Kenna Fojas —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
She might have solely not too long ago graduated, however Makenna “Kenna” Fojas already is aware of that she needs to attach with folks by movie. Her curiosity in shifting footage began again in highschool in Mission Viejo, California, the place she first took movie manufacturing lessons.
Again then, she was nonetheless uncertain on what facet of the filmmaking course of to focus her consideration on. What she was sure of was that she loved the logistical preparations previous to a shoot, in addition to the frenetic vitality generated on movie units.
After graduating from highschool, she enrolled in a course in psychology on the College of Washington, however realized after in the future that she missed movie an excessive amount of. Kenna joined the college’s movie membership and tried her hand at doing manufacturing design, writing and directing brief movies.
‘Hapa’
She enrolled in a second course, cinema and media research, and commenced to study extra earnestly about filmmaking. For “Hapa,” a brief movie a few combined lady’s first day of center college, Kenna because the producer was liable for hiring the crew, coordinating the shoot and elevating over $7,000 to cowl the bills.
She stated “Hapa” is a few Japanese-American lady and her Filipino-African American good friend as they deal with “the ambiguous indicators that [emerge] about their race and their seems to be which depart them with a way of confusion.” All of this occurs on the primary day of faculty.
Kenna, who’s Filipino however grew up within the US, can relate to the characters’ confusion, however appears decided to study extra about her heritage.
A few months in the past, she flew again to the Philippines and is staying together with her grandmother. She’s lived by Manila visitors, had the prospect to journey to a number of native locations with kinfolk and is wanting ahead to experiencing an genuine Filipino Christmas full with prolonged household.
Earlier than she traveled to the Philippines, nonetheless, Kenna completed “Peach Fuzz,” a brief movie she wrote and directed based mostly on “The Geography of Girlhood,” a group of poetry by Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith.
Kenna bought to satisfy her idol Kiwi—the screenwriter of “10 Issues I Hate About You” (Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger) and “Legally Blonde” (Reese Witherspoon)—who finally gave Kenna the go sign to adapt her poetry that reads like a verse novel into a brief movie.
Decided to inform tales
“‘Peach Fuzz’ is a coming-of-age story about two sisters that I recognized with even when I don’t have an older sister,” Kenna stated.
She solid two Filipino women after fielding “tons of of requests” to be included within the movie that’s in the midst of postproduction and must be completed by the primary quarter of subsequent yr.
She might have a number of brief movies underneath her belt, however Kenna stated her objective is to in the future direct a full-length function.
“Quick movies are accessible; it takes some huge cash to do a function movie. Quick movies are like an appetizer and it’s how filmmakers often begin. They’re underrated and underappreciated, however they’re a technique to make artwork,” she stated.
One of the vital memorable moments of the complete “Peach Fuzz” expertise for Kenna was when she witnessed the actress she solid to play the youthful sister name the opposite actress “ate”—a time period of respect accorded older sisters.
“Being half white and half Filipino made me a bit insecure rising up within the US, however I spotted that I’ve as a lot proper as the subsequent particular person to speak about my identification,” she stated.
Within the few months that she has been within the Philippines, Kenna has found that Filipinos dwell in “food-centered communities with a powerful emphasis on household.”
She has additionally had the prospect to make new buddies after she dropped by one of many weekend markets in Makati Metropolis.
“I noticed two women who had been laughing and speaking they usually regarded so comfortable with each other; I missed my buddies again within the US. After they observed me them, I mustered the braveness to say hello and introduce myself—we’re buddies now,” she stated with a smile.
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Even together with her lofty goals to finally direct a function movie, Kenna continues to be a younger girl discovering her method on this planet, decided to inform tales and join with folks. INQ
