Sheriden Garrett walks up to strangers on the streets of Atlanta every day. She has one mission: to ask the people of Atlanta what love means to them.
Fifth-year English Major Garett posted the premiere episode of “Love Notes,” her docu-series about love, three weeks ago on YouTube. In the episode, people on the streets of Atlanta are asked a simple question: “What do you think love is?”
Answers varied, but the result is clear: Love can mean many different things.
Created a little over a year ago, “Love Notes” was originally called “Love Jones,” Garrett’s blog where she gathered inspiration about the concept of love from others.
The series evolved from blog posts to a brief interview format, but Garrett knew she wanted it to be more.
The idea of the project came from Sheridan’s past experiences with love.
“I’ve never had great examples of love, because I’m a child of divorce and as a child that’s your first experience with love,” Garrett explained.
“The love and respect just wasn’t there. To be exposed to things like that, you kind of equate certain scenarios with love, because you just don’t know better.”
She described her first serious relationship as a huge failure, filled with drama and chaos. Garrett considered the relationship love because of words—not actions.
“I thought it was love, because we’d say it to each other,” she said.
“Love Notes” was a way for her to build on that lesson, and clear things up for herself and, hopefully, other people along the way.
Garrett contacted her good friend and director Romaine Phillips during winter break. She gave him an essay that elaborated on the things she wanted to do with Love Notes, and he agreed to collaborate with her.
Garrett’s role in the project is both creator and producer, but she hopes to play a bigger role in the cutting room in the future, assisting Phillips with shooting and editing.
With plans to make it last as long as possible, Garrett hopes “Love Notes” will evolve. She plans to tweak the format in the upcoming episodes. In the future, interviews will be more in-depth, with ten or more questions given to a particular person or group.
Garrett is willing to interview anyone in Atlanta, no matter their age, race or gender.
“There is so much diversity in Atlanta, and that is partly what I love about this place,” Garrett said.
“Anyone willing to speak their truth while being filmed will be talked to. So no one is safe.”
The purpose of “Love Notes” is to act as a catalyst for growth. Its original purpose was to further explore love: romantic love, amicable love between
friends, familial love and self love. But Garrett also wants the project to focus on helping people grow through learning about others’ experiences and thoughts.
“Basic fundamental aspects of love—like
respect—can be something that’s so overlooked when you’re young because
“I love him” or “I love her” becomes your excuse for being treated less than your worth,” Garrett said.
Garrett believes that anyone who has a creative idea or project in mind should just get out and do it. She said it’s important to be constantly making things, especially making things that you like.
“Passion attracts passion. That’s why
we love film, why we love music, why we love that painting we don’t
quite understand hanging in the gallery at the High,” she said.
“You’d be surprised at how readily people can be in wanting to help make your vision come to life. I never expected to hear so many ‘yes’s,’ but I have. The moral of the story is to not let the potential negatives thwart your creative vision.”
