Reflecting a kaleidoscope of identities, Mirrorball Productions is shining its light on campus’ underrepresented artists.
Stepping into its first full year as a campus organization, the film production company is embracing inclusivity and exploration, president of Mirrorball Productions Javeon Shannon said, honoring its founding mission to nurture a space for artists of all backgrounds to share their stories. Established by a group of theater alumni, the student-run organization was inspired by the lack of opportunities and resources for nonfilm students to delve into filmmaking, Shannon said. The rising fourth-year theater student said the company’s dedication to uplifting marginalized voices encourages members to unearth their own artistic identities.
“We don’t want ever to feel like we’re beholden to any rules of filmmaking or any rules of how film sets work,” Shannon said. “We want to create a community of people who are willing to explore new things, to try new things, but also support each other wholeheartedly.”
[Related: UCLA student film buff builds community on campus]
In the company’s first artistic endeavor, a short film titled “Cedar Mountain,” the directors demonstrate their commitment to authentic storytelling, spotlighting queer identities and people of color on screen, Shannon said. The organization’s focus on originality enables members to redefine how their stories are represented in media, elevating voices that are often unheard and misportrayed, he added. Fostering a community built on inclusivity, Mirrorball Productions remains open to all students on campus, Shannon said, emphasizing one of Mirrorball’s tenets of self-expression, amplified by its nontraditional environment.
“It’s hard to actually find that space to just be your full self,” Shannon said. “It feels like a lot of times you have to censor yourself, you have to change the way you act, even as a performer, … but Mirrorball gives a space for everybody to just be their full selves.”
Ensuring the original stories at the helm of the project remain the true focus, the company offers support in all areas of production, resulting in an expansive range of roles for aspiring members, Shannon said. As a student-led organization, Mirrorball Productions harnesses the distinctive strengths of its diverse membership to fit students’ needs both on and off camera, ranging from writers and set crews to graphic designers and fundraising aides, he added. Because the company resembles a melting pot of majors and backgrounds, Shannon said the club’s strength lies in its ability to use its diversity to their advantage, such as sourcing its film scores from music students.
As students come with varying levels of experience with film, vice president and treasurer Sylvie Loh said the production company plans to host writer’s rooms and collaborative workshops, ensuring artists feel supported at every step of their filmmaking journey. Despite Mirrorball Productions being her first experience with filmmaking, the rising third-year human biology and society student said she felt supported and encouraged to fully immerse herself on set, ultimately taking on the role of assistant director in “Cedar Mountain.”
“Mirrorball is looking to unite all artists from any and all walks of life and allow them an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” Loh said. “We want to elevate people and elevate creators who maybe haven’t had the opportunity or means to do so in the past and provide a space for them to tell their stories.”
[Related: UCLA chapter of AMIA celebrates moving image through the art of preservation]
Also a newcomer to the film industry, secretary and rising second-year theater student Scarlet Bailey said the organization’s supportive environment inspired her to delve into screenwriting and music composition for film for the first time. Although she has an extensive background in music, Bailey said writing screenplays presented a more significant challenge for her, exemplifying Mirrorball Productions’ encouragement toward growth and exploration. With her original work set to be featured in the upcoming year, Bailey said Mirrorball is a space for experimentation, emphasizing that a film background is not a prerequisite to membership.
“There’s definitely a learning curve,” Bailey said. “I mean, it’s a mirrorball, there’s a curve to it. That’s kind of a bonus of Mirrorball is … being able to have a space where you can learn.”
In the upcoming school year, the campus newcomers hope to find new avenues of expression through film as they take on two new original projects, Loh said, exploring the possibility of music videos and short films. Loh said community-building events and opportunities for collaboration remain a priority as Mirrorball aims to connect artists on campus, sharing its creative outlet with the greater UCLA community. As Mirrorball Productions continues to push the boundaries of filmmaking, Shannon said the company has become a family connected by their shared love for capturing and creating.
“We just want to be able to put cameras in people’s hands and have them record the world in whatever sense that may be,” Shannon said.
Comments are closed.