Documentary Research/Planning

After viewing the documentaries, it was time to research the company sponsoring the project, NexTrex, and its purpose. Nextrex is a recycling company that collects plastic and converts it into environmentally responsible outdoor furniture. They have several drop-off locations around the U.S. and have partnered with other organizations such as The Rotary Club of Weston to get more plastic collection. Recycle Beyond the Bag is a project that helps NexTrex collect more plastic by having cardboard boxes in schools where kids can throw away their uncontaminated plastic trash. This project makes the plastic recycling process significantly easier for the younger generation because instead of going to a drop-off location, they can just throw it out on their way out of class, eventually increasing the amount of plastic collected by NexTrex.

Next, we thought about what specifically we wanted to make our film about and how we would approach it. After brainstorming, we decided that since we had about a week and a half to make our documentary, it would be unrealistic to make it about the execution and completion of the project because that would take too long. We then figured we could make it about the initiation of a community-benefiting project and how the project can make a difference in the community. Here is our initial planning outline (was slightly tweaked later): 

-Indirect/ direct interview of Margarita introducing the project and explaining why it is important

-Indirect/ direct interview of Sofia explaining the origin of the project and process (in between all of the B-roll showing the process, there will be cutaways back to the interview with Sofia and extra b-roll of sticky note/whiteboard shots)

-Get a team together

-Ask Boswell

-Publicize flyer montage (creation, execution)

-Build Home Depot buying boxes, creating boxes

-3rd step is asking teachers, to put boxes in different classrooms

-Interviews with Margarita and Boswell come back to go in-depth further about the project

- Direct interview with Sofia comes back fully where we hear someone ask do you feel accomplished? She explains her answer with B-roll engaging the audience

Additionally, we talked to the sponsor and teacher advisor of Interact Club at Cypress Bay, Mr. Boswell. We informed him about our idea and asked him if he would be interested in being interviewed for our film. He agreed. We then contacted the Environmental Specialist at the Rotary Club of Weston, Margarita, via text to see if she would be able to meet for an in-person interview. At first, we were only going to be able to do a Zoom call, but we figured out a day when we could all meet at Cypress Bay and film her interview. We then wrote the interview questions for Sofia, Mr. Boswell, and Margarita. Here are some of the questions we asked:

-How can these projects make a difference in these local communities (the environment and the people)? (Margarita)

-How has it been seeing your students take this project and transform it into a reality? (Mr.Boswell)

-What were some obstacles you faced? (Sofia)

After the questions were written and we completed the planning, Sofia put a group together from the board members of the Interact club and asked them to help her initiate the project. We decided on the name "Impact" for our piece, to symbolize the potential influence a project like this could have on our local community. We were now ready to start the production process.