Liisa Halloran '24 was awarded a Fulbright Research grant to Italy to research and produce a feature length documentary on the history of gendered violence in post-war Italy through the lens of first generation Italian-Americans. At Oxy, Liisa was a MAC Major, and a Gender, Womens, Sexuality Studies Minor.
We asked Liisa to share details and takeaways from her Fulbright experience in Italy, and here's what she said:
My Fulbright experience has shaped me so much as both a person and an artist. As the sole writer, director, and producer of my documentary, I have developed a strong sense of trust and self-reliance as a filmmaker.
In the past year, I have interviewed professors, sociologists, family, and friends about their personal experiences with gender discrimination in Italy and learned how to navigate these difficult conversations in my second language.
I’ve also made incredible friends from Italy and all over the world who have opened my horizons to new music, languages, foods, and perspectives. One of my fondest memories is singing along to a mix of classic and contemporary Italian hits at my friend’s festa di laurea (graduation party) and cutting the traditional mille foglie cake with her.
After my Fulbright ends this June, I’ll be staying in Rome for a couple of months assisting on an American film set taking place here over the summer, as well as entering my documentary into European film festivals. When I come back to the United States in August, I’ll be looking for work at both narrative and documentary production companies.
Read on to find out how Liisa got to Italy. She shares her application journey below:
Why did you choose to apply for this award?
I chose to apply for this award because this project has been on my mind for over 3 years now. During my time at Oxy, I did an independent study with Professor Fox and won a Young Initiative Grant to create a short version of this documentary, but I wasn't satisfied with just a short and felt this topic deserved a feature length project with the level of depth of research and nuance it requires.
Briefly describe the work you will be doing on your fellowship.
I will be researching and producing a documentary on the history of gendered violence in post war Italy through the lens of a first generation Italian-American.
What are you most looking forward to during your time as a fellow?
I'm most looking forward to connecting with my host professor and the other students at the University of La Sapienza.
How have your experiences at Oxy prepared you to apply for this award?
During my time at Oxy I had several professors and staff members who encouraged me to create and apply for various grants and assured me that I was capable of being a filmmaker. They guided me through the processes of research, pre-production, production, and editing and gave me the confidence and the skills to know how to execute something of this scale.
What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?
Be specific and clear about what you want to study and why! Demonstrate why your research is important and necessary to improving cultural exchange and why it has to be done in the country you're applying to.