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William at 22
In 2022, I had to prepare my master’s graduation project. Initially, I envisioned a story about my scuba diving experiences. However, I was too nervous to pass the scuba diving exam. As time passed into the second half of 2022, other students had already completed parts of their graduation projects, with some gathering a lot of material over the summer, while I was still at a loss. During meetings, I could only pitch vague concepts, which made me very anxious.
I even reached out to a Burmese man who lived in the same building. His dorm was above mine, and we shared a communal kitchen, so we met every day while cooking. We got to know each other, and I learned that he was a refugee from Myanmar and a priest back home, now studying in the United States. I invited him to be the participant of my documentary. Initially, he was excited and agreed, so I promptly informed my professor. However, two days later, he asked to meet and told me that after discussing with his family, they decided it was too risky for him to participate. I was extremely disappointed and fell into a state of anxiety, worrying that I might not graduate on time.
I realized that aimlessly searching for a participant was futile. It would be better to reach out to Chinese students at Northwestern University. This approach had two advantages: we shared a common cultural background, making communication easier, and students generally had fewer concerns. This strategy stemmed from my experience during the first quarter when I filmed the "Mock Trial" organization at Northwestern and maintained a good filming relationship with a student from Hong Kong. I believe building trust with the participant is the hardest part of making a documentary, and finding compatriots can be a shortcut.
Under time pressure, I started reaching out to any Chinese friends I could contact, operating in a state of "I'll film anyone who agrees." A Chinese classmate named Ian, who was in my NFT course group, came to mind. Initially, I wanted to film Ian's story, but he declined, saying he didn’t want to be on camera. I asked if he could introduce me to other Chinese friends, and he mentioned Derrick. Ian also talked about Derrick’s roommate, who he found very amusing and often "said outrageous things." Ian showed me a video of a chubby boy with black-rimmed glasses sharing his views on a variety show. When he mentioned being unsatisfied with his high TOEFL score because other Chinese students scored higher, Ian scoffed. He said he hadn't met this student personally but heard that he often exaggerated things and found his videos comedic. My intuition told me this was the participant I had been looking for. Since Ian could help me meet Derrick, I immediately arranged a dinner with Derrick to learn more.
During dinner, I learned that Derrick was a senior studying cryptocurrency and living a typical student life. I cautiously inquired about his roommate, and Derrick described him as someone who loves to joke, has appeared on several variety shows, and has a lot to say. This only confirmed my interest. When I expressed my desire to meet his roommate, Derrick readily agreed, and we arranged a dinner together.
I remember rushing to the restaurant right after class. As soon as I entered, I saw Derrick's roommate already seated. We exchanged greetings and introduced ourselves. His surname was Feng, English name William, a 22-year-old senior majoring in Economics at Northwestern, preparing for his master's applications. Initially, he was more reserved than I expected, which worried me a bit. However, my concerns proved unnecessary as our conversation flowed smoothly, and he agreed to be filmed. It felt like grabbing a lifeline, and I was finally able to start my graduation project. Thus began the journey of William and me.