By: Lauren Mitchell, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Not many people can say they have interviewed a celebrity, or been chosen for a Disney screenwriting opportunity out of thousands of applicants. Through the Girl Up organization, senior Marisa Torre accomplished all of these things and more.
“I had to apply and submit a portfolio for Disney. Their campaign is called Dream Big Princess, inspiring young girls to dream big. They found applicants through Girl Up, which is actually a United Nations Foundation,” said Marisa, expressing the process to earning a spot in the campaign.
The campaign was extremely competitive, as Marisa was “one of the twenty-one girls from different countries between 16 and 22” who were chosen from the few thousand who applied. During the Dream Big Princess campaign, Marisa had the opportunity to interview a celebrity, create a short 3-5 minute film of the interview of her subject and her, and edit it into a film. Marisa says that “The film is a short interview highlighting a woman who changed the world. Each girl had their own interview subject. I was the director, I did the editing, and I wrote the questions and conducted the interview.”
As she already had a passion for film, Marisa says “I have always been into writing, but this project has made me realize that I am also interested in Journalism and documentary filmmaking.” Marisa expressed that she wants to attend film school and hopefully continue with screenwriting, broadcast journalism, and filmmaking.
The identity of Marisa’s interview subject was originally secretive, but she divulged after the film came out. Marisa had the privilege of interviewing Emily Blunt due to Marisa’s hard work and determination. Blunt is well known for her roles in A Quiet Place and The Devil Wears Prada.
The interview with Emily Blunt according to Marisa was “exciting, she is really nice. I sat with her and interviewed her for about half an hour.”
Marisa spent about a week in New York City working on this campaign with the other girls; she says, “I feel like these girls are my twenty new best friends. We are all from such different parts of the world, but we have similar passions.”
What’s next for Marisa and the Dream Big Princess campaign? Recently, Marisa went to be on Good Morning America on October 9th, and says “we are going to Florida for the press as well.” Marisa is proof of hawk success and the depiction of hard work paying off. Despite these amazing accomplishments, Marisa is just like the rest of us RHHS seniors, agonizing over college applications and dreaming of her life after high school.
Hawks not only dream big but achieve their dreams too.