Introduction
For this project, our driving question was: “How do you creatively and truthfully portray a significant person, group, place, idea, or issue in the community?”
To answer this question, each student did a number of things: first, a research-based paper about the subject, and second, a final product that showcases what we learned. We all conducted interviews and online research to gather the information, and in the end, our goal was a product that exhibits narrative-style journalism.
For my project specifically, I created a documentary about my maternal grandfather, Tsoi Hinfuk (or Tsai Xianfu in Mandarin). Throughout my life, I had heard little tidbits about him here and there, but I was curious to learn his whole life story, because I knew he was a very courageous person. I feel very lucky that my project was so family-oriented, because I was still able to conduct my interviews as planned, even under shelter-in-place. So, I had the luxury of some extra time to complete my project. However, I don’t want that to take away from the fact that I used the extra time in a very focused way to get my animation done and with the quality of drawing that I would be satisfied with.
Animation
The animation process, in sum, was nightmarish. That is probably an overstatement, but all of the extra time that I thought I would have from not going to school was swallowed up by this project. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do a good job because I usually do that, but for this, especially so, because the subject is my grandpa and I want to respect him.
When we started this project in March by conducting our first interview, and we would base our animation around whatever audio we got from this first interview. I interviewed my mom, and I asked her to tell me everything she knew. She actually had a brief biography of him written by my grandma, and she translated it for me. However, I had to cut it to its bare-bones for the purpose of the animation.
During this project, I learned a lot. I learned a little bit about animation–I am now addicted to clipping masks–but the most important thing that I learned was time management. Because my goal for my animation was very ambitious, I had to really make sure that I could allot enough time towards this project. Because of this project, I started to use Google Calendar to try to fit this into my schedule, and I will probably continue using the calendar like this for a long time. This skill will take me very far.
My Final Animation
Magazine Article
This is the product of my English work and my essay. Since my project was focused on my grandpa and the values that his life story teaches, my essay does not have much in terms of research, but I did look a little bit into the history that gives my grandpa’s story more context. To create this article, I used Adobe InDesign.
Interviewee Bios
Louise Tsoi
This is my mom, Louise. She used to be a tax director at a public company, but for the past few years, she has been staying home to take care of my brother and me. I think she is very cool and hardworking, and I love her a lot.
Kit Wa Cheng
This is my grandma, my mom’s mom, Cheng Kitwa. Before she retired, she was a doctor in China and Hong Kong. Like my grandpa, she had a tough childhood. Her father was killed before she was born, and because of a respiratory issue that she has had since birth, a doctor told her that she would not live past 30. Clearly, she has beaten those odds. Now, she is still doing pretty well. I also love my grandma a lot.