Colin and Emily,
Please find a diverse selection of authored pieces that I recently wrote to be shared publicly. If you would like to see any additional content, please let me know and I’d be happy to share more with you.
Thank you again for your consideration and I hope to get the opportunity to work with both of you.
Best,
Jake
Reagan Library 30th Anniversary: As you might have heard, yesterday we celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the opening of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, right here in Simi Valley, California. This special place was created, not just as a reflection of the past but, in President Reagan’s words, “to be a place where policy makers can debate the future.” On that day thirty years ago, President Reagan proclaimed, “the doors of this library are now open and ALL are welcome. The judgement of history is left to you, the people….”
9/11 20th Anniversary: Today we mark 20 years since the attacks in New York City, Shanksville Pennsylvania, and here in Washington DC that shook our whole nation. Looking back on September 11th, we remember the tragic events of that day and the lives that were lost, but we also remember how so many Americans demonstrated heroism and sacrifice in the face of disaster. How our country came together in the aftermath, united in a spirit of both grief and resilience. How we remembered we couldn’t take our freedoms for granted. President Reagan said that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It has to be fought for and defended by each generation.” Today, on this 20TH anniversary of September 11th, we must never forget how these attacks changed our nation and we must work together to keep America as symbol of freedom, a “shining city on a hill.”
Chicago Fire 150th Anniversary: Hello Everyone, I’m John Heubusch, Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute. 150 years ago today, on October 8th 1871, the Great Chicago Fire roared through the city, ultimately burning four square miles of one of the largest towns in America. We remember this day, not just because of it’s terrible devastation, but because of the heroism and resolve of the American people. We support each other, we help those in need, and if we’re hit with a catastrophe, we bounce back and rebuild, together. President Reagan reminded us that while “we can’t help everyone, everyone can help someone.”
Film Analysis, Wall-E (Selection): One of the most fascinating parts of the film is the first act. For nearly thirty minutes, the film goes without spoken words. The protagonist can only say two words and one of them is his own name. This is not a silent film, but by not having diologue, the film becomes more pure, allowing the audience more opportunity to peice together the story. The film is therefore similar to a fondue restaurant where you cook your food in a pot. It becomes more enjoyable when you have to work to make your meal… People relate to his innocence, not because people find a cockroach charming, but because they find a robot's friendship humanizing. They see his wonder in small things, perhaps things that most people overlook, but this vulnerability adds not only to his likability but to his relatability.
Script Coverage Analysis, Unmade film: Polarity: Groundhog Day meets Hot Tub Time Machine 2 in this time-loop drama where a mine worker’s life begins to repeat after an encounter with a mystical rock. Time Loop films have been both successful and unsuccessful since their incarnation in the 1930’s with most time loop films unable to breakthrough such a formulaic genre. Films like Groundhog Day stand out in this oversaturated library of time-loop films not because of its ability to revive the genre, but because it utilized the time-loop in a way which previous films had not done before, allowing a character to learn more about himself and his own flaws by repeating interactions and experiences until he is able to change himself. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 takes a different approach, allowing an alternate timeline, started by a time loop, to play out until negative consequences prompt characters to want to change their lives. Polarity takes moments from both movies, but unfortunately, not the right parts.
The main problem in the script is the lack of an engine, or drive, to the story. Wes seems perfectly contempt in his time loop and because of Wes’s acceptance of his fantastical situation, he does little to change it or himself. Wes, because of his weaknesses as a static character, has no arc in the story and because the audience sees the script through Wes, the story lacks an arc as well. It seems like the author has taken an oversaturated genre and added weak characters which has only made the plot, while easy to follow, less impactful or significant. If major a major re- write of the script was done giving the protagonist a greater desire to change his fate, or even giving reasons why he won’t, this script has potential. First, it fits the varied cannon of Crystal Sky as being a potentially low budget movie that if shot well could have high production value. A theoretical problem could arise with the problem that all successful time-loop films have had big-name stars such as Groundhog Day (Bill Murry), Looper (Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon- Levitt), Edge of Tomorrow (Tom Cruise), and many more.
One thing that works in the script is the relationship between Wes and his brother Daniel. In a rewrite, this relationship should be deepened by giving Wes the drive to stop his brother’s repeated accidents. In each incarnation of the time-loop, Daniel finds himself being severely injured and Wes does little to stop these accidents from occurring. If Wes eventually discovers that his own selfishness and greed cause Daniel to become injured and takes action to help his brother, this would solve the problem of the scripts lack of an engine or major character arcs.
Video Descriptions for Project Beauty 2020:
A modern movement, a contemporary perspective.
This whole project has tried to redefine beauty, but it’s so hard to change the meaning of a word that is inherently vested in what other people think.
Beauty is not synonymous with “looking good.” Feeling, character, and personality are more closely related to one’s perceived beauty than outward appearance.”
The following projects were created for the themed entertainment design minor I took at USC. I APOLOGIZE for undo criticism, it was part of the project.
Designed paper to look like the original POTC poster from Disneyland. Wrote/narrated/edited several videos (hyperlinked in paper) on technology, story, and history of the attraction.
Wrote/edited/narrated videos on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, shortly after its opening.
I also conducted research on additional locations in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and wrote a paper on the creation of Disney’s Superstar Limo after interviewing many of its creators.
While this is only a small selection of work, I have additional experience in writing social keywords, video chapters, social media posts, emails, introductions, one-page rundowns, project deliverable spreadsheets, long form essays (journaled), opinion pieces, and more and I’d be happy to share more with you if requested.
Thank you for your consideration.
-Jake