Finding inspiration in small town Connecticut.
Rows of residential neighborhoods and never ending streets of commercial plazas define the small town of Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Although some would describe it as a mundane city just like any other, my best friend, Cho, and I found inspiration within the monotony of everyday life. What might appear at first like a typical small town filled with long stretches of grassland interspersed with identical shops and businesses soon became the inspiration for all our adventures. From frolicking in the fields of the energy plant behind her house to getting chased around the local grocery store by its cow mascot, we found our love of filming and storytelling through exploring this small city. As we roamed Rocky Hill’s familiar streets, its ordinary scenery gave way to unique experiences.
Each short film we made acted as a window into the city’s beauty, reflecting our perspective of each setting. The first film in the series was recorded in Bushnell park, a small park about 15 minutes from Cho’s house. We would frequently loiter in the parks of Rocky Hill, relaxing under the park’s trees and feeding the town ducks. Our film for the park reflected its dreamy quality, how it became a space of wonder and escapism to flee the stresses of our daily lives.
The second film was recorded in various locations throughout the town, including the streets that we would frequently drive past, the parking lot of the local supermarket, and the backyard of Cho’s house. The editing style was meant to reflect the stress and excitement that we experienced within the seemingly insignificant city. Although Rocky Hill might seem like a town like any other, the paths we took and places we frequented every day contributed to its uniqueness.
The fourth and final film of the series was recorded at the grassy hill of the energy plant behind Cho’s house. The expansive meadow that surrounded the energy plant inspired us to frolic in its lush greenery and awe inspiring views. We would often roll around in the grass and watch the cars of the neighboring streets go by late into the night.
Each element of Rocky Hill that we recorded was just a small window into its expansive beauty. Spending my time in the city shaped my perspective as a storyteller, imagining ways to document my views of the city. Rocky Hill was more than a backdrop for our escapades, it inspired us to seek excitement in the mundane and fostered my love of small cities.
Note: I don't know why the quality of the first clip is so bad. It's in the same format as the others and I've tried re-uploading it, but it just won't upload properly. Also, I didn't include the third film in the series because it was of my house and I didn't want to dox myself :)