The Mirror | Fall 2023

Page 13

the MIRROR

FALL 2023 | 13

| LIFESTYLE |

THE MIRROR | PHOTOS BY IVAN ALCALA

SET THE SCENE Video produc-

Short film project dives into a

mental void BY MIA RAMIREZ

S

THE MIRROR STAFF

enior 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.

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.

tion student Anna Khondkaryan (above) prepares her video camera, which she used to film her project “Exit the Void.” The short film revolves around an artist who gets locked up in her own mental prison.

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.

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.

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.

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.


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Articles inside

Promising duo: Twins carve their own paths

4min
page 39

In it for the long run

2min
page 38

Diving into boys water polo

3min
page 37

STARTING STRONG FRESHMAN FOOTBALL CAPTAIN

2min
page 37

Changes in leadership boost girls basketball team

1min
page 36

Debunking stereotypes

1min
page 36

Girls volleyball: Rebuilding what’s broken

2min
page 35

Marching to their own beat

2min
page 35

The world of sports is riddled with inequality It’s time to change that ‘‘

3min
page 34

Girls flag football team makes herstory

5min
pages 33-34

Retro reads: They’re classics for a reason

5min
pages 32-33

Saving classic movies from cancel culture

5min
pages 31-32

El Cocinero Restaurant makes vegan food taste like a delicacy

1min
page 30

Unscripted: Improv Club exercises creativity

3min
page 30

listen

2min
page 29

The hidden power of heartbreak

2min
page 29

The Oscars’ diversity rules pit merit against equity

2min
pages 28-29

Villains don’t deserve their bad reputations

3min
page 28

Fallin’ back in time

5min
pages 26-27

Appearances can be deceiving

2min
page 25

“1989 (Taylor’s Version)” never goes out of style

1min
page 25

It’s been a long time coming: The Eras Tour film is finally here

5min
page 24

abuse of free speech America is not fake news. It’s the truth

14min
pages 21-23

The abuse in America It’s

3min
page 20

Destigmatizing the mentality of the sigma male

4min
page 19

Book bans: Hellish weapons of censorship

5min
page 18

Gun violence ricochets across America

2min
page 17

Unfollowing social media: The best decision of your life

1min
page 17

Editorial The age of the political dinosaur

3min
page 16

Frighteningly fast fashion: It’s time to let go of polyester

2min
page 14

Crocheting has got Gen-Z HOOKED

2min
page 14

Short film project dives into a mental void

5min
page 13

Checkmate

5min
page 12

He built a car with his bare hands

3min
page 11

Jumpstarting his career in the automotive industry

4min
page 10

Strokes of genius: An artistic journey

1min
page 10

Students in the workforce Valuable experiences, but endless sacrifices

3min
page 9

Unraveling misconceptions about OCD

1min
page 9

E-cigarettes: An adolescent epidemic

3min
page 8

Continued violence on school campuses calls security measures into question

1min
page 8

Think it's over? Covid-19 continues to challenge public health

2min
page 7

LAUSD’s school bus electrification program

2min
page 7

Are headphones killing

3min
page 6

District unveils tutoring app to combat learning loss New insurance policy leaves Performing Arts in a lurch

5min
pages 5-6

Performing Arts students boost SBAC English scores

1min
page 4

Budget cuts reduce school funding by MILLIONS

6min
pages 3-4

NEWS IN BRIEF

2min
page 3

Jewish hate

4min
page 2
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The Mirror | Fall 2023 by THE MIRROR | VAN NUYS HIGH SCHOOL - Issuu