For my Q4 benchmark I decided to recreate a movie trailer for the big studios who have agreed to give me a shot. I decided to recreate the movie 2012 into a horror movie. The main reason why I chose this movie is because I thought it would be interesting seeing what the end of the world movie could be with a horror twist. I feel like this different perspective around it will give the movie trailer a new element around it as well. I thought that this would be an interning concept for this benchmark. I found different scenes from the movie and I used the software iMovie on my computer. I needed to find five scenes from the movie 2012 that I thought would fit best in a horror movie trailer. I also needed to find sound effects, I could use to add more suspense. I used the music and the cut ins and cut outs to my advantage. From this experience I was able to turn the movie 2012 into a great movie trailer.     

My main intention for this project was to design a suspenseful trailer that made people have more questions than answers. I know Giknis is going to be upset with me because she doesn't want follow-up questions but that was the point of my movie trailer. I wanted the audience to be left with more questions than answers. I made sure I included suspenseful music while working with iMovie. I also wanted the title sequence to start with a phone call because I feel like that's how most horror movies start. For examples I was watching the movie Scream before working on my benchmark to brainstorm some good ideas and I feel like the phone call aspect of the opening scene added more suspense because you don't know who the girl is talking to on the phone. I also decided to add the actually scene from the movie trailer 2012 to my trailer remake because I feel like it gives the trailer more character.

In today’s world everyone is using social media. We use social media to stay connected with loved ones whom we cannot see everyday, to stay intuned with the world and what's going on around us , some use social media to acquire fame and a following, others use social media to just pass the time.

In 2017, 81 percent of U.S American citizens had a social media profile. According to certain estimates online, the number of worldwide social media users reached 1.96 billion and is expected to grow to some 2.5 billion by 2018. Many people look at social media as a pleasant creation that is positive and harmless. What many people don't know is that social media isn't all positive and harmless after all. Social media can help hate groups and other people acquire more attention and followers. Hate groups and social media users can get people to idolize them, and their opinions by posting on social media and advertising themselves and their beliefs. Hate groups like Isis for example has used social media to recruit people and gain more attention, social media has helped the group draw at least 30,000 foreign fighters, from some 100 countries, to the battlefields of Syria and Iraq.

Going back to the central idea or question of this Advanced Essay is how does social media affect our soldiers during war, and their families back home? Personally I feel like social media allows america and the soldiers who are stationed in a different country to be more connected. It also allows the families who have loved ones in the serves to e more connected and see what's going on in real time. It also allows the families back home to Hear their stories in real time and lets the families to see what is exactly going on, social media takes a sense of wonder away from the families.

As far as people and hate groups using social media to gain attention, our current president Donald Trump does this almost everyday, Donald Trump uses social media immaturely and says outrageous things on twitter to gain attention and supports. Almost the whole 2016 presidential election Donald Trump was just saying outrageous and idiotic things on television and social media to get everyone to give him their attention and to have everyone talking about him. Personally in America everyone has the right to freedom of speech and can express their feelings however they'd like as long as it isn't violent or breaking a law, but Donald Trump tweets put soldiers stationed in other counties in jeopardy. Trump's tweets put american soldiers in jeopardy because maybe someone doesn't like what they hear and takes actions into their own hands like the russian ambassador getting assassination. The United States has over 3,000 military bases across the globe in the their name. The president of the United States of America  tweets immaturely and starts arguments with Snoop Dogg who’s a legend. Trumps immaturely doesn't just put our soldiers at risky but our nation at risk as well. Hopefully these next four years aren't a disaster.

Christian McCormac

Intro:

I’ve wanted to write an essay like this for a while. I think what I discussed in the essay kind of pushed me to finally get around to it. The whole concept of what identity and wealth has to do with immigrants and how it affects there lives is what is important.  Equity, equality and patriotism have a big part in the essay too.

In the US the gap between rich and poor is growing. As an immigrant coming from a different country to america, you have to realize that other  people have different perspectives of you. "It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others" - W.E.B. Dubois Traditions that they leave back in there country, a personality they leave at home, acting more american at work to relate to others and be more successful. “Most people don’t, for two reasons: They have no idea that their identity is affecting how much they earn. Even if they do know, they don’t know what they can do to change their identity.” Traditions that immigrants leave behind in their country, a personality that they leave at home with their families, and a mask they put on at work to relate more to others and act more American to be more successful.

Patriotism and pride have a huge role in traditions that American immigrants participate in. "Patriotism, sir, is the last resort of scoundrels," There are two sides of patriotism, the good side, where patriotism is the quality of being patriotic and supporting the country you’re from, and then there's a bad side of patriotism, where everyone is so patriotic that the only country they support is there own. Personally I support every country, I also believe that this world should have more equity. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. Immigrants that come from different countries also have to adapt to the American lifestyle, the way Americans live, and portray themselves.

As far as traditions, there are many different traditions, and having money, gets you more places in life. In addition to cultural pressures, many immigrants face outright racism, which can hurt their careers. “In fact, race alone cost Asian, black, and Latino immigrants an average of between $2,000 to $2,700 in net worth, compared to that of white immigrants with similar educational backgrounds, periods of residency, and fluency in English.” This quotes ties back into identity and how identity affects how much they earn. That’s why many immigrants wear mask so they can be more successful. It’s always good to ask yourself the central question in what ways does wealth tied together in immigrants is a assimilation?

In conclusion the whole concept of everything this essay's states, humans have to learn how to love and treat everyone as they would want to be treated. Everyone needs to learn self control, self motivation, and how to value what is really important in life.

Advance Essay #2

• Christian McCormac

While transferring from my middle school C.W Henry in the Mount Airy area to my recent high school Science Leadership Academy, I would say that I learned a new way of living from what I knew during middle school. While in middle school my daily routine consisted of waking up everyday at 6am, my mom dropping me off at school, to my mom picking me up after school was over and taking me home. I never got the chance to explore what was around and discover new things. Now since I am in highschool and my high school is located directly in Center City, it definitely gives me way more opportunities to get outside and see what the world has to offer. Going to SLA, I would say gave me a lot more freedom to be my own person and discover new things, that I really never knew about before as a young kid in middle school. Going from my middle school to SLA definitely was a huge change in my lifestyle. It also gave me a better outlook on how I live my life and what I should be looking at forward to. Coming to school everyday definitely got me out of my comfort zone. When I was in middle school I remember how the teachers and staff treated everyone like prisoners almost and not like human beginnings. You could tell that the teachers and staff there weren't as passionate about there job as the teachers and staff at Science Leadership Academy. I remember in 8th grade during the winter we didn't go outside for recess for almost five months. That mentally killed me not being able to go outside, run around, and breath some fresh air. Now that I am high school, the teachers and the staff are more reasonable and treat you like a human beginnings. High school people are more accepting for who you are and how you live. It’s not like middle school where you have to line up just to walk to a class that is the net door down.

Christian McCormac

Ms. Giknis

English (X Band)

29, May 2015

As you can tell from my first and second blog post my topic is airport security. Specifically how Airport security guards abuse their power. My first blog post showed that I feel strongly about this topic because whenever I personally go through a scanner I feel as though my privacy is being invaded. For my second blog post I found a former airport security guard and asked him to answer some questions I had. After he answered my questions I learned that some airport security guards also believe that by doing there job they are invading the personal space of others. This led me to decide to make posters for my agent of change. These posters were simple and educated the public on the topic of how airport security guards have too much power.

As I was researching my topic I found numerous websites like this one that informed the general public on how airport security guards have too much power.This showed me that my topic was a major problem yet for some reason it isn't talked about a lot. After I realized this I decided that making flyers would be the best form of action to take.

As I was passing out the flyers some people started talking to me about how they don't enjoy going through scanners because ¨they leave little to the imagination¨. When I thought about this comment I realized the main problem. The airport security guard that I interviewed did not like doing his job. Therefore it is possible that the source of the problem if not airport security guards but the actual government. After further research I learned that the TSA is the one that comes up with these rules and regulations. They are the ones that come up with these rules and regulations that lead to people feeling as though there personal space has been invaded.

Throughout the timeframe in which I have been doing this project I feel like I have done a good job of educating the public on airport security. At first I thought that when I was passing out the flyers people would simply just throw them away, but after I had that small discussion with the man I realized that I'm not the only one that feels so strongly about this topic. Although I have not made a world changing effect on the world, I feel like I have successfully educated the general public on the general difference between safety and harassment. I feel like I have paved a good road for me to do something along these lines for my capstone.

Christian McCormac
Ms. Giknis
Blog Post #2 (X Band)
11, May 2015

The topic I am writing about is airport security. I want to explain to people why I feel like airport security guards go too far to protect people. They have the job of keeping us safe but they go too far with the scanners and pat downs. I decided to get two views on this topic. I have already shown my view points in my first blog post. I have the second viewpoint from a interview I did with a airport security guard.

Below is the interview questions and answers:

Questions:

1. How long were you a airport security guard?

“I was a airport security guard for 6 years.”

2. Describe being a airport security guard in one word.

“Confusing.”

3. As a security guard what did you do?

“During my years with this occupation all that I really did was pat people down, and watch the scanner.”

4. Why did you stop being a security guard?

“I decided to go back to school to become a Respiratory Therapist.”

5. How did some people react to you searching them?

“There were times when people would verbally attack me for invading their privacy.”

6. What was the craziest reaction you had ever gotten?

“A lady had become very upset with me watching her on the monitor that shows the body scan. She then verbally attacked me and hit the security equipment with her purse.”

7. How did you feel about invading people's personal space?

“I felt confused. At training they made it sound like everything we did was for the safety of others but when you're in the field doing the actual work you feel like a creep.”

8. Have you ever been attacked verbally or physically while doing your job?

“I have been attacked both verbally and physically on multiple cases by people enraged with being searched.”

9. Did you feel like you were harassing people when you did your job?

“Yes, I felt like I was invading the personal space of others but it was my job so I had to do it.”

10. How did your fellow workers see the job?

“I remember my friend David Johnson quit because he didn't feel right doing the job.”

A airport security guard watching a scanner. Source

This interview proves my point. Even a former airport security guard admits that he felt uncomfortable doing the job. This is proved when he says ¨I felt like I was invading the personal space of others but it was my job so I had to do it.¨ This shows that even airport security guards did not love their job. They did it because they had to. Now I am thinking about spreading the word about airport security. I will make posters/flyers and pass them out to people. On these flyers I will explain why airport security guards have too much power and I will use the former airport security guard to back me up. I will pass out the flyers in public places such as school and maybe give them to random people I see.

I continued my research and found this article. This article shows how big the problem is. It also shows that there are other people fighting the problem besides me. I believe that if I pass out the flyers that I can make a show more people how big the problem is. I believe that if people can realize how big the problem is, then we can take the next step of making a change.

Christian McCormac

Ms. Giknis

Blog Post #1 (X Band)

24, April 2015

Airport Security

Planes are a form of transportation that is very popular. This has led to security having to be enforced on planes in order to keep the passengers safe. But, sometimes safety goes too far. Sometimes those that are supposed to protect you are the ones that make you feel unsafe. The topic that I am talking about is Airport Security. Since Airports are a very big and populated space it is only right for their to be security. But security is too much at times. There should be less security for the main fact that it is a invasion of privacy. No person has the right to pat you down and scan your body. The whole point in wearing clothes to provide privacy, so therefore by patting someone down they no longer have any sense of privacy and it is as if they are not wearing clothes. Then you have body scanners. These scanners can make it seem as though the person being scanned is naked. Therefore the person being scanned has absolutely no sense of privacy anymore. The guard that you have never met before has seen you naked.

A airport security guard.

There are better methods that are more efficient. For example metal detectors. They can be used to detect any form of metal. Since metal is a thing that is found in most weapons it will be a very smart move to install extremely strong metal detectors. Now for the dangerous objects that are made out of materials such as plastic you can use dogs. You see since dogs are able to detect drugs then with the proper training they should be able to detect any dangerous chemical found in dangerous objects. A dog simply sniffing a person is much less invading then scanners that allow you to see people like they are naked. A dog simply sniffing a person is much more comfortable than a person thoroughly patting down another person. By patting someone down your are invading their privacy and feeling them. By a dog simply smelling someone they don’t even have to make physical contact with them. The dogs just have to be close enough that they can smell the dangerous chemicals. Another method is having a machine that only detects dangerous threats. This machine will scan the person but instead of giving the viewer a naked view of the person they will simply only see the dangerous chemicals. This method shows no invasion of privacy whatsoever and keeps all people at the airport safe.

People getting patted down.
The reason why I feel so strongly about this topic is that it has happened to me before. I have gone through a body scanner that made me feel shameful afterwards because the guards had then seen what my clothes hided. This experience has made me very passionate about airports being able to keep passengers safe without having to technically harass them. Therefore I want to educate the public on the belief that we should not be forced to go through harassing security measurements.