# data[].attributes.body
Being part of the very core team of the HUMSS/GA Culminating Activity was my biggest plot twist of the year. Ever since witnessed my own cousin produce their play production for their own culminating activity back in 2019, I knew I wanted to be part of that team some day. Needless to say, when I received the email from Ms. Joam, inviting me to come join the Culminating Core Team Meeting back in November, I was speechless--more confused than I was excited as it took a while to sink in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
chloe's corner! compilation of ideas of the core four, early planning.

# data[].attributes.body
The project we had ended up with was nothing like the first draft. From a social experiment to a mockumentary, from work place discrimination to the entertainment industry. So much planning went into this project, truly, it was nervewracking yet fulfilling. But ultimately, we knew we wanted to focus on one thing: the Plight of Women, Primary Prey of the Male Gaze.

# data[].attributes.headline
Phase 2: The Prep, "What was your primary insight regarding the Theme of your mockumentary?"

# data[].attributes.subject
Phase 2: The Prep, "What was your primary insight regarding the Theme of your mockumentary?"

# data[].attributes.body
For a summary of my insight, attached is a video of me being given the opportunity to give the closing remarks of our webinar as appointed Director!

Our primary goal was to put silenced voices and their brushed off stories into the limelight. (get it? limelight? HAHA!) We chose to focus on the entertainment industry because it is observed that while actresses have their whole lives on display, the issues and discrimination they face in the industry itself are just brushed under the rug--who are they to complain when they already have everything they can ever have with their jobs? Just because they are popular and the primary stars of the world's screens, does not mean they are not anymore victims of gender discrimination. Actresses on screen are often disrespected, such as being blatantly sexualized and objectified by more often than not, their male coworkers, whether this be a co-actor, a producer, paparazzi, etc. Through this mockumentary, we wanted to show that these women are so much more than what society encases them to be. They are not simply there to play the roles we demand them to play, they are there to creatively express themselves and show off their talent and skills.

The Strand Theme states "Reframing Stories of Society: Creatively Cultivating a Collective Consciousness that Upholds Human Dignity and Diversity." Here, our goal is to bring awareness and open people's eyes to the continuous discrimination women face in today's time, not just in the entertainment industry but in the world in general.

It was truly a difficult experience. Since we refused to sugarcoat things, we were exposed to the raw truth of how it feels to be working in such an industry. While we were filming the scenes with the 3 Judges, believe me, everyone in the room cringed with their lines. While it induced a few giggles here and there, I can't help but quiet down and realize that what they are performing isn't just fictional, this actually happens in real life.

I got goosebumps at the realization, I couldn't giggle anymore after.

# data[].attributes.body
Upon planning our mockumentary, we wanted to graduate with a bang. We wanted to leave a lasting impression on our younger Theresian sisters in the lower levels. Which is why we didn't shy away from quite inapporpriate themes in the mockumentary. We didn't want to sugarcoat, that is one thing this strand refuses to do. We wanted to be authenthic and realistic with our depiction of this discrimination.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
the best crew and strand i could ever ask for!

# data[].attributes.headline
Phase 3: A Woman for Women, "As a HUMSS/GA Student, how will you live out your learnings?"

# data[].attributes.subject
Phase 3: A Woman for Women, "As a HUMSS/GA Student, how will you live out your learnings?"

# data[].attributes.body
One thing I learned about being a part of the gruelling process of the Culminating Activity is that we had each other's back. If one gets praised, that's praise for all of us. If one goes down, we all go down together. We all felt each other's stress, pain, joy, relief. We all laughed together and cried together, and this is an experience so immaculate that it has become a core memory of mine.

Similarly, this is what I think the culture of womanhood is. No one will understand us the way we understand each other. One woman's plight is the plight of all. As a HUMSS/GA student, I know that I am a woman for women. I'm a girl's girl! My actions will always be founded and grounded in feminism; whenever a gender issue arises, I will make sure I know which corner I will side in. Though feminism doesn't always mean women are superior, I always make sure to first sympathize with the woman, being a woman myself, who thinks the same and feels the same as her compared to a man. Of course, I will always be rational and fair, but I will always know which team I am from, my roots, my anatomy will always be a part of me, and nothing can change that.

# data[].attributes.headline
Phase 4: The Unwinding, "What are your insights from the process of the production? What are your strengths and weaknesses as your assigned role?"

# data[].attributes.subject
Phase 4: The Unwinding, "What are your insights from the process of the production? What are your strengths and weaknesses as your assigned role?"

# data[].attributes.body
I honestly feel nothing but pride. I truly love film and theater. As I mentioned, this was really dream come true of mine, becoming director. I knew I was going to do well, the girl who spends hours and hours watching analysis videos on different films and play productions was leaping of joy inside my heart. And naturally, I applied that knowledge here. My strength truly was my creative vision, I knew how each scene was gonna go in my head. I'm responsible for the cinematography as well as the concept of the whole Culminating Activity in the earliest stages of planning. The flow of the press conference prelude was the product of both mine and Sophia Legaspi, our head writer's minds. And the title, I can proudly say I was the one that thought of "My Vanity is Insanity". It came from one of my favorite spoken words, "The Song of the Pretty Bird" by Shay Alexi Stewart. I truly wrung out the last of my creative juices from my brain for this project.

The respect I have for filmmakers and theater producers have heightened ever since this experience. It is so hard to make a film, and I wish I was exagerrating but my living dream felt like hell sometimes. It is not an easy process at all. Pressure was coming at us left and right, it was a race against time, and a war between us and the admins. We didn't want to rush things because that would mean the quality would be sacrificed. While the output wasn't our best, we were still successful in making an impact on our audience. Their cheers, their remarks, their grimaces and bellows of disgust against the sheer inappropriateness of the  antagonists. Needless to say, we had done it. We know that this is something the lower batches now will continue to talk about for years to come, and hopefully serve as an inspiration for them, to know that they are anything but what society reduces them to be: objects and playthings. They are their own person, and no one will ever take that away from them, not even themselves. In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt and more iconically, Ms. Privett from the movie, Barbie: Princess Charm School, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."