1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:05,129 --> 00:00:08,039 NEWSCASTER: The coronavirus pandemic is bringing life 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 4 00:00:08,060 --> 00:00:10,220 in the United States to a grinding halt. 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,089 NEWSCASTER: Schools across the country are closed 6 00:00:13,109 --> 00:00:16,010 to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 7 00:00:16,030 --> 00:00:18,019 NEWSCASTER: Dark times call for bright spots. 8 00:00:18,039 --> 00:00:20,149 That's what Broadway star, Laura Benanti 9 00:00:20,170 --> 00:00:23,219 was hoping to accomplish when she posted this video. 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,179 This may seem silly but I know that a lot of high schools 11 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:29,140 were gonna have their musicals. 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,030 So, if you would like to sing a song 13 00:00:33,049 --> 00:00:36,179 that you are not going to get to sing now and tag me, 14 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,090 I wanna see you. 15 00:00:38,109 --> 00:00:40,020 That's me. 16 00:00:40,039 --> 00:00:43,219 Tired, freaked out, un-showered me. 17 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,049 When I posted that, I thought I'd get maybe 20, 25 responses. 18 00:00:48,070 --> 00:00:52,020 But Sunshine Songs quickly took on a life of its own. 19 00:00:52,210 --> 00:00:55,039 I got thousands of videos, 20 00:00:55,060 --> 00:01:00,030 each one more creative and inspiring than the next. 21 00:01:00,049 --> 00:01:02,070 JEFFREY: When Laura commented on my first video 22 00:01:02,090 --> 00:01:05,000 for Sunshine Songs, I freaked out. 23 00:01:05,019 --> 00:01:07,099 LAURA: These kids were using their love of music 24 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,129 to connect with each other, 25 00:01:09,150 --> 00:01:11,019 to connect with us, 26 00:01:11,039 --> 00:01:13,170 and in many cases, themselves. 27 00:01:13,189 --> 00:01:15,069 MAN: This turned into what she calls 28 00:01:15,090 --> 00:01:17,030 the world's biggest musical. 29 00:01:17,049 --> 00:01:20,019 Even Tony Award winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda, tweeted, 30 00:01:20,039 --> 00:01:22,099 "I'm watching too." 31 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,189 LAURA: I was so blown away by these young people 32 00:01:25,210 --> 00:01:28,210 that I decided to take it one step further. 33 00:01:28,230 --> 00:01:30,159 For the final documentary, 34 00:01:30,180 --> 00:01:33,180 we have to narrow it down to seven kids. 35 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,210 And so, we just wanted to know 36 00:01:35,229 --> 00:01:38,170 if you would be one of those seven. [laughs] 37 00:01:38,189 --> 00:01:40,210 - Are you serious? - LAURA: Yeah. 38 00:01:40,229 --> 00:01:42,200 I'm telling you, you are officially in. 39 00:01:42,219 --> 00:01:44,200 - Oh. Oh. - [Laura laughs] 40 00:01:44,219 --> 00:01:46,200 Yes, yes. A million times, yes. 41 00:01:46,219 --> 00:01:48,129 Oh, my gosh. All right. 42 00:01:48,150 --> 00:01:50,140 LAURA: The seven young people you're about to meet 43 00:01:50,159 --> 00:01:53,109 represent the thousands of graduated seniors 44 00:01:53,129 --> 00:01:56,170 who raised their voices during this unprecedented time. 45 00:01:56,189 --> 00:01:58,150 I love this project so much. 46 00:01:58,170 --> 00:02:02,109 - My heart is gonna... - [Laura laughs] 47 00:02:02,129 --> 00:02:04,000 Are we rolling in there? 48 00:02:04,019 --> 00:02:05,180 LAURA: They've each selected a song 49 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,129 and crafted a musical performance 50 00:02:07,150 --> 00:02:10,009 to reflect their 2020 experience. 51 00:02:10,030 --> 00:02:12,030 They filmed themselves remotely 52 00:02:12,050 --> 00:02:14,050 with the help of their family and friends 53 00:02:14,069 --> 00:02:16,120 in a COVID-responsible way, of course. 54 00:02:16,139 --> 00:02:20,129 These kids have brought me so much joy during this time. 55 00:02:20,150 --> 00:02:22,050 It's my honor to introduce 56 00:02:22,069 --> 00:02:25,199 Homeschool Musical Class of 2020. 57 00:02:25,219 --> 00:02:29,020 [music] 58 00:02:55,180 --> 00:02:57,079 Hi. 59 00:02:58,069 --> 00:02:59,099 Hey. 60 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,050 Friends. 61 00:03:02,199 --> 00:03:03,229 Okay. 62 00:03:04,009 --> 00:03:06,009 So considering... 63 00:03:06,030 --> 00:03:09,080 everything that your generation has been through 64 00:03:09,099 --> 00:03:12,219 over from birth through all of this, 65 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,060 how do you feel like, in some ways, 66 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,139 that's helped mold who you are today? 67 00:03:18,159 --> 00:03:22,020 I feel like growing up alongside the internet 68 00:03:22,039 --> 00:03:25,120 as it became more and more accessible to all of us 69 00:03:25,139 --> 00:03:29,199 has made us a much more conscious generation 70 00:03:29,219 --> 00:03:31,129 than previous generations. 71 00:03:31,150 --> 00:03:33,180 When COVID hit, everything closed. 72 00:03:33,199 --> 00:03:35,090 All the theaters closed. 73 00:03:35,110 --> 00:03:37,180 ELIZABETH: I remember it was Friday the 13th, 74 00:03:37,199 --> 00:03:39,060 March 13th. 75 00:03:39,079 --> 00:03:41,180 So it's kind of creepy thinking about it now. 76 00:03:41,199 --> 00:03:45,139 All of our shows slowly one by one got canceled, 77 00:03:45,159 --> 00:03:47,000 taken away. 78 00:03:47,020 --> 00:03:48,159 FISCHER: And I remember at first I was like, 79 00:03:50,009 --> 00:03:51,090 "Whoa." 80 00:03:51,110 --> 00:03:53,150 ANNIE: I think I was just scared for the world 81 00:03:53,170 --> 00:03:55,229 and our communities and our families and friends 82 00:03:56,009 --> 00:03:57,219 and their safety and health. 83 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,039 ISAIAH: My mom and sister are both nurses and 84 00:04:00,060 --> 00:04:01,139 living with people who are, like, 85 00:04:01,159 --> 00:04:04,080 working around COVID-19 was scary 86 00:04:04,099 --> 00:04:06,139 because it was getting worse. 87 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:08,099 JOSEPH: There were a number of days 88 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,039 that I'd really just spent entirely in my room. 89 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:13,180 It kind of sucked. 90 00:04:13,199 --> 00:04:18,040 But my perspective of the world has grown so much. 91 00:04:18,060 --> 00:04:21,129 I wanna do everything that I can to make the world a better place 92 00:04:21,149 --> 00:04:23,230 and make some cool art while I'm doing it. 93 00:04:24,009 --> 00:04:26,120 [music] 94 00:04:26,139 --> 00:04:28,209 JOSEPH: With a number of friends from my high school, 95 00:04:28,230 --> 00:04:32,220 we banded together and started the West Orange Youth Caucus. 96 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,199 The main goal for the youth caucus 97 00:04:34,220 --> 00:04:38,220 is to give young people a space to discuss 98 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,050 what they are seeing happening politically in the country 99 00:04:42,069 --> 00:04:45,050 and discuss what we think needs to happen. 100 00:04:45,069 --> 00:04:47,040 So we drafted a list of demands. 101 00:04:47,060 --> 00:04:49,040 We scheduled a big protest rally 102 00:04:49,060 --> 00:04:52,019 on the front steps of our town's town hall. 103 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,129 And we publicized the heck out of it on social media. 104 00:04:56,149 --> 00:04:58,189 We got 3,000 people to come out. 105 00:04:58,209 --> 00:05:02,180 And we ended up with 8,000 signatures on our petition 106 00:05:02,199 --> 00:05:04,160 and we presented it to the mayor of our town, 107 00:05:04,180 --> 00:05:07,160 asking for more accountability in policing 108 00:05:07,180 --> 00:05:10,040 and to ensure transparency 109 00:05:10,060 --> 00:05:12,129 to ban the use of chokeholds in arrests, 110 00:05:12,149 --> 00:05:15,230 ban the use of rubber bullets and teargas on crowds, 111 00:05:16,009 --> 00:05:18,170 to require by ordinance a body cam 112 00:05:18,189 --> 00:05:21,189 on all active duty police officers in West Orange 113 00:05:21,209 --> 00:05:23,050 while they're on duty. 114 00:05:23,069 --> 00:05:25,050 Almost everything that we demanded 115 00:05:25,069 --> 00:05:28,110 ended up being passed by our town council. 116 00:05:28,129 --> 00:05:29,129 MAN: - 117 00:05:29,149 --> 00:05:31,040 PROTESTORS: - 118 00:05:31,060 --> 00:05:34,129 JOSEPH: I think ultimately, I am feeling hopeful. 119 00:05:34,149 --> 00:05:36,129 I am feeling optimistic 120 00:05:36,149 --> 00:05:42,009 because I know that so many people... 121 00:05:42,029 --> 00:05:45,029 in my generation are thinking proactively too. 122 00:05:45,050 --> 00:05:47,209 I know that so many people are committed 123 00:05:47,230 --> 00:05:50,050 to trying to make the world better 124 00:05:50,069 --> 00:05:52,189 in the ways that we know it needs to be better. 125 00:05:52,209 --> 00:05:55,139 And because of the intense circumstances 126 00:05:55,159 --> 00:05:59,139 that we're living in right now with the pandemic, 127 00:05:59,159 --> 00:06:01,060 I don't think that we have a choice 128 00:06:01,079 --> 00:06:04,089 but to make the changes that we know we need. 129 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,160 It's the end of the world... 130 00:06:09,139 --> 00:06:11,230 - and we do know it. - Yeah. 131 00:06:12,009 --> 00:06:13,139 I don't know how fine I feel, 132 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,069 but that's how I'm trying to feel. 133 00:06:15,089 --> 00:06:17,000 I think the message in the song is pretty clear 134 00:06:17,019 --> 00:06:20,029 and R.E.M.'s orchestration of it, like, 135 00:06:20,050 --> 00:06:22,029 everything about it, I feel like so perfectly 136 00:06:22,050 --> 00:06:24,019 - encapsulates the theme. - Uh-hmm. 137 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,100 And it is--it's vibes that were being felt 138 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:27,220 when the song was recorded 139 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,060 and it's vibes that continue to be felt today. 140 00:06:32,159 --> 00:06:36,029 ♪ That's great, it starts with an earthquake ♪ 141 00:06:36,050 --> 00:06:38,110 ♪ Birds and snakes, and aeroplanes ♪ 142 00:06:38,129 --> 00:06:41,220 ♪ And Lenny Bruce is not afraid ♪ 143 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,120 ♪ Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn ♪ 144 00:06:44,139 --> 00:06:45,220 ♪ World serves its own needs ♪ 145 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,149 ♪ Don't mis-serve your own needs ♪ 146 00:06:47,170 --> 00:06:49,129 ♪ Speed it up a notch, speed, grunt, no, strength ♪ 147 00:06:49,149 --> 00:06:51,069 ♪ The ladder starts to clatter with a fear of height ♪ 148 00:06:51,090 --> 00:06:52,170 ♪ Down, height, wire in a fire ♪ 149 00:06:52,189 --> 00:06:54,090 ♪ Represent the seven games ♪ 150 00:06:54,110 --> 00:06:56,110 ♪ And a government for hire and a combat site ♪ 151 00:06:56,129 --> 00:06:58,040 ♪ Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry ♪ 152 00:06:58,060 --> 00:07:01,050 ♪ With the Furies breathing down your neck ♪ 153 00:07:01,069 --> 00:07:02,180 ♪ Team by team, reporters baffled ♪ 154 00:07:02,199 --> 00:07:04,050 ♪ Trumped, tethered, cropped ♪ 155 00:07:04,069 --> 00:07:06,040 ♪ Look at that low plane, fine, then ♪ 156 00:07:06,060 --> 00:07:08,089 ♪ Uh-oh, overflow, population, common group ♪ 157 00:07:08,110 --> 00:07:10,100 ♪ But it'll do, save yourself, serve yourself ♪ 158 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,189 ♪ World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed ♪ 159 00:07:12,209 --> 00:07:14,079 ♪ Tell me with the Rapture ♪ 160 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:16,040 ♪ And the reverent in the right, right ♪ 161 00:07:16,060 --> 00:07:18,040 ♪ You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light ♪ 162 00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:19,199 ♪ Feeling pretty psyched ♪ 163 00:07:19,220 --> 00:07:24,009 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 164 00:07:24,029 --> 00:07:29,009 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 165 00:07:29,029 --> 00:07:33,139 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 166 00:07:33,159 --> 00:07:38,029 ♪ And I feel fine ♪ 167 00:07:39,189 --> 00:07:42,009 My generation was born... 168 00:07:42,029 --> 00:07:44,209 on and soon after 9/11. 169 00:07:44,230 --> 00:07:48,139 We are the 9/11 babies, this whole class of 2020. 170 00:07:48,159 --> 00:07:51,069 Global pandemic, climate crisis, 171 00:07:51,090 --> 00:07:52,209 mass shootings, 172 00:07:52,230 --> 00:07:55,069 people lose their jobs, lose their homes. 173 00:07:55,090 --> 00:07:58,019 But we can use our collective bargaining power 174 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,129 to send that message to our authority figures 175 00:08:01,149 --> 00:08:03,100 that something has to change. 176 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,199 ♪ The other night I drifted nice continental drift divide ♪ 177 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:08,079 ♪ Mountains sit in a line, Leonard Bernstein ♪ 178 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:10,129 ♪ Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs ♪ 179 00:08:10,149 --> 00:08:13,000 ♪ Birthday party, cheesecake, jellybean, boom ♪ 180 00:08:13,019 --> 00:08:16,060 ♪ You symbiotic, patriotic, slam but neck, right? ♪ 181 00:08:16,079 --> 00:08:17,170 ♪ Right ♪ 182 00:08:17,189 --> 00:08:21,120 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 183 00:08:21,139 --> 00:08:26,199 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 184 00:08:26,220 --> 00:08:30,189 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 185 00:08:30,209 --> 00:08:35,110 ♪ And I feel fine ♪ 186 00:08:36,059 --> 00:08:40,059 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 187 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:45,019 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 188 00:08:45,039 --> 00:08:49,139 ♪ It's the end of the world as we know it ♪ 189 00:08:49,159 --> 00:08:54,080 ♪ And I feel fine ♪ 190 00:08:56,179 --> 00:08:59,179 [rock music plays] 191 00:09:01,220 --> 00:09:03,230 Okay. So how was it being with your family, 192 00:09:04,009 --> 00:09:05,070 you spoke a little bit about it, 193 00:09:05,090 --> 00:09:06,230 - but during quarantine-- - Uh-hmm. 194 00:09:07,009 --> 00:09:09,059 --how was it being with them for, like, long periods of time? 195 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,029 Quarantine, there was a lot more together time 196 00:09:12,049 --> 00:09:14,230 that really reminded me of how it was growing up. 197 00:09:15,009 --> 00:09:18,110 I grew up surrounded by strong, powerful matriarchs. 198 00:09:18,129 --> 00:09:20,070 So I know the power of women of color. 199 00:09:20,090 --> 00:09:22,120 I know our versatility, our softness 200 00:09:22,139 --> 00:09:24,110 but also our strength. 201 00:09:24,129 --> 00:09:26,090 - I got it. - No, Annie, no. 202 00:09:26,110 --> 00:09:28,149 ANNIE: I'm the oldest of four kids. 203 00:09:28,169 --> 00:09:31,039 I have one brother and two younger sisters. 204 00:09:31,059 --> 00:09:33,230 We were very close before quarantine, but honestly, 205 00:09:34,009 --> 00:09:36,059 the time we spent together physically... 206 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:37,110 - Frenzy. - No! 207 00:09:37,129 --> 00:09:38,120 - DAD: Out. - [laughs] 208 00:09:38,139 --> 00:09:40,120 Brought us a lot closer. 209 00:09:40,139 --> 00:09:42,159 I was taking my family life for granted. 210 00:09:42,179 --> 00:09:44,080 I was taking, you know, 211 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:47,080 the support that I have from them for granted. 212 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:49,029 But this just made me realize 213 00:09:49,049 --> 00:09:51,039 these are my people, you know? 214 00:09:51,059 --> 00:09:53,179 These are the people that are gonna have my back 215 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,139 no matter what, that are gonna support me 110%, 216 00:09:57,159 --> 00:10:00,070 that will love me even if we fight. 217 00:10:00,090 --> 00:10:02,200 These are the people that you have to hold you 218 00:10:02,220 --> 00:10:05,080 when you cry and... 219 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:07,070 that you'll hold when they cry. 220 00:10:07,090 --> 00:10:10,179 [music] 221 00:10:14,019 --> 00:10:16,090 ELIZABETH: I come from a family of five 222 00:10:16,110 --> 00:10:20,080 and I live with my two sisters and my parents. 223 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:22,190 How much longer on these-- on these corns? 224 00:10:22,210 --> 00:10:24,120 MAN: They're probably already done. 225 00:10:24,139 --> 00:10:27,149 ELIZABETH: My parents own their own business 226 00:10:27,169 --> 00:10:29,210 called the Market General Store. 227 00:10:29,230 --> 00:10:34,080 Working there has been a blast. 228 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:36,169 A year ago, my plans for college 229 00:10:36,190 --> 00:10:40,049 were to apply to all the art schools 230 00:10:40,070 --> 00:10:44,059 I had deemed fit to study opera 231 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,049 and maybe musical theater. 232 00:10:46,070 --> 00:10:48,139 I had gone into the school of my dreams 233 00:10:48,159 --> 00:10:51,129 and I was so excited 234 00:10:51,149 --> 00:10:54,139 to finally live out this dream that I had been planning 235 00:10:54,159 --> 00:10:57,090 since I was a freshman in high school. 236 00:10:57,110 --> 00:10:59,029 [music] 237 00:10:59,049 --> 00:11:03,159 ELIZABETH: Towards March, things started to change. 238 00:11:03,179 --> 00:11:05,039 The city told us, 239 00:11:05,059 --> 00:11:06,230 "You guys have to close the store 240 00:11:07,009 --> 00:11:10,070 because of this pandemic." 241 00:11:10,090 --> 00:11:15,070 This means that there's no money coming in at all. 242 00:11:15,090 --> 00:11:18,009 We most definitely pinched pennies. 243 00:11:18,029 --> 00:11:22,039 We started getting back the financial aid packets 244 00:11:22,059 --> 00:11:24,149 and it really wasn't enough. 245 00:11:24,169 --> 00:11:28,139 We couldn't pay the big tuition bill. 246 00:11:28,159 --> 00:11:33,009 And it hit me that I probably 247 00:11:33,029 --> 00:11:36,080 wouldn't be able to go to college this year. 248 00:11:36,100 --> 00:11:39,080 And the idea of deferment came up. 249 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:42,120 [music] 250 00:11:46,110 --> 00:11:50,070 ELIZABETH: I learned that my school 251 00:11:50,090 --> 00:11:51,220 was going to be so gracious 252 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,179 and keep my two scholarships that I had gotten, 253 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,120 plus my double major. 254 00:11:56,139 --> 00:11:59,220 And I decided that this is a year 255 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,149 that I could take to grow my voice 256 00:12:02,169 --> 00:12:04,200 and mature as a person. 257 00:12:04,220 --> 00:12:07,080 It's going to be nothing but growth. 258 00:12:07,100 --> 00:12:12,080 I hope that I can find success in my craft, 259 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:14,230 this thing that I put so much work into, 260 00:12:15,009 --> 00:12:17,000 that I pour my heart into, 261 00:12:17,019 --> 00:12:21,139 that I can hopefully open doors for girls that look like me. 262 00:12:21,159 --> 00:12:25,090 "West Side Story" is one of my favorite musicals ever. 263 00:12:25,110 --> 00:12:28,070 And it's a dream to play Maria. 264 00:12:28,090 --> 00:12:30,070 I think it's just a beautiful song. 265 00:12:30,090 --> 00:12:33,139 I feel like in the world that we are living in, 266 00:12:33,159 --> 00:12:37,000 there's a lot of crazy and a lot of unrest. 267 00:12:37,220 --> 00:12:41,220 And what we need now more than anything is peace 268 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,049 and quiet and hope. 269 00:12:45,070 --> 00:12:48,120 There is--there is a driving hope in this song, 270 00:12:48,139 --> 00:12:52,019 a hope that there is a place for all of us. 271 00:12:55,090 --> 00:12:58,139 [dramatic music plays] 272 00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:11,059 ♪ There's a place ♪ 273 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,220 ♪ For us ♪ 274 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,220 ♪ Somewhere a place for us ♪ 275 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,190 ♪ Peace and quiet ♪ 276 00:13:21,210 --> 00:13:25,009 ♪ And open air ♪ 277 00:13:25,029 --> 00:13:28,120 ♪ Wait for us ♪ 278 00:13:28,139 --> 00:13:31,029 ♪ Somewhere ♪ 279 00:13:31,049 --> 00:13:34,100 [singing in Spanish] 280 00:14:52,220 --> 00:14:57,220 My family was totally supportive about my dreams and my goals. 281 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,039 I think they saw something special in me. 282 00:15:00,059 --> 00:15:03,120 They were just very... 283 00:15:03,139 --> 00:15:05,070 "You can do this. We believe in you. 284 00:15:05,090 --> 00:15:06,210 We know you got this. 285 00:15:06,230 --> 00:15:10,049 Go fly. Go do your thing." 286 00:15:10,070 --> 00:15:14,080 ♪ There's a place ♪ 287 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:16,190 ♪ For us ♪ 288 00:15:16,210 --> 00:15:22,039 ♪ A time and place for us ♪ 289 00:15:22,059 --> 00:15:24,029 ♪ Hold my hand ♪ 290 00:15:24,049 --> 00:15:28,039 ♪ And we're halfway there ♪ 291 00:15:28,059 --> 00:15:30,039 ♪ Hold my hand ♪ 292 00:15:30,059 --> 00:15:34,039 ♪ And I'll take you there ♪ 293 00:15:34,059 --> 00:15:37,049 ♪ Somehow ♪ 294 00:15:37,070 --> 00:15:40,019 ♪ Someday ♪ 295 00:15:40,039 --> 00:15:46,090 ♪ Somewhere ♪ 296 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,200 How do you feel that theater and music 297 00:15:54,220 --> 00:15:57,059 has influenced you.. 298 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,039 as a person? 299 00:15:59,059 --> 00:16:01,049 JOSEPH: Whenever I'd play in new character, 300 00:16:01,070 --> 00:16:04,120 the overlaps between my own personal character 301 00:16:04,139 --> 00:16:08,159 and all of the quirks and traits that the character has, 302 00:16:08,179 --> 00:16:10,090 especially the flaws, 303 00:16:10,110 --> 00:16:14,049 end up becoming tools that I can use to better myself. 304 00:16:14,070 --> 00:16:17,129 I think the most powerful voice I have is through my music, 305 00:16:17,149 --> 00:16:19,049 like I love musical theater, 306 00:16:19,070 --> 00:16:22,230 I love singing, I love acting, and I love dancing. 307 00:16:23,009 --> 00:16:25,129 I'm not that great at it but I've gotten better. 308 00:16:25,149 --> 00:16:30,220 Theater is always trying to reflect onto us 309 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,090 and to kind of like show us our world as it really is. 310 00:16:34,110 --> 00:16:36,159 We all go through things from day to day 311 00:16:36,179 --> 00:16:38,110 and art is what's going to get us through, 312 00:16:38,129 --> 00:16:40,039 it's what has got us through. 313 00:16:40,059 --> 00:16:42,059 Theater has always been a really big passion of mine 314 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,049 and what I love about it is that 315 00:16:45,070 --> 00:16:48,000 I get to be someone else for two hours 316 00:16:48,019 --> 00:16:49,179 or however long the show is. 317 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,159 And just stepping out into so many personalities, 318 00:16:51,179 --> 00:16:53,139 you get to live vicariously through them. 319 00:16:53,159 --> 00:16:56,029 I find it so liberating when you open on a stage door, 320 00:16:56,049 --> 00:16:57,210 it's a whole different world. 321 00:16:57,230 --> 00:16:59,120 You're not thinking about any of the bad things 322 00:16:59,139 --> 00:17:01,159 or thinking about your show that you have to do, 323 00:17:01,179 --> 00:17:03,070 and you love doing it. 324 00:17:07,009 --> 00:17:09,130 Becoming a senior is a very monumental moment 325 00:17:09,150 --> 00:17:11,099 in anyone's high school career. 326 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,049 Because you're the top of the food chain. 327 00:17:15,069 --> 00:17:18,039 I was waiting for all the perks that a senior gets 328 00:17:18,059 --> 00:17:19,210 and I'm so ready and excited for it 329 00:17:19,230 --> 00:17:23,130 and then that changed very quickly. 330 00:17:24,130 --> 00:17:29,029 One day I was waiting for my mom to pick me up after rehearsal 331 00:17:29,049 --> 00:17:34,069 and she's never really "late" late, 332 00:17:34,089 --> 00:17:35,230 so I kept calling and, like texting, 333 00:17:36,009 --> 00:17:37,150 she was never answering. 334 00:17:37,170 --> 00:17:39,190 And then one time she did call me, 335 00:17:39,210 --> 00:17:45,119 she was like, "Hey, we don't have a house," 336 00:17:45,140 --> 00:17:47,029 and I was like, 337 00:17:47,049 --> 00:17:48,160 "Like, what do you mean we don't have a house, 338 00:17:48,180 --> 00:17:51,000 like, I was just there this morning?" 339 00:17:51,019 --> 00:17:53,119 I got to my house at the time 340 00:17:53,140 --> 00:17:56,190 and I just saw a lot of our stuff outside 341 00:17:56,210 --> 00:18:00,029 and I was just like-- 342 00:18:00,049 --> 00:18:02,029 my mom was like, "If you see something that's, like, 343 00:18:02,049 --> 00:18:04,049 important to you or of value, take it 344 00:18:04,069 --> 00:18:05,200 because we might not come back to it. 345 00:18:05,220 --> 00:18:08,140 And I was like, "Okay." 346 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,150 And so I just grabbed a lot of things. 347 00:18:11,170 --> 00:18:14,009 That night, I went to a hotel with my mom 348 00:18:14,029 --> 00:18:16,059 and my sister and my two dogs. 349 00:18:16,079 --> 00:18:17,160 I knew nothing. I was in the blue, 350 00:18:17,180 --> 00:18:20,180 like I had no idea about anything. 351 00:18:21,140 --> 00:18:23,049 It was very challenging for me 352 00:18:23,069 --> 00:18:25,099 but everyone outside did not know anything. 353 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,160 As a senior, it's like your moments with your friends. 354 00:18:28,180 --> 00:18:30,059 And, like, I just got in the show. 355 00:18:30,079 --> 00:18:31,150 My first time to ever lead a role, 356 00:18:31,170 --> 00:18:33,150 playing Pinocchio. 357 00:18:33,170 --> 00:18:35,109 I would, like, go through the day all kind of sad 358 00:18:35,130 --> 00:18:37,200 because I was thinking about my life at home, 359 00:18:37,220 --> 00:18:39,079 but I would walk into a stage door 360 00:18:39,099 --> 00:18:40,220 and I would shift. 361 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,130 I would be ready to work. 362 00:18:42,150 --> 00:18:45,000 I would still have the thought in my head 363 00:18:45,019 --> 00:18:47,019 but at a certain point of rehearsal, 364 00:18:47,039 --> 00:18:49,200 I would just take a moment, 365 00:18:49,220 --> 00:18:51,130 shut all the doubt in my head, 366 00:18:51,150 --> 00:18:53,089 just like, "You're fine, 367 00:18:53,109 --> 00:18:55,130 you got it, don't worry about it," 368 00:18:55,150 --> 00:18:57,009 and then I would look back up 369 00:18:57,029 --> 00:18:58,180 and I would just go through my rehearsal 370 00:18:58,200 --> 00:18:59,200 like nothing ever happened. 371 00:18:59,220 --> 00:19:02,009 WOMEN: Six, seven, eight. 372 00:19:03,109 --> 00:19:05,150 [cheers] 373 00:19:05,170 --> 00:19:07,069 "I will survive" really-- 374 00:19:07,089 --> 00:19:08,180 it really reflects on my year 375 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,089 because it's just like, so much happened. 376 00:19:12,109 --> 00:19:14,000 I went through the mud, I went through the grass, 377 00:19:14,019 --> 00:19:15,210 the tornado, the ocean, and the desert, 378 00:19:15,230 --> 00:19:17,180 the tundra, every biome in the planet 379 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:23,019 and yet I'm talking to one of my idols, hello. 380 00:19:23,039 --> 00:19:24,170 Like, I came out on top. 381 00:19:24,190 --> 00:19:27,170 Like at the end of the day, like, it's my theme song, 382 00:19:27,190 --> 00:19:31,000 it's my anthem, I think it is my song, 383 00:19:31,019 --> 00:19:33,000 and that's that. 384 00:19:33,019 --> 00:19:36,069 [upbeat music plays] 385 00:19:39,079 --> 00:19:43,140 ♪ At first I was afraid, I was petrified ♪ 386 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,180 ♪ Kept thinking I could never live ♪ 387 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,140 ♪ Without you by my side ♪ 388 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,180 ♪ But then I spent so many nights ♪ 389 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:55,109 ♪ Thinking how you did me wrong but I grew strong ♪ 390 00:19:55,130 --> 00:19:57,140 ♪ And I learned how to get along ♪ 391 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:01,099 ♪ And so you're back from outer space ♪ 392 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,109 ♪ I just walked in to find you here ♪ 393 00:20:03,130 --> 00:20:05,140 ♪ With that sad look up on your face ♪ 394 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,089 ♪ I should have changed that stupid lock ♪ 395 00:20:07,109 --> 00:20:09,180 ♪ I should have made you leave your key ♪ 396 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,210 ♪ If I had known for just one second ♪ 397 00:20:11,230 --> 00:20:13,140 ♪ You'd be back to bother me ♪ 398 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,069 ♪ Go on now go ♪ 399 00:20:15,089 --> 00:20:17,130 ♪ Walk out the door ♪ 400 00:20:17,150 --> 00:20:19,190 ♪ Just turn around now ♪ 401 00:20:19,210 --> 00:20:22,109 ♪ 'cause you're not welcome anymore ♪ 402 00:20:22,130 --> 00:20:25,150 ♪ Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? ♪ 403 00:20:25,170 --> 00:20:27,150 ♪ You think I'd crumble? ♪ 404 00:20:27,170 --> 00:20:29,190 ♪ Did you think I'd lay down and die? ♪ 405 00:20:29,210 --> 00:20:31,150 ♪ Oh no, not I ♪ 406 00:20:31,170 --> 00:20:33,109 ♪ I will survive ♪ 407 00:20:33,130 --> 00:20:36,029 ♪ Oh, as long as I know how to love ♪ 408 00:20:36,049 --> 00:20:37,190 ♪ I know I'll stay alive ♪ 409 00:20:37,210 --> 00:20:39,160 ♪ And I've got all my life to live ♪ 410 00:20:39,180 --> 00:20:41,220 ♪ And I've got all my love to give ♪ 411 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,069 ♪ I'll survive ♪ 412 00:20:43,089 --> 00:20:46,160 ♪ I will survive, hey, hey ♪ 413 00:20:46,180 --> 00:20:48,119 And I would tell my 14-year-old self, 414 00:20:48,140 --> 00:20:51,019 "You are so much stronger and braver than you think you are 415 00:20:51,039 --> 00:20:54,200 and you have so much strength and resilience, and power, 416 00:20:54,220 --> 00:20:57,029 that you just don't know that because you're so young 417 00:20:57,049 --> 00:20:59,000 but when you get there, 418 00:20:59,019 --> 00:21:01,109 you'll get in control and you will love it." 419 00:21:01,180 --> 00:21:05,099 ♪ It took all the strength I had not to fall apart ♪ 420 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:09,099 ♪ Kept trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart ♪ 421 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:13,150 ♪ And I spent oh so many nights just feeling sorry for myself ♪ 422 00:21:13,170 --> 00:21:15,150 ♪ I used to cry ♪ 423 00:21:15,170 --> 00:21:17,119 ♪ But now I hold my head up high ♪ 424 00:21:17,140 --> 00:21:21,089 ♪ So you see me, somebody new ♪ 425 00:21:21,109 --> 00:21:25,119 ♪ I'm not that chained-up little person still in love with you ♪ 426 00:21:25,140 --> 00:21:27,130 ♪ And so you felt like dropping in ♪ 427 00:21:27,150 --> 00:21:29,109 ♪ And just expect me to be free ♪ 428 00:21:29,130 --> 00:21:31,160 ♪ Well, now I'm saving all my lovin' ♪ 429 00:21:31,180 --> 00:21:33,119 ♪ For someone who's loving me ♪ 430 00:21:33,140 --> 00:21:37,160 ♪ Go on now go, walk out the door ♪ 431 00:21:37,180 --> 00:21:39,130 ♪ Just turn around now ♪ 432 00:21:39,150 --> 00:21:42,089 ♪ 'Cause you're not welcome anymore ♪ 433 00:21:42,109 --> 00:21:45,130 ♪ Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? ♪ 434 00:21:45,150 --> 00:21:47,130 ♪ Did you think I'd crumble? ♪ 435 00:21:47,150 --> 00:21:49,140 ♪ Did you think I'd lay down and die? ♪ 436 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,170 ♪ Oh no, not I ♪ 437 00:21:51,190 --> 00:21:53,119 ♪ I will survive ♪ 438 00:21:53,140 --> 00:21:56,059 ♪ Oh, as long as I know how to love ♪ 439 00:21:56,079 --> 00:21:57,190 ♪ I know I'll stay alive ♪ 440 00:21:57,210 --> 00:21:59,150 ♪ And I've got all my life to live ♪ 441 00:21:59,170 --> 00:22:01,210 ♪ And I've got all my love to give ♪ 442 00:22:01,230 --> 00:22:03,140 ♪ I'll survive ♪ 443 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,210 ♪ I will survive ♪ 444 00:22:05,230 --> 00:22:07,069 ♪ I will survive ♪ 445 00:22:08,069 --> 00:22:10,170 How do you feel like that time when quarantine 446 00:22:10,190 --> 00:22:12,009 fostered your creativity 447 00:22:12,029 --> 00:22:14,049 and really what was that creativity? 448 00:22:14,069 --> 00:22:17,019 I think during that quarantine it was really-- 449 00:22:17,039 --> 00:22:20,160 it was more of a break, a brain break for myself. 450 00:22:20,180 --> 00:22:23,049 You know, like most of us everywhere, 451 00:22:23,069 --> 00:22:27,180 it's okay to have a brain break and just like not do anything. 452 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,089 When you have all this free time and you're allowed to creatively 453 00:22:31,109 --> 00:22:35,109 let yourself roam and explore what it is you want to do 454 00:22:35,130 --> 00:22:37,009 with the art that you make 455 00:22:37,029 --> 00:22:39,000 because everybody has the capacity to make art, 456 00:22:39,019 --> 00:22:40,130 everybody has the capacity to be-- 457 00:22:40,150 --> 00:22:42,029 to be creative if they so choose. 458 00:22:42,049 --> 00:22:45,039 Like Liz said, sometimes a brain break is good. 459 00:22:45,059 --> 00:22:47,099 I'm someone who likes to have things planned out, 460 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,069 I like to know what's coming next, 461 00:22:49,089 --> 00:22:54,130 and it was a big world-stopping moment of nothing's coming next. 462 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,069 I definitely thrive off of being around other people, 463 00:22:59,089 --> 00:23:01,000 I feed off of other people's energy. 464 00:23:01,019 --> 00:23:02,220 I think that most performers do. 465 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,150 And going from seeing all the people that I love so much 466 00:23:05,170 --> 00:23:07,180 that I choose to be around every day 467 00:23:08,150 --> 00:23:10,000 and not seeing them at all, 468 00:23:10,019 --> 00:23:13,220 just like cutting it cold turkey was hard for me. 469 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,079 In those moments, I just wanted to be in my room 470 00:23:16,099 --> 00:23:17,170 and not do anything, 471 00:23:17,190 --> 00:23:20,029 scroll through TikTok mindlessly. 472 00:23:20,049 --> 00:23:21,160 I was just like a wreck. 473 00:23:21,180 --> 00:23:22,200 I was not fun to be around. 474 00:23:22,220 --> 00:23:24,170 I was crying all the time. 475 00:23:24,190 --> 00:23:26,210 I didn't really wanna play the piano. 476 00:23:26,230 --> 00:23:28,079 And my mom kept telling me, 477 00:23:28,099 --> 00:23:29,230 "Music always makes you feel better." 478 00:23:30,009 --> 00:23:31,170 - You ready? - Yes. 479 00:23:31,190 --> 00:23:34,119 ANNIE: I started my littlest sister Josephine 480 00:23:34,140 --> 00:23:35,220 how to play piano. 481 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:37,150 It was nice to just share something 482 00:23:37,170 --> 00:23:40,200 that I love so much with her and see her love it. 483 00:23:42,019 --> 00:23:46,160 This is me writing a song-- um, ish. 484 00:23:46,180 --> 00:23:48,089 Trying to write a song. 485 00:23:48,109 --> 00:23:52,180 I was just feeling like I needed to put my feelings somewhere 486 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,099 and so I started playing music. 487 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:56,119 And it just became something for me 488 00:23:56,140 --> 00:24:00,079 to put my energy into that felt normal. 489 00:24:00,099 --> 00:24:04,160 ♪ And it all stops everything you know ♪ 490 00:24:04,180 --> 00:24:09,019 ♪ Everything you knew where time stands still ♪ 491 00:24:09,039 --> 00:24:12,079 The difference in what music I was writing before quarantine 492 00:24:12,099 --> 00:24:15,160 and what I wrote during quarantine was that, 493 00:24:15,180 --> 00:24:18,190 the significance of what it meant to me 494 00:24:18,210 --> 00:24:20,049 was way different. 495 00:24:21,099 --> 00:24:26,019 Music is a really powerful way to reach people and in my life, 496 00:24:26,039 --> 00:24:29,009 music has just meant such a natural thing for me to do 497 00:24:29,029 --> 00:24:31,049 that that just seems the most natural way for me 498 00:24:31,069 --> 00:24:34,170 to speak out and share 499 00:24:34,190 --> 00:24:37,180 what my feelings and beliefs are. 500 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,089 I think that quarantine is the first time 501 00:24:40,109 --> 00:24:46,079 that I ever sang just to, like, feel the music, you know? 502 00:24:46,099 --> 00:24:50,180 And I think that Sunshine Songs also motivated me to keep going. 503 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,029 I thank you for doing this. 504 00:24:52,049 --> 00:24:53,210 It just really warmed my heart. 505 00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:56,079 I love that I was reaching people 506 00:24:56,099 --> 00:25:00,170 in a time where people seems so, like, untouchable, you know? 507 00:25:02,029 --> 00:25:06,089 This song is me being so excited and eager for the future. 508 00:25:06,109 --> 00:25:08,059 I love my hometown and where I'm from, 509 00:25:08,079 --> 00:25:13,029 and so grateful for my roots, and I was so ready to leave 510 00:25:13,049 --> 00:25:14,160 and come to college, and meet new people, 511 00:25:14,180 --> 00:25:16,039 and learn new things, 512 00:25:16,059 --> 00:25:17,220 and be a part of a whole new environment. 513 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:23,039 And that song was me, like, realizing inside myself, 514 00:25:23,059 --> 00:25:25,140 "Oh, I can do this. Like this is my time. 515 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,059 This is now for me. 516 00:25:28,079 --> 00:25:32,029 ♪ I can't seem to focus ♪ 517 00:25:32,049 --> 00:25:35,210 ♪ And you don't seem to notice ♪ 518 00:25:35,230 --> 00:25:39,059 ♪ I'm not here ♪ 519 00:25:39,079 --> 00:25:44,089 ♪ I'm just a mirror ♪ 520 00:25:44,109 --> 00:25:48,069 ♪ You check your complexion ♪ 521 00:25:48,089 --> 00:25:49,230 ♪ To find ♪ 522 00:25:50,009 --> 00:25:54,200 ♪ Your reflection's all alone ♪ 523 00:25:55,190 --> 00:26:01,039 ♪ I had to go ♪ 524 00:26:01,059 --> 00:26:05,069 ♪ Can't you hear me? ♪ 525 00:26:05,089 --> 00:26:08,170 ♪ I'm not coming home ♪ 526 00:26:10,230 --> 00:26:14,109 ♪ Do you understand? ♪ 527 00:26:14,130 --> 00:26:18,160 ♪ I've changed my plans ♪ 528 00:26:19,140 --> 00:26:23,049 ♪ 'Cause I ♪ 529 00:26:23,069 --> 00:26:27,130 ♪ I'm in love ♪ 530 00:26:27,150 --> 00:26:30,230 ♪ With my future ♪ 531 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:37,140 ♪ Can't wait to meet her ♪ 532 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,079 ♪ And I ♪ 533 00:26:41,099 --> 00:26:45,200 ♪ I'm in love ♪ 534 00:26:45,220 --> 00:26:49,130 ♪ But not with anybody else ♪ 535 00:26:50,109 --> 00:26:55,160 ♪ Just wanna get to know myself ♪ 536 00:26:56,150 --> 00:26:59,089 ♪ I know supposedly I'm lonely now ♪ 537 00:26:59,109 --> 00:27:01,079 BACKUPSINGER: ♪ Lonely now ♪ 538 00:27:01,099 --> 00:27:07,069 ANNIE: ♪ Know I'm supposed to be unhappy without someone ♪ 539 00:27:08,069 --> 00:27:09,200 ♪ But aren't I someone? ♪ 540 00:27:09,220 --> 00:27:13,019 BACKUP SINGER: ♪ Aren't I someone? ♪ 541 00:27:13,039 --> 00:27:16,039 ANNIE: I'm excited to see where music takes me in life. 542 00:27:16,059 --> 00:27:18,119 It will be a part of my life always. 543 00:27:18,140 --> 00:27:21,059 And if I don't waver from the fact that 544 00:27:21,079 --> 00:27:22,160 that is what I want to do with my life 545 00:27:22,180 --> 00:27:24,099 and that is my dream, 546 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:28,009 I will live a very happy life and be happy wherever I am. 547 00:27:28,029 --> 00:27:31,190 ♪ And I ♪ 548 00:27:31,210 --> 00:27:36,029 ♪ I'm in love ♪ 549 00:27:36,049 --> 00:27:39,140 ♪ But not with anybody here ♪ 550 00:27:40,140 --> 00:27:46,220 ♪ I'll see you in a couple years ♪ 551 00:27:53,170 --> 00:27:56,119 What have been the positive parts of quarantine? 552 00:27:57,079 --> 00:28:00,099 We play Minecraft until, like, 5:00 AM, sometimes 7:00. 553 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:01,190 But then, like, we will get coffee and breakfast 554 00:28:01,210 --> 00:28:03,119 and then we'll continue to play. 555 00:28:03,140 --> 00:28:05,059 Like, it was just, like, a random thing I would never do 556 00:28:05,079 --> 00:28:07,099 but, like, that made me happy even though, like, 557 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,180 I can't go outside or get toilet paper for my house. 558 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,160 But other than that, it was a great experience. 559 00:28:11,180 --> 00:28:13,140 Oh, actually, that's such-- that's so false. 560 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,140 I would give coronavirus a zero star on Yelp views 561 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:20,119 but, um, the inside part was, kind of, decent. 562 00:28:20,140 --> 00:28:22,210 In the last year, I've become-- 563 00:28:22,230 --> 00:28:25,190 I've become a force if I do say so myself. 564 00:28:25,210 --> 00:28:28,019 My mission statement as an artist 565 00:28:28,039 --> 00:28:29,190 was to use storytelling 566 00:28:29,210 --> 00:28:32,109 as-as a platform for understanding. 567 00:28:32,130 --> 00:28:35,029 I would not be as bold as I am today. 568 00:28:35,049 --> 00:28:38,009 I would not be as an apologetic as I am today, 569 00:28:38,029 --> 00:28:41,029 had it not been for quarantine because it forced me to try 570 00:28:41,049 --> 00:28:44,130 and be the best person for the future that I want. 571 00:28:44,150 --> 00:28:47,099 I made a lot of discoveries over quarantine. 572 00:28:47,119 --> 00:28:48,130 [chuckles] 573 00:28:48,150 --> 00:28:50,140 It made me really realize 574 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,069 that I can't take everything for granted, ever. 575 00:28:53,089 --> 00:28:55,009 Um, and I'm so thankful for that 576 00:28:55,029 --> 00:28:58,119 because I look at things in a totally different way now. 577 00:28:58,140 --> 00:29:01,180 [music] 578 00:29:03,230 --> 00:29:06,190 FISCHER: I grew up with my mom and my dad 579 00:29:06,210 --> 00:29:11,109 in a small house in the village of Waynesville. 580 00:29:11,130 --> 00:29:14,039 My dad competitively fished, 581 00:29:14,059 --> 00:29:17,119 so that's why my name is Fischer. 582 00:29:17,140 --> 00:29:20,200 They were so fun and so supportive. 583 00:29:20,220 --> 00:29:23,170 I have, like, the best childhood ever. 584 00:29:23,190 --> 00:29:27,119 My parents taught me from a very young age 585 00:29:27,140 --> 00:29:29,200 that it's okay to question things 586 00:29:29,220 --> 00:29:32,160 and that I should be questioning things. 587 00:29:32,180 --> 00:29:35,069 And I think that's just such an important lesson 588 00:29:35,089 --> 00:29:37,039 to learn when you're young. 589 00:29:38,109 --> 00:29:41,140 The first day of quarantine, 590 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,059 I re-condoed my entire house. 591 00:29:44,079 --> 00:29:47,140 And then from that day on, I did nothing. 592 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,039 The most I ever did was get in my car and scream, 593 00:29:51,059 --> 00:29:56,009 cry to Celine Dion just to, like, feel something. 594 00:29:56,029 --> 00:29:57,059 So, for the first couple weeks, 595 00:29:57,079 --> 00:30:01,009 I was just sitting with myself 596 00:30:01,029 --> 00:30:02,140 and was, you know, 597 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:06,079 forced to, kind of, look back on things 598 00:30:06,099 --> 00:30:09,170 that I haven't processed and, you know, 599 00:30:09,190 --> 00:30:13,180 I started realizing, you know, 600 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:17,009 "Wait a minute. I'm not a man. 601 00:30:20,119 --> 00:30:25,039 I'm a woman. I'm-I'm trans." 602 00:30:25,059 --> 00:30:28,130 And as soon as that thought came into my mind, 603 00:30:28,150 --> 00:30:32,089 it was, like, a wave of, like, 604 00:30:32,109 --> 00:30:34,059 "Whoa. You're right." 605 00:30:34,079 --> 00:30:39,079 Um, I don't think I've ever had an experience as a man before. 606 00:30:39,099 --> 00:30:40,200 That's not who I am. 607 00:30:40,220 --> 00:30:43,019 That's not who I ever was. 608 00:30:43,039 --> 00:30:47,059 Um, I was just, kind of, forced into that category. 609 00:30:47,079 --> 00:30:49,200 And I just felt, like, 610 00:30:49,220 --> 00:30:51,099 the longer I wait, 611 00:30:51,119 --> 00:30:53,140 the more I miss out on. 612 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,230 And it was, like, a big turning moment 613 00:30:56,009 --> 00:30:57,200 where I was, like, the fact that I am okay 614 00:30:57,220 --> 00:31:01,019 with myself for the first time in 18 years 615 00:31:01,039 --> 00:31:05,039 means more than anyone else's opinion on me. 616 00:31:06,009 --> 00:31:07,230 Telling my parents was easy. 617 00:31:08,190 --> 00:31:10,000 Well, it wasn't easy. It was hard. 618 00:31:10,019 --> 00:31:11,180 It was a very hard conversation. 619 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:16,079 Um, but they were so supportive 620 00:31:16,099 --> 00:31:19,220 and I knew that at the end of that conversation, 621 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,130 I was gonna be okay. 622 00:31:23,059 --> 00:31:27,019 I'm so excited because I have so much more fun now. 623 00:31:27,039 --> 00:31:28,119 [chuckles] 624 00:31:28,140 --> 00:31:32,190 But, uh, I-I think that what a gift it is 625 00:31:32,210 --> 00:31:36,170 to be able to live how I want to 626 00:31:36,190 --> 00:31:39,170 and to be seen for who I really am. 627 00:31:39,190 --> 00:31:43,180 I'm so thankful to be able to be in a place 628 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:48,059 where I can be a woman and I can wear skirts 629 00:31:48,079 --> 00:31:52,000 but I can also wear, you know, crocs when I want to, 630 00:31:52,019 --> 00:31:56,029 and I do a lot and I'm ashamed of it, but it's okay, you know. 631 00:31:56,049 --> 00:31:58,170 It's-it's great, it really is. 632 00:31:58,190 --> 00:32:01,019 [music] 633 00:32:02,039 --> 00:32:04,130 I think the song, there's something about it 634 00:32:04,150 --> 00:32:06,059 that is just moving forward, 635 00:32:06,079 --> 00:32:07,210 "dog days are over", is like, 636 00:32:07,230 --> 00:32:10,200 I feel, like, a pretty big anthem of our generation. 637 00:32:10,220 --> 00:32:12,150 It was so fun to film. 638 00:32:12,170 --> 00:32:15,160 It felt, like, such a needed release 639 00:32:15,180 --> 00:32:18,039 and I was just seeing, like, 640 00:32:18,059 --> 00:32:21,019 these just random pieces of inspiration come together 641 00:32:21,039 --> 00:32:24,000 into this--into this, like, finished project, 642 00:32:24,019 --> 00:32:26,029 and that it truly made me feel so special 643 00:32:26,049 --> 00:32:29,190 and it was an experience I'm so thankful for. 644 00:32:30,230 --> 00:32:34,029 [music] 645 00:32:37,190 --> 00:32:40,210 ♪ Happiness hit her ♪ 646 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:42,200 ♪ Like a train ♪ 647 00:32:42,220 --> 00:32:48,079 ♪ On a track ♪ 648 00:32:50,140 --> 00:32:54,009 ♪ Coming towards her ♪ 649 00:32:54,029 --> 00:32:55,099 ♪ Stuck still ♪ 650 00:32:55,119 --> 00:33:01,039 ♪ No turning back ♪ 651 00:33:02,069 --> 00:33:05,049 ♪ She hid around corners ♪ 652 00:33:05,069 --> 00:33:08,170 ♪ And she hid under beds ♪ 653 00:33:08,190 --> 00:33:11,190 ♪ She killed it with kisses ♪ 654 00:33:11,210 --> 00:33:15,019 ♪ And from it she fled ♪ 655 00:33:15,039 --> 00:33:18,019 ♪ With every bubble ♪ 656 00:33:18,039 --> 00:33:21,109 ♪ She sank with a drink ♪ 657 00:33:21,130 --> 00:33:23,200 ♪ And washed it away ♪ 658 00:33:23,220 --> 00:33:27,059 ♪ Down the kitchen sink ♪ 659 00:33:28,039 --> 00:33:31,049 ♪ The dog days are over ♪ 660 00:33:31,069 --> 00:33:34,099 ♪ The dog days are done ♪ 661 00:33:34,119 --> 00:33:37,069 ♪ The horses are coming ♪ 662 00:33:37,089 --> 00:33:40,049 ♪ So you better run ♪ 663 00:33:40,069 --> 00:33:43,230 ♪ Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father ♪ 664 00:33:44,009 --> 00:33:47,019 ♪ Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers ♪ 665 00:33:47,039 --> 00:33:49,230 ♪ Leave all your love and your longing behind you ♪ 666 00:33:50,009 --> 00:33:53,119 ♪ Can't carry it with you if you want to survive ♪ 667 00:33:53,140 --> 00:33:56,210 ♪ The dog days are over ♪ 668 00:33:56,230 --> 00:34:00,019 ♪ The dog days are done ♪ 669 00:34:00,039 --> 00:34:03,009 ♪ Can you hear the horses ♪ 670 00:34:03,029 --> 00:34:07,220 ♪ 'Cause here they come ♪ 671 00:34:12,039 --> 00:34:16,119 ♪ And I ♪ 672 00:34:16,139 --> 00:34:19,090 ♪ Never wanted ♪ 673 00:34:19,110 --> 00:34:24,059 ♪ Anything from you ♪ 674 00:34:24,079 --> 00:34:28,010 I'm always trying to tackle my next challenge 675 00:34:28,030 --> 00:34:29,110 and like to move on. 676 00:34:29,130 --> 00:34:31,179 To like keep growing and keep learning. 677 00:34:31,199 --> 00:34:34,150 I think that's definitely someone I want to become 678 00:34:34,170 --> 00:34:37,190 and someone I am slowly becoming. 679 00:34:37,210 --> 00:34:41,150 ♪ Run fast for your mother and fast for your father ♪ 680 00:34:41,170 --> 00:34:44,190 ♪ Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers ♪ 681 00:34:44,210 --> 00:34:47,059 ♪ Leave all your love and your longing behind you ♪ 682 00:34:47,079 --> 00:34:51,019 ♪ Can't carry it with you if you want to survive ♪ 683 00:34:51,039 --> 00:34:54,079 ♪ The dog days are over ♪ 684 00:34:54,099 --> 00:34:57,199 ♪ The dog days are done ♪ 685 00:34:57,219 --> 00:35:00,150 ♪ Can you hear the horses ♪ 686 00:35:00,170 --> 00:35:03,150 ♪ 'Cause here they... ♪ 687 00:35:03,170 --> 00:35:07,059 BACKUP SINGERS: ♪ The dog days are over ♪ 688 00:35:07,079 --> 00:35:10,079 ♪ The dog days are done ♪ 689 00:35:10,099 --> 00:35:13,139 BACKUP SINGERS: ♪ Can you hear the horses ♪ 690 00:35:13,159 --> 00:35:16,150 ♪ 'Cause here they come ♪ 691 00:35:16,170 --> 00:35:20,090 +[vocalizing] 692 00:35:33,119 --> 00:35:34,230 WOMAN: Free from distraction 693 00:35:35,010 --> 00:35:37,030 and with a laser focus on the news, 694 00:35:37,050 --> 00:35:39,130 a shattering event awakens the world 695 00:35:39,150 --> 00:35:41,039 to every day in justice. 696 00:35:41,059 --> 00:35:43,110 ISAIAH: When I first heard about George Floyd, 697 00:35:43,130 --> 00:35:45,219 I wasn't really shocked 698 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:47,210 because this has happened for years 699 00:35:47,230 --> 00:35:51,079 that a Black man is killed by a White police officer. 700 00:35:51,099 --> 00:35:53,090 JOSEPH: When that video started circulating, 701 00:35:53,110 --> 00:35:55,190 I think it stirred people-- it-it woke up people 702 00:35:55,210 --> 00:35:59,230 who had never considered the problem before. 703 00:36:00,010 --> 00:36:01,159 JEFFREY: And I know we're near giving up 704 00:36:01,179 --> 00:36:04,110 for the Black Lives Matter movement or any movement 705 00:36:04,130 --> 00:36:06,170 that helps a disenfranchised 706 00:36:06,190 --> 00:36:08,039 group of people in the United States. 707 00:36:08,059 --> 00:36:09,230 I know we're near resting about that 708 00:36:10,010 --> 00:36:12,070 because we're nowhere near a solution. 709 00:36:14,230 --> 00:36:17,119 ALANA: George Floyd and I went to the same church. 710 00:36:17,139 --> 00:36:19,179 Um, when I was about 12, 711 00:36:19,199 --> 00:36:22,150 he would set up chairs, set up and tear down. 712 00:36:22,170 --> 00:36:25,099 Um, they used to call him Big Floyd. 713 00:36:25,119 --> 00:36:27,190 Um, yeah. 714 00:36:30,110 --> 00:36:32,019 Seeing George suffocated 715 00:36:32,039 --> 00:36:35,030 for nine minutes was... 716 00:36:36,190 --> 00:36:38,090 very difficult. 717 00:36:38,110 --> 00:36:44,070 I watched the news slander his personal life. 718 00:36:44,090 --> 00:36:46,139 There was a protest happening in New Braunfels 719 00:36:46,159 --> 00:36:49,039 where I was, where my grandparents live. 720 00:36:49,059 --> 00:36:51,179 Finally, I saw some hope. 721 00:36:51,199 --> 00:36:55,000 [music] 722 00:36:57,050 --> 00:36:59,150 ALANA: People were protesting all over the world. 723 00:36:59,170 --> 00:37:02,050 People are united for this one cause. 724 00:37:02,070 --> 00:37:05,179 There were protests in Hong Kong, in Europe, 725 00:37:05,199 --> 00:37:08,139 and I was, like, "There's a protest happening here 726 00:37:08,159 --> 00:37:10,030 in this town, 727 00:37:11,079 --> 00:37:12,199 it's time for me to get up." 728 00:37:12,219 --> 00:37:16,039 That's when I realized that this was a movement. 729 00:37:18,190 --> 00:37:21,070 As we got up to the area where the protest was, 730 00:37:21,090 --> 00:37:24,150 I was all--remembering all this feelings of hurt and pain 731 00:37:24,170 --> 00:37:28,130 that I received at such, like, a young age being in the city, 732 00:37:28,150 --> 00:37:29,230 being around racial ignorance 733 00:37:30,010 --> 00:37:32,070 and being the token, the only one. 734 00:37:32,090 --> 00:37:35,079 There were only two other people protesting when we got there. 735 00:37:35,099 --> 00:37:37,039 The rest of the people were my family. 736 00:37:37,059 --> 00:37:39,159 And I was like, "I'm not gonna let that stop me. 737 00:37:39,179 --> 00:37:42,159 I'm not gonna let anything else silence me." 738 00:37:42,179 --> 00:37:46,059 And I finally arose out of that dark place 739 00:37:46,079 --> 00:37:48,030 and I was, like, "It's time." 740 00:37:51,119 --> 00:37:53,210 There was a lot of backlash. 741 00:37:53,230 --> 00:37:57,050 People were driving by with trucks flipping us off, 742 00:37:57,070 --> 00:38:00,039 calling us slurs literally in the street out and open 743 00:38:00,059 --> 00:38:02,170 because, I mean, I expected nothing different 744 00:38:02,190 --> 00:38:04,139 in the city that we were in. 745 00:38:04,159 --> 00:38:08,110 But I knew that none of that was gonna-gonna stop me. 746 00:38:08,130 --> 00:38:10,099 I was gonna be heard at that moment. 747 00:38:10,119 --> 00:38:14,170 I was going to finally say in that city 748 00:38:14,190 --> 00:38:17,170 what I had wanted to say since I was 12. 749 00:38:18,210 --> 00:38:22,000 I felt all the energy of all the people before me. 750 00:38:22,190 --> 00:38:26,050 My grandma, my great grand mama Honey, 751 00:38:26,070 --> 00:38:27,170 like, I felt, like, 752 00:38:27,190 --> 00:38:29,159 I wasn't just that alone little middle schooler 753 00:38:29,179 --> 00:38:33,150 battling all this racial tension by herself. 754 00:38:33,170 --> 00:38:35,130 Maybe this is my purpose. 755 00:38:37,119 --> 00:38:42,119 I realize in that moment that Black joy is radical. 756 00:38:43,090 --> 00:38:46,019 Being joyful in a world where Black people are killed 757 00:38:46,039 --> 00:38:50,090 for no reason at all is a protest within itself. 758 00:38:53,030 --> 00:38:57,079 I also realized that sometimes you have to be still. 759 00:38:57,099 --> 00:39:00,210 Sometimes, you have to really look inside yourself 760 00:39:01,179 --> 00:39:04,079 and heal, and-and breathe, 761 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,019 and use that time to think 762 00:39:08,039 --> 00:39:10,079 and to bring myself peace and healing 763 00:39:10,099 --> 00:39:12,219 because I'm deserving of that, and everyone is. 764 00:39:13,090 --> 00:39:16,130 [music] 765 00:39:17,190 --> 00:39:20,000 When I choose music that I resonate with, 766 00:39:20,019 --> 00:39:22,019 it's often music that reminds me of, 767 00:39:22,039 --> 00:39:24,210 you know, my childhood, R&B that I grew up around. 768 00:39:24,230 --> 00:39:27,050 One thing that H.E.R. does with her music, 769 00:39:27,070 --> 00:39:29,210 you know, she's a peace bringer, I think essentially. 770 00:39:29,230 --> 00:39:31,139 And I think that's how I want to be, 771 00:39:31,159 --> 00:39:33,019 I want to be a peacemaker 772 00:39:33,039 --> 00:39:35,170 but to still say what needs to be said. 773 00:39:36,230 --> 00:39:41,059 +♪ Lift every voice and sing ♪ 774 00:39:41,079 --> 00:39:45,150 ♪ Till earth and heaven ring ♪ 775 00:39:45,170 --> 00:39:50,019 ♪ Ring with the harmonies ♪ 776 00:39:50,039 --> 00:39:54,190 ♪ Of liberty ♪ 777 00:39:58,190 --> 00:40:01,230 ♪ Oh ♪ 778 00:40:02,010 --> 00:40:05,059 ♪ Oh ♪ 779 00:40:07,170 --> 00:40:11,030 ♪ Started a war, screaming peace at the same time ♪ 780 00:40:11,050 --> 00:40:14,159 ♪ All the corruption, injustice, the same crimes ♪ 781 00:40:14,179 --> 00:40:17,219 ♪ Always a problem if we do it, don't fight ♪ 782 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:21,130 ♪ And we die, we don't have the same rights ♪ 783 00:40:21,150 --> 00:40:25,010 ♪ What is a gun to a man that surrenders? ♪ 784 00:40:25,030 --> 00:40:28,119 ♪ What's it gonna take for someone to defend us? ♪ 785 00:40:28,139 --> 00:40:31,190 ♪ If we are lucky, we were equal as people ♪ 786 00:40:31,210 --> 00:40:35,130 ♪ Then why can't we see what is evil? ♪ 787 00:40:35,150 --> 00:40:39,000 ♪ I can't breathe ♪ 788 00:40:39,019 --> 00:40:42,139 ♪ You're taking my life from me ♪ 789 00:40:42,159 --> 00:40:46,000 ♪ I can't breathe, yeah ♪ 790 00:40:46,019 --> 00:40:47,150 ♪ Will anyone fight for me? ♪ 791 00:40:47,170 --> 00:40:51,219 I think my generation is going to accomplish 792 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,219 true acceptance. 793 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:56,170 How everybody wants to be heard, 794 00:40:56,190 --> 00:40:58,059 how people want to be seen 795 00:40:58,079 --> 00:41:00,039 and perceived, and taking them in 796 00:41:00,059 --> 00:41:02,030 and-and honoring them and that. 797 00:41:02,050 --> 00:41:03,210 ♪ "The Lord is coming." ♪ 798 00:41:03,230 --> 00:41:05,210 ♪ My great grandmother said when she was young ♪ 799 00:41:05,230 --> 00:41:07,050 ♪ Visions of glory ♪ 800 00:41:07,070 --> 00:41:08,190 ♪ While walking through streets ♪ 801 00:41:08,210 --> 00:41:10,059 ♪ Where heads were hung, quite literally ♪ 802 00:41:10,079 --> 00:41:12,130 ♪ On trees, uprooting my bloodline ♪ 803 00:41:12,150 --> 00:41:14,059 ♪ Funny how time which is a bridge ♪ 804 00:41:14,079 --> 00:41:16,110 ♪ For what is hers, to what is mine ♪ 805 00:41:16,130 --> 00:41:18,010 ♪ Like her, I carry, struggle ♪ 806 00:41:18,030 --> 00:41:20,010 ♪ Your ignorance fuels the flame ♪ 807 00:41:20,030 --> 00:41:23,050 ♪ Like her, the ethereal essence of my skin tone is restrained ♪ 808 00:41:23,070 --> 00:41:24,210 ♪ 1930, 2020 ♪ 809 00:41:24,230 --> 00:41:26,210 ♪ See how few some things have changed? ♪ 810 00:41:26,230 --> 00:41:30,119 ♪ For like her, I have a vision. And like her, I'm not afraid ♪ 811 00:41:31,150 --> 00:41:35,150 ♪ Oh ♪ 812 00:41:35,170 --> 00:41:39,050 ♪ Oh ♪ 813 00:41:39,070 --> 00:41:42,159 ♪ Oh ♪ 814 00:41:46,119 --> 00:41:49,150 [humming] 815 00:41:59,159 --> 00:42:02,110 How are you all feeling hopeful about the future? 816 00:42:02,130 --> 00:42:04,079 JEFFREY: I'm so hopeful for the future. 817 00:42:04,099 --> 00:42:07,130 I'm happy to say that through my grandparents 818 00:42:07,150 --> 00:42:09,170 coming up into the - civil rights movement, 819 00:42:09,190 --> 00:42:11,130 there's been a change with their children. 820 00:42:11,150 --> 00:42:15,139 With my parents coming up and raising my brother and I, 821 00:42:15,159 --> 00:42:17,019 there's been a change. 822 00:42:17,039 --> 00:42:20,090 The difference is now, this change is being 823 00:42:20,110 --> 00:42:23,070 hyper-accelerated because we have the internet, 824 00:42:23,090 --> 00:42:24,199 because we have social media. 825 00:42:24,219 --> 00:42:27,010 It's so hard to stay blind to these topics. 826 00:42:27,030 --> 00:42:30,059 It's so hard to not see what's going on in the news. 827 00:42:31,130 --> 00:42:35,070 We started social movements and justice 828 00:42:35,090 --> 00:42:38,110 and I hope that we continue to grow in these aspects 829 00:42:38,130 --> 00:42:40,110 and that we get the respect we deserve 830 00:42:40,130 --> 00:42:42,059 because we have done so much. 831 00:42:42,079 --> 00:42:45,190 We also have that community mindset 832 00:42:45,210 --> 00:42:50,030 where it's made our ability to see and hear each other 833 00:42:50,050 --> 00:42:51,190 a lot stronger. 834 00:42:51,210 --> 00:42:54,170 So we're willing to listen to other people's stories. 835 00:42:54,190 --> 00:42:57,130 I feel our generation, like, lifting each other up 836 00:42:57,150 --> 00:43:01,219 and lifting the world up and creating so much 837 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:05,030 adrenaline for us to, like, change the world. 838 00:43:05,050 --> 00:43:08,139 I'm looking forward to becoming a better person, 839 00:43:08,159 --> 00:43:11,079 a better performer, a better activist, 840 00:43:11,099 --> 00:43:13,039 a better ally, and I'm looking forward 841 00:43:13,059 --> 00:43:16,070 to making art and creating things that made people think, 842 00:43:16,090 --> 00:43:19,079 and that challenge what they once believed to be true. 843 00:43:19,099 --> 00:43:22,000 [music] 844 00:43:22,019 --> 00:43:26,050 Music is the most beautiful thing on Earth. 845 00:43:28,059 --> 00:43:30,079 When there aren't words, there's music. 846 00:43:30,099 --> 00:43:32,110 And that's kind of a statement that I've lived by 847 00:43:32,130 --> 00:43:34,179 for a long time. 848 00:43:34,199 --> 00:43:36,179 Music is really the only way that when I feel 849 00:43:36,199 --> 00:43:39,010 a really intense emotion, I can get it out 850 00:43:39,030 --> 00:43:42,000 and I get those emotions out from composing music 851 00:43:42,019 --> 00:43:44,119 or writing lyrics, or writing a song. 852 00:43:44,139 --> 00:43:46,199 [music] 853 00:43:46,219 --> 00:43:48,219 I play nine instruments. 854 00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:52,039 Piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, viola, 855 00:43:52,059 --> 00:43:57,170 cello, electric bass, acoustic bass, and the organ. 856 00:43:57,190 --> 00:43:59,130 I have this cool thing called synesthesia 857 00:43:59,150 --> 00:44:03,090 which basically when I close my eyes, I can see colors. 858 00:44:04,039 --> 00:44:05,210 If I'm listening to my friends sing 859 00:44:05,230 --> 00:44:08,150 or I'm listening to a song, I can kind of see waves of sound 860 00:44:08,170 --> 00:44:11,099 being painted by colors, which is really cool. 861 00:44:12,110 --> 00:44:14,170 I'll wake up sometimes at 2:00 or 3:00 862 00:44:14,190 --> 00:44:16,139 in the morning if I'm not already up. 863 00:44:16,159 --> 00:44:19,110 And I'll have a new musical idea because it'll just come to me 864 00:44:19,130 --> 00:44:21,010 in the middle of the night. 865 00:44:21,030 --> 00:44:22,130 And I have to pull up my book of staff paper 866 00:44:22,150 --> 00:44:24,130 and start writing or pull out my keyboard 867 00:44:24,150 --> 00:44:27,139 and start playing because I know that if I don't get it out 868 00:44:27,159 --> 00:44:30,130 right then and there, I might lose it forever. 869 00:44:30,150 --> 00:44:32,219 Quarantine really kind of drained me 870 00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:34,190 of all my creative energy. 871 00:44:36,059 --> 00:44:38,190 I didn't have any shows or any workshops 872 00:44:38,210 --> 00:44:40,179 or any cabarets that I could do. 873 00:44:40,199 --> 00:44:42,230 And it kind of sent me into a state of depression 874 00:44:43,010 --> 00:44:46,039 because I didn't have anything to look forward to. 875 00:44:46,059 --> 00:44:48,230 When Laura made her first video about her 876 00:44:49,010 --> 00:44:51,210 taking videos submissions and saying she was gonna post, 877 00:44:51,230 --> 00:44:53,059 repost them if she likes them. 878 00:44:53,079 --> 00:44:54,170 And I was like, "Oh, my gosh. 879 00:44:54,190 --> 00:44:56,150 Laura Benanti is reposting my video. 880 00:44:56,170 --> 00:44:57,199 If she thinks it's good. 881 00:44:57,219 --> 00:45:00,070 I'm gonna sing." 882 00:45:00,090 --> 00:45:03,059 I had a moment where all this hopelessness 883 00:45:03,079 --> 00:45:06,219 and all this-this doubt and this desperation, 884 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:10,039 it kind of gave way to this creative outlet 885 00:45:10,059 --> 00:45:13,030 where I was able to finally write 886 00:45:13,050 --> 00:45:15,019 and-and express how I've been feeling 887 00:45:15,039 --> 00:45:16,210 when I was shut down. 888 00:45:18,119 --> 00:45:19,230 I can't imagine life without music 889 00:45:20,010 --> 00:45:22,000 because it brings me so much joy 890 00:45:22,019 --> 00:45:24,190 and it helps me cope with the world. 891 00:45:25,230 --> 00:45:27,179 With all the things that happened to me personally 892 00:45:27,199 --> 00:45:30,190 during the quarantine, I went through-- I went through 893 00:45:30,210 --> 00:45:35,019 some times where I had nothing else to do but pray. 894 00:45:35,039 --> 00:45:37,150 Because I know I'm not perfect. 895 00:45:37,170 --> 00:45:39,099 I don't claim to be perfect. 896 00:45:39,119 --> 00:45:42,070 But it's good knowing that I have something 897 00:45:42,090 --> 00:45:43,170 that I believe in. 898 00:45:43,190 --> 00:45:45,230 I wanted something that was reflective 899 00:45:46,010 --> 00:45:50,150 of how isolated I felt at times during quarantine. 900 00:45:50,170 --> 00:45:53,210 Separation from my art is really what drove me 901 00:45:53,230 --> 00:45:57,079 to the point of feeling like I needed to pray, 902 00:45:57,099 --> 00:45:59,170 like the song says. 903 00:45:59,190 --> 00:46:02,230 [music] 904 00:46:06,230 --> 00:46:08,199 ♪ I'm young and I'm foolish ♪ 905 00:46:08,219 --> 00:46:10,159 ♪ I've made bad decisions ♪ 906 00:46:10,179 --> 00:46:14,059 ♪ I blocked out the news, turned my back on religion ♪ 907 00:46:14,079 --> 00:46:18,010 ♪ Don't have no degree, I'm somewhat naive ♪ 908 00:46:18,030 --> 00:46:21,199 ♪ I've made it this far on my own ♪ 909 00:46:21,219 --> 00:46:25,119 ♪ But lately, that just ain't been getting me higher ♪ 910 00:46:25,139 --> 00:46:29,070 ♪ I lift up my head and the world is on fire ♪ 911 00:46:29,090 --> 00:46:33,000 ♪ There's dread in my heart and fear in my bones ♪ 912 00:46:33,019 --> 00:46:36,050 ♪ And I just don't know what to say ♪ 913 00:46:36,070 --> 00:46:40,230 ♪ Maybe I'll pray ♪ 914 00:46:41,010 --> 00:46:43,150 ♪ Pray ♪ 915 00:46:43,170 --> 00:46:47,199 ♪ Maybe I'll pray ♪ 916 00:46:47,219 --> 00:46:51,010 ♪ I have never believed in you, no ♪ 917 00:46:51,030 --> 00:46:55,159 ♪ But I'm gonna pray ♪ 918 00:47:06,159 --> 00:47:09,010 ♪ You won't find me in church ♪ 919 00:47:09,030 --> 00:47:10,210 ♪ Reading the Bible ♪ 920 00:47:10,230 --> 00:47:14,059 ♪ But I am still here and I'm still your disciple ♪ 921 00:47:14,079 --> 00:47:18,039 ♪ I'm down on my knees, I'm beggin' you, please ♪ 922 00:47:18,059 --> 00:47:21,219 ♪ I'm broken, alone, and afraid ♪ 923 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:25,130 ♪ I'm not a saint. I'm more of a sinner ♪ 924 00:47:25,150 --> 00:47:29,050 ♪ I don't wanna lose, but I fear for the winner ♪ 925 00:47:29,070 --> 00:47:32,170 ♪ When I try to explain, the words run away ♪ 926 00:47:32,190 --> 00:47:36,019 ♪ That's why I am still here today ♪ 927 00:47:36,039 --> 00:47:39,190 ♪ And I'm gonna pray ♪ 928 00:47:39,210 --> 00:47:47,219 - SINGERS: ♪ Lord ♪ - ♪ Pray ♪ 929 00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:51,039 ♪ I have never believed in you, no ♪ 930 00:47:51,059 --> 00:47:55,219 ♪ But I'm gonna pray ♪ 931 00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:58,230 ♪ Pray ♪ 932 00:47:59,010 --> 00:48:03,199 ♪ Maybe I'll pray ♪ 933 00:48:03,219 --> 00:48:06,170 ♪ I have never believed in you, no ♪ 934 00:48:06,190 --> 00:48:11,190 ♪ But I'm gonna pray ♪ 935 00:48:11,210 --> 00:48:13,210 [music] 936 00:48:16,130 --> 00:48:20,039 LAURA: Joe, Elizabeth, Isaiah, Annie, Fisher, Alana, 937 00:48:20,059 --> 00:48:24,070 and Jeffrey may only be a sliver of the class of 2020. 938 00:48:24,090 --> 00:48:26,230 But despite the obstacles that they go through, 939 00:48:27,010 --> 00:48:31,000 they're still resilient and optimistic and kind. 940 00:48:31,019 --> 00:48:34,139 They're change-makers. And I'm so proud of them. 941 00:48:35,199 --> 00:48:39,000 [music] 942 00:48:43,019 --> 00:48:46,139 ♪ I've learned to slam on the brake ♪ 943 00:48:46,159 --> 00:48:50,000 ♪ Before I even turn the key ♪ 944 00:48:50,019 --> 00:48:53,119 ♪ Before I make the mistake ♪ 945 00:48:53,139 --> 00:48:57,050 ♪ Before I lead with the worst of me ♪ 946 00:48:57,070 --> 00:49:00,170 ♪ Give them no reason to stare ♪ 947 00:49:00,190 --> 00:49:04,079 ♪ No slipping up if you slip away ♪ 948 00:49:04,099 --> 00:49:07,199 ♪ So I got nothing to share ♪ 949 00:49:07,219 --> 00:49:11,079 ♪ No, I got nothing to say ♪ 950 00:49:11,099 --> 00:49:16,150 ♪ Step out, step out of the sun, if you keep getting burned ♪ 951 00:49:18,110 --> 00:49:23,090 ♪ Step out, step out of the sun because you've learned ♪ 952 00:49:23,110 --> 00:49:27,139 ♪ Because you've learned ♪ 953 00:49:27,159 --> 00:49:31,039 ♪ On the outside, always looking in. Will I... ♪ 954 00:49:31,059 --> 00:49:33,210 ♪ Ever be more than I've always been? ♪ 955 00:49:33,230 --> 00:49:37,219 ♪ 'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass ♪ 956 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:41,000 ♪ I'm waving through a window ♪ 957 00:49:41,019 --> 00:49:42,110 ♪ I... ♪ 958 00:49:42,130 --> 00:49:44,130 ♪ Tried to speak, but nobody can hear ♪ 959 00:49:44,150 --> 00:49:48,000 ♪ So I wait around for an answer to appear ♪ 960 00:49:48,019 --> 00:49:51,219 ♪ While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass ♪ 961 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:57,030 ♪ I'm waving through the window, oh ♪ 962 00:49:57,050 --> 00:49:59,219 ♪ Can anybody see? ♪ 963 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:03,010 ♪ Is anybody waving? ♪ 964 00:50:03,030 --> 00:50:05,179 ♪ On the outside, always looking in ♪ 965 00:50:05,199 --> 00:50:09,059 ♪ Will I ever be more than I've always been? ♪ 966 00:50:09,079 --> 00:50:13,059 ♪ 'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass ♪ 967 00:50:13,079 --> 00:50:16,030 ♪ Waving through the window ♪ 968 00:50:16,050 --> 00:50:19,170 ♪ I try to speak, but nobody can hear ♪ 969 00:50:19,190 --> 00:50:23,059 ♪ So I wait around for an answer to appear ♪ 970 00:50:23,079 --> 00:50:27,019 ♪ While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass ♪ 971 00:50:27,039 --> 00:50:32,070 ♪ Waving through a window, oh ♪ 972 00:50:32,090 --> 00:50:34,230 ♪ Can anybody see ♪ 973 00:50:35,010 --> 00:50:40,059 ♪ Is anybody waving back at me? ♪ 974 00:50:40,079 --> 00:50:44,210 ♪ Oh. Is anybody waving? Oh ♪ 975 00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:50,210 ♪ Waving, waving, whoa-oh ♪ 976 00:50:50,230 --> 00:50:54,210 ♪ Whoa-oh ♪ 977 00:50:58,110 --> 00:50:59,159 I really do love you all. 978 00:50:59,179 --> 00:51:02,019 Thank you. 979 00:51:02,039 --> 00:51:03,199 - Bye. Bye, bye, bye. - All right. 980 00:51:03,219 --> 00:51:06,039 Oh, my God. - Bye. 981 00:51:06,059 --> 00:51:08,039 - I love you guys the most. - I love you, guys. 982 00:51:08,059 --> 00:51:11,099 - I love you so much. - See you all very, very soon. 983 00:51:11,119 --> 00:51:12,219 I love you all so much. 984 00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:14,159 - Yeah, good. - I love you. 985 00:51:14,179 --> 00:51:17,219 [music]