UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #379

Submission information
Submission Number: 379
Submission ID: 8156
Submission UUID: 841fd1a1-1d6a-49b3-aca3-349de9622a07

Created: Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:17 AM
Completed: Wed, 08/02/2023 - 12:32 PM
Changed: Thu, 10/05/2023 - 10:15 AM

Remote IP address: 23.123.39.46
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Ryan Hope Travis
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns He/Him
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? Professor
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) rht21@fsu.edu
Position Title Faculty
FSU College (if applicable) Fine Arts
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation School of Theatre
Headshot (optional) RHT Headshot - 9.22.jpg
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above)
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable)
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Title of the Project Cocoa in the Dark: Film Festival Strategy and Understanding the Film Market
Project Keywords Film, Festival, Filmmaking, Post Production, Pre-Production
Are you currently looking for research assistants? No
Number of Research Assistants Needed 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Open to all majors.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 5-10 hours per week
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description I am an actor, writer, director, theatre-maker, and filmmaker. Last summer ('23) I completed my debut feature film, "Cocoa in the Dark." The film is inspired by actual events, a composite of several stories. The film follows an 18-year-old who navigates fatherhood, high school, then eventually a 7-year prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. The film shines a light on the U.S. criminal justice system and how it grossly fails the working poor and most egregiously, people of color. As Research Assistant, you will participate in the film festival distribution phase of the project. The film will be compelling to festival organizers because of the urgency of the moment, the relevancy of the story, and the diverse composition of the filmmakers involved. I have written and directed 12 short films, many of which were accepted into film festivals in LA, NYC, Austin, Miami, Atlanta, and more.
Research Tasks There is one primary research task for this project: data collection. We will screen a film or two to determine the best path forward, but gathering information about film festivals, similar films, and market trends are our goals. *What does "Data Collection" mean for this project? We will gather data about various national and international film festivals and generate a flow chart of deadlines, application fees, etc. to be used in the spring semester. In other words, you and I will build a strategy for how and when the film ("Cocoa in the Dark") will be distributed to the film festival market.

The other component of this UROP project is pre-production. My sophomore film will go into production summer '24. Your supplementary research task will include "breaking down" the new script. You will identify the various elements needed to produce the film. This skill is one of the building blocks to successfully produce a film. (P.S. You will have a lot of support to complete the aforementioned research tasks. I got you!)
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended (basic) proficiency in MS Excel and MS Word.
Mentoring Philosophy Empowering students to be creators is important to me. The most influential people of our time are creators of their own content/products/ideas. When students are given the tools to generate and execute their own ideas, they become trailblazers of their artistic and professional paths, instead of passive participants. No matter what field a student prepares to enter, knowing their worth and value is vital. TIME is the ultimate currency, our most valuable resource. Being efficient, productive, and effective are especially rewarding when pursuing something that brings us joy. As a teacher, I seek to create safe, brave spaces where students are encouraged to be “wrong.” Lifting the burden of being “right” is the starting place for every classroom (and mentor/mentee relationship) I inhabit. Success in my effort to create such an environment enables students to tap into the well of their full potential. P.S. "Flow" is key.
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://www.arcable.com/work#/cocoainthedark/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable):
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Year 2023
update url https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=sRef349yWQa4AeVS1pH3FbSCEvzamAXZOgMvVRa8xFg