Thesis Film: SPARKS

One man’s junk is another woman’s treasure. Welding at its core is melting and mending two or more pieces of metal together, creating structural works of art. Brenda Stredwick uses welding to transform the world's old and forgotten metal into something beautiful and meaningful. At eight years of age, Brenda, now in her forties, learned to weld from her dad. By sixteen, her new welding business had grown from fixing old farm equipment and horse trailers to creating rustic, contemporary, and whimsical art pieces that bring a smile to her audience. Though being in a male-dominated industry challenges the female work ethic, she uses her carefree attitude and determination to build the business of her dreams. 

The film will intertwine verité and avant-garde stylistic elements while keeping an expository underlining line throughout. It will play with ethnographical soundscapes to help capture the intimacy between welder and the process of welding. These sounds will highlight the distinct auditory experiences of various tools interacting with different metals, offering a perspective from the welder's point of view. Archival footage and interviews of Brenda will showcase the present and past events that have led to her present success.

Her passion for welding does not stop at creating. She is also a teacher and a mentor. She uses her skills and knowledge to help teach woman of all ages how to weld and follow their passions. Brenda uses her community ties to promote her work and engage with the public through social media, hoping to influence those willing to learn. The film SPARKS will ignite a passion within to encourage all ages to pursue any goal, no matter how far-fetched it may seem. The film's immersive experience will demonstrate what it’s like to take something old and neglected and transform it into something new and cherished.