Graduate video profile: Juliana Lane
Screenwriters often use their own life experiences as inspiration — a method East Carolina University senior Juliana Lane, a film and video production major in the School of Art and Design, implemented with “Paranoid Insomniac.”
The Hampstead native received an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity award this spring, her final semester at ECU, to produce the film, which is based largely on events in her life. Lane was one of 32 winners of the URCA award, which provides support for faculty-mentored research and creative projects led by undergraduates in various disciplines.
URCA winners are awarded between $1,500 and $2,000 to work on their projects, and Lane used the funds to pay for expenses like props, equipment and actor pay.
“Paranoid Insomniac” is the story of a girl who begins abusing a medication prescribed to her for insomnia, Lane said. Her hope is that the film allows an inside look at “what it’s like to be trapped inside of your mind,” experiencing hallucinations and hearing and seeing things that aren’t there. The underlying message, she said, is to be cautious with medications and their side effects and to avoid abusing drugs.
Lane screened “Paranoid Insomniac” on May 2, the day before she is set to graduate from ECU, and plans to release the film on social media shortly after.
“I would definitely like this to be an example of what I can do, what I learned at ECU,” she said. Lane wrote the script and directed the film.
Throughout her time at ECU, Lane has worked as an equipment specialist in the School of Art and Design film equipment room, and she has been on the dean’s list. Her dream job is to work as a team member or creative producer for Adult Swim in Atlanta.
A video still from “Paranoid Insomniac” features hallucinations the main character experiences.