Filmmakers Statement

Hello,

My name is Paige Blankenship.
I'm a sophomore at UNCW and this is my first blog post ever! 

My dream has always been to have a career in the film industry. Ever since I was little I have been fascinated by the moving images on screen. I also loved to be the center of attention, and found I had a special talent on the stage.

Me acting in a UNCW student-led film, Fall 2013

For most of my life I was convinced I was going to grow up to be an actress. But everything changed when I attended film camp at thirteen years of age. Don't get me wrong, I still love to entertain, but I prefer to do it from behind the scenes. I got over the whole "life in the spotlight" image I had in mind and fell in love with directing. At the film camp, which I went on to attend two more years, I directed a total of three documentaries. I learned how film can do anything, even change people's viewpoints on a controversial topic or enlighten them about an issue they were blind to prior.

Documentary filmmaking got me started, but that's not where I want to end up. Nor do I want to end up making a living filming Quinceañeras, Bar Mitzvahs, and Weddings, like I did in high school. In ten years I see myself somewhere big--whether it's Hollywood, Paris, or China--I will dive into the industry, head first. In ten years, I will be working on a large product with a wide audience, doing what I love and hopefully creating something that can entertain or even change the lives of others.

One of my favorite directors is Peter Jackson. This may be a typical choice, but I don't care.

Peter Jackson is not afraid to take on a challenge (unless it's combing his hair). He is capable of branding and working within a large industry while also taking his art seriously, creating masterpieces on screen.  I can never watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy too many times. I will forever be in awe at the amount of effort and quality put into that project. And the fact that he is tackling this challenge once again with The Hobbit is just more evidence to support the fact that he is a fearless director. Although a lot of his works come from books or previous films, like King Kong or The Lovely Bones, he makes the works his own and I appreciate and respect that.

Peter Jackson is the type of filmmaker I someday hope to be.

Something non-film-related about me is that I am deeply passionate about Yoga. If I had more time on my hands, I would spend it doing yoga. I know that if my film career were to ever go down the drain (which is a hilarious thought on its own because that will never happen), then my plan B is to be a yoga instructor. The amount of intensity and spirituality that goes into the practice of yoga is like nothing else. Yoga encourages us to honor our bodies and our souls and, because of yoga, I can find some peace in this hectic world.

I also love cats. Meow.

Recent Films

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Directed by Ben Stiller

A movie I recently saw is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by Ben Stiller. I didn't read any reviews beforehand and approached the film with an open mind. I have to say, I loved it! There were a few issues with the plot that bothered me, but overall it is an excellent mystery film and I recommend it to anyone. The film incorporates many conventions that the viewer must accept in order to love. For example, there is a scene where Walter Mitty, played by Ben Stiller, is contemplating whether or not he should jump into this helicopter operated by a drunk man he met in a bar. He decides not to, then all of a sudden his crush, Cheryl Melhoff, played by Kristen Wiig, appears in the bar with an acoustic guitar and serenades him with a song mentioned earlier in the film. Very quickly the scene becomes ridiculous, and the audience is completely aware that this is all a fake reality in Walter Mitty's head. If you as a viewer allow yourself to accept the convention, then you will also enjoy it. If not, and you let it bother you, then this scene could make you a bit uncomfortable. I see how some people could have been unnerved by some of Stiller's choices, but I had a good time in the movie. There are mixed reviews about the film online, but at the end of the day I will always recommend it. Ben Stiller does a wonderful job as a director, and the cinematography is just beautiful.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty