Alumni Stories

It’s been a crazy journey. It’s not like a normal job where you put in time and hope to get a promotion. There have been all kinds of twists and turns to get me to where I am today, and I’m sure there are going to be lots more turns.

So many things happened after I graduated from Compass and moved to New York City. I started as an intern at a camera rental house. After that, I worked as a Production Assistant on Law and Order, followed by Men in Black 3, and some other shows. Then I started doing assistant camera. Then digital imaging technician, which transitioned me into coloring. I colored ten feature films, including one that won the grand jury prize at SXSW. (Also did VFX on five feature films, but that’s a whole other story.) While doing all that, I was shooting small things here and there. One day, I got hired to shoot a McDonald’s TV spot because they liked my reel. After that, I transitioned out of color and basically freelanced full-time as a Director of Photography. At the same time, my brother and I started a production company named We are Films. Now, we have a full-fledged production company where we direct together. Also, I still freelance as a Director of Photography. I shot my first feature film in 2015. That’s finally coming out later this year, called REM. It’s been a crazy ride so far, and I’m loving it.

It’s all a blast. I just love making things. And it’s nice to get paid to do that.

It’s a huge undertaking, but it has been amazing. Because of it, I have been able to travel to all parts of the world. It’s great to “be your own boss.”

I knew I wanted to “do film” before going to Compass. While at Compass, I worked on every single project I could, and it was nice that we got to learn what each role on set was. After attending, I knew more about what I wanted to do. I learned that there are a lot of different jobs within the industry.

If you want to work in film, do it. But you have to be all in. It’s a lifestyle that some people love, but it’s not for everyone. If you want to do it, commit to it and don’t look back. Also, you have to make a living. Don’t be afraid to work on commercials and corporate videos here and there. Make them better than anyone else would. Learn from those, and you can apply what you learned to narrative films or anything else you are passionate about.

My journey into the industry has been one of the best, most interesting aspects of my life. I have worked on a few small budget films, dozens of short films, hundreds of commercial shoots and three years (and counting) worth of television stories. There were plenty of times that I thought about trying something else or going back to school for something different, but I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied (in my work or with myself). Somehow, there’s always been something for me to do. I’ve been incredibly blessed in my journey, and honestly, I owe all the glory to God. He’s the one that’s been guiding my tiny, adrift ship, pointing me towards the next harbor.

My favorite part of my journey has been finding creativity within myself. Yes, I will always remember the nights that I stayed up until dawn on the set of a feature film, the days spent hammering out scripts in pre-production, and the people with whom I worked and loved; but it’s finding that bit of myself I can love and appreciate I feel has made me a better person. I know that’s cheesy and cliché, but hey, clichés are rooted in truths.

Broadcasting is 1000x faster than working on a feature film. There is no hurry up and wait. If you’re waiting, you’ve missed your shot. When I first started at Fox 17, this was a huge shock to me; and I had to quicken my pace to properly shoot for TV. However, once I got used to the fast-paced, non-stop feel of live TV, I found that it suits me perfectly. I am never bored, I get to travel, my schedule is amazing, I have creative control over the finished product, and I always know what’s going on around town and in the news. There are days that I will go out and shoot three segments in three different cities before I come back to the studio, and then I’m still done by 3:30-4:00 in the afternoon. My coworkers have, over the last few years, become something of a second family to me. We’re a tight-knit group that works together to find interesting stories and cool places to go. When I first started in TV, I wasn’t sure if it would be for me, but I’ve found I love this aspect of storytelling just as much as filmmaking.

Compass, more than anything else, taught me to work hard or get left behind. This is 100 precent true in every industry, but filmmaking and broadcast are cutthroat trades. Why? Because we love what we do, and we want to continue doing it. But, if you’re lazy, you’re not going anywhere; there’s another kid on deck waiting to take your spot. Do what you do well, and with a great attitude, and people will notice. Slack off and joke around, and people will notice that, too, you just won’t work anymore. Compass also taught me how to develop a good eye for shot composition, how to set up basic lighting, and it helped me develop my skills as an editor, all of those things I use on a daily basis.

This industry can be difficult, but it can also be the most amazing thing in your life. Be sure you want to do this, search your heart, know yourself. If this is the road you want to continue down, don’t let anyone stop you. Develop your own projects, try new things, meet new people, think for yourself, read, read, read, and learn to enjoy yourself and the life you’ve been given. We only get one.

I started out working on anything that I could – paid or not – local or not. I just wanted to get experience and a feel for how productions worked. I focused on finding work within the Camera Department, but if I couldn’t find it, I would do anything just to meet people and learn. I ended up briefly working at Birns & Sawyer Camera House in North Hollywood, and I learned an incredible amount in that time. Afterward, I worked on indie features like Old Fashioned and Short History of Decay …and a number of random super low budget features, shorts, web series, and commercials.

Eventually, I fell into Reality TV. I had never focused on that part of the industry, but I grew to like the multi-camera style and frenetic nature of the format. Things change quickly because the story is developing as you go, and you have to facilitate for multiple crews. I love multitasking, so it was a great fit. I’ve worked on several seasons and variations of Top Chef, and working with the same company has allowed me the opportunity to work in both Production and Camera.

There is always an opportunity to learn something new. If you’re bored, you’re doing something wrong!

Reality TV is very different. I find that the pace is much quicker, and the scheduling is a lot more aggressive. There are several cameras to manage as opposed to one or two. There are complex wireless systems. Setting up a control room is much more involved because there are so many camera feeds the Director and DP need to see. Depending on the show you need to incorporate tools from the live broadcast world, and I enjoy the constant puzzles and problems to solve.

The experience was invaluable because they really put you out there and let you go for it. Afterward, you dissect the experience and evaluate what should have been done differently. Sometimes we made decent films. Sometimes we made terrible ones. Each experience was worth something. The pace of Compass was pretty intense, and I think that was helpful because the industry will require you to run a little bit faster than most other work. You have to put in effort and be a self-starter. Compass structured the program this way by design.

Get out there and work. Even if you are settled on a certain position or direction, be open to other opportunities — even if they seem beneath you. Each experience is an opportunity, and you have to keep yourself in that mindset. Work hard and work honestly. Do things that other people aren’t willing to do. Do what needs to be done before someone has to tell you to do it. Don’t just be looking out for your own interests and goals, make sure you are focused on helping others succeed as well. People are looking for the self-starters and problem-solvers— be that person! It’s all the basic stuff, but if you do it, you will stand out from all the others in your same position.

This is probably not true of all entry-level jobs, but my favorite part has been my ability to be creative. ProGuides has given me a good amount of freedom to take things where I want with projects. I can put little goofs or gags in the videos because it spices things up. A little seasoning goes a long way when it comes to tutorial videos and guides. Also, the money is nice.

Working at ProGuides is awesome. It’s crazy and lots of work, but because it’s a start-up, I think that’s expected. It’s fun working in such a relaxed environment where everyone has similar interests as well.

I learned a lot about production at Compass. It is nice to know that I can use, or easily figure out, whatever equipment is thrown at me. However, since I’m mainly an editor, I don’t get to use my production knowledge too much. I also learned a lot of useful theory. Before Compass I would always just do what I felt would be cool for the video, but now I try to give everything I do in a video reasoning. It shouldn’t be cool just for the sake of being cool, at least most of the time.

My advice to graduates is work hard. If you go above and beyond and do good work people will notice. Just keep trucking along and getting better at whatever skill you are learning. Make sure to put conscious effort into improving your skills. Skills pay bills, and it feels even better to pay bills doing something you enjoy.