushed upon it. During my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned to create my first independent film within a span of three months. I had begun watching Spike Lee’s movies during the latter half of freshman year and instantly fell in love with his work. From his openness in discussing sexual relationships in his debut film, "She’s Gotta Have It", to his critical response to race in America in "The BlacKkKlansman" and "Do the Right Thing", Spike Lee has never shied away from expressing the beliefs he holds to be true. It was my aim to create a Spike Lee inspired film for my project. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a narrative short about a group of black teens, each creating art about the varied struggles they face, coming together to curate an art show. One of my goals in this film was to present different types of black beauty. The cast is made up of people with different hair textures, complexions, body types, and genders. The characters themselves also are diverse in background. Zora Petry, played by Jade Underwood, delivers her lines in sign language. When creating this character, I didn’t want her lack of hearing to define her as a person. My goal was to make Zora fit in with the other characters, so her use of sign language was never addressed. The reason why I created this short film was to bring attention to the forms of racism black people face. My favorite segment of the film dealt with blackfishing, a current-day phenomenon where people of no African descent use makeup and hairstyling to appear as if they have black heritage for popularity. I believe racism stems from ignorance and I choose to use filmmaking as a way to educate the masses. After the creation of my short film, I searched for any opportunity that would allow me to participate in the making of another film. During the summer of my junior year, I served as a documentarian for a local musical called Voices of Carmen. As a documentarian, it was my job to tell the stories of not only the cast, but the musicians and the crew members alike. Every day, my coworkers and I would go to the various departments and capture video of everyone’s daily routine. After the first two weeks went by, we discovered the unique stories of the people around us. These hidden stories are what motivated me to do the interview portions of the documentary. Not only did the film crew capture photos that could be used to promote the musical in the future, but we also captured the stories of the people involved in the production. The stories were powerful and moving, not only to the film crew, but also to the rest of the members of the play. The stories captured within the interviews were inspirational, having the ability to inspire other young people to pursue a dream of working in the world of theater. These powerful stories are what motivated me to continue working on the documentary outside of the workplace, even after the job ended; telling the stories of the people we captured became more important than any monetary amount. As an upcoming filmmaker, I want my work to not only come off as aesthetically pleasing but as something that connects with the audience on a deeper level. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to changing narratives, and film is the medium I want to do it with. In order to become a better filmmaker, I need to further my education in film. My dream is to attend NYU for their Film & Television program. I believe NYU would give me the best chance at achieving my goal due to its location in New York, top-notch film facilities, internship opportunities, and broad creative network. Above all, NYU’s Film & Television program pays special attention to the creation of a story, a crucial part of the creation of any film. The world of film is one that is constantly changing, and it is a necessity to be knowledgeable about new developments in order to avoid being left behind. I know that if I fail to continue my education in film, I may never be able to share my perspectives on the world.

Everyone who knows me would describe me as intense. In every piece of artwork, and even daily conversations, I vehemently stand up for the truths that I believe in. A truth is defined as something that is factual, however, to a filmmaker, truths are much more. Truths are defined as the realities of life, each one distinctive in its makeup. Every person has a unique truth, but not everyone has the means to tell their truth. It is the job of a filmmaker to tell untold truths, truths that are not yet known or accepted by the general public. My name is Kaori Taylor. I am a senior film student at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In the future, I intend to work in the world of film. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people; people with dreams, with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. I want to change the narrative. As an upcoming filmmaker, my goal is to depict the beauty of black life and fight against the stereotypes pushed upon it. During my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned to create my first independent film within a span of three months. I had begun watching Spike Lee’s movies during the latter half of freshman year and instantly fell in love with his work. From his openness in discussing sexual relationships in his debut film, "She’s Gotta Have It", to his critical response to race in America in "The BlacKkKlansman" and "Do the Right Thing", Spike Lee has never shied away from expressing the beliefs he holds to be true. It was my aim to create a Spike Lee inspired film for my project. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a narrative short about a group of black teens, each creating art about the varied struggles they face, coming together to curate an art show. One of my goals in this film was to present different types of black beauty. The cast is made up of people with different hair textures, complexions, body types, and genders. The characters themselves also are diverse in background. Zora Petry, played by Jade Underwood, delivers her lines in sign language. When creating this character, I didn’t want her lack of hearing to define her as a person. My goal was to make Zora fit in with the other characters, so her use of sign language was never addressed. The reason why I created this short film was to bring attention to the forms of racism black people face. My favorite segment of the film dealt with blackfishing, a current-day phenomenon where people of no African descent use makeup and hairstyling to appear as if they have black heritage for popularity. I believe racism stems from ignorance and I choose to use filmmaking as a way to educate the masses. After the creation of my short film, I searched for any opportunity that would allow me to participate in the making of another film. During the summer of my junior year, I served as a documentarian for a local musical called Voices of Carmen. As a documentarian, it was my job to tell the stories of not only the cast, but the musicians and the crew members alike. Every day, my coworkers and I would go to the various departments and capture video of everyone’s daily routine. After the first two weeks went by, we discovered the unique stories of the people around us. These hidden stories are what motivated me to do the interview portions of the documentary. Not only did the film crew capture photos that could be used to promote the musical in the future, but we also captured the stories of the people involved in the production. The stories were powerful and moving, not only to the film crew, but also to the rest of the members of the play. The stories captured within the interviews were inspirational, having the ability to inspire other young people to pursue a dream of working in the world of theater. These powerful stories are what motivated me to continue working on the documentary outside of the workplace, even after the job ended; telling the stories of the people we captured became more important than any monetary amount. As an upcoming filmmaker, I want my work to not only come off as aesthetically pleasing but as something that connects with the audience on a deeper level. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to changing narratives, and film is the medium I want to do it with.

I could’ve sworn they could smell my fear, my unsureness. Although I had brought 4 supplemental pieces to my audition, the judges were not yet impressed. My eyes dart between both of their faces, searching for any type of emotion. The woman wore a smile, but I knew she put one on for everyone. The man, however, gave me nothing. I didn’t get in, I thought. I squirm around in my seat, finding myself growing evermore uncomfortable under their gaze. "Why did you apply to the film program?" the woman asks. I stop moving. "I want to change the narrative," I say. "I want to show others the way I perceive the world." The man’s lips form a smile. Everyone who knows me would describe me as intense. In every piece of artwork, and even daily conversations, I vehemently stand up for the truths that I believe in. A truth is defined as something that is factual, however, to a filmmaker, truths are much more. Truths are defined as the realities of life, each one distinctive in its makeup. Every person has a unique truth, but not everyone has the means to tell their truth. It is the job of a filmmaker to tell untold truths, truths that are not yet known or accepted by the general public. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people; people with dreams, with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. As an upcoming filmmaker, my goal is to depict the beauty of black life and fight against the stereotypes pushed upon it. During my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned to create my first independent film within a span of three months. I had begun watching Spike Lee’s movies during the latter half of freshman year and instantly fell in love with his work. From his openness in discussing sexual relationships in his debut film, "She’s Gotta Have It", to his critical response to race in America in "The BlacKkKlansman" and "Do the Right Thing", Spike Lee has never shied away from expressing the beliefs he holds to be true. It was my aim to create a Spike Lee inspired film for my project. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a narrative short about a group of black teens, each creating art about the varied struggles they face, coming together to curate an art show. One of my goals in this film was to present different types of black beauty. The cast is made up of people with different hair textures, complexions, body types, and genders. The characters themselves also are diverse in background. Zora Petry, played by Jade Underwood, delivers her lines in sign language. When creating this character, I didn’t want her lack of hearing to define her as a person. My goal was to make Zora fit in with the other characters, so her use of sign language was never addressed. The reason why I created this short film was to bring attention to the forms of racism black people face. My favorite segment of the film dealt with blackfishing, a current-day phenomenon where people of no African descent use makeup and hairstyling to appear as if they have black heritage for popularity. I believe racism stems from ignorance and I choose to use filmmaking as a way to educate the masses. As an upcoming filmmaker, I want my work to not only come off as aesthetically pleasing but as something that connects with the audience on a deeper level. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to changing narratives, and film is the medium I want to do it with.

I could’ve sworn they could smell my fear, my unsureness. Although I had brought 4 supplemental pieces to my audition, the judges were not yet impressed. My eyes dart between both of their faces, searching for any type of emotion. The woman wore a smile, but I knew she put one on for everyone. The man, however, gave me nothing. I didn’t get in, I thought. I squirm around in my seat, finding myself growing evermore uncomfortable under their gaze. "Why did you apply to the film program?" the woman asks. I stop moving. "I want to change the narrative." I say. "I want to show others the way I perceive the world." The man’s lips form a smile. Everyone who knows me would describe me as intense. In every piece of artwork, and even daily conversations, I vehemently stand up for the truths that I believe in. A truth is defined as something that is factual, however, to a filmmaker, truths are much more. Truths are defined as the realities of life, each one distinctive in its makeup. Every person has a unique truth, but not everyone has the means to tell their truth. It is the job of a filmmaker to tell untold truths, truths that are not yet known or accepted by the general public. From a young age, I became hyper-aware of the way black people were depicted in the media: we were either victims, assailants, and sometimes a mixture of both. Never were we presented as people;people with dreams,with hopes, people with feelings outside of anger or sassiness. As an upcoming filmmaker, my goal is to depict the beauty of black life and fight against the stereotypes pushed upon it. During my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned to create my first independent film within a span of three months. I had begun watching Spike Lee’s movies during the latter half of freshman year, and instantly fell in love with his work. From his openness in discussing sexual relationships in his debut film, "She’s Gotta Have It", to his critical response to race in America in "The BlacKkKlansman" and "Do the Right Thing", Spike Lee has never shied away from expressing the beliefs he holds to be true. It was my aim to create a Spike Lee inspired film for my project. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a narrative short about a group of black teens, each creating art about the varied struggles they face, coming together to curate an art show. One of my goals in this film was to present different types of black beauty. The cast is made up of people with different hair textures, complexions, body types and genders. The characters themselves also are diverse in background. Zora Petry, played by Jade Underwood, delivers her lines in sign language. When creating this character, I didn’t want her lack of hearing to define her as a person. My goal was to make Zora fit in with the other characters, so her use of sign language was never addressed. The reason why I created this short film was to bring attention to the forms of racism black people face. My favorite segment of the film dealt with blackfishing, a current day phenomenon where people with no African descent use makeup and hairstyling to appear as if they have black heritage for popularity. I believe racism stems from ignorance and I choose to use filmmaking as a way to educate the masses. As an upcoming filmmaker, I want my work to not only come off as aesthetically pleasing, but as something that connects with the audience on a deeper level. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to changing narratives, and film is the medium I want to do it with.