When I was in middle school I didn't know where I would possibly go after high school because I just hadn't found something that really grabbed my attention. Sometime in 8th grade or so, my dad and I sat down to watch Evil Dead (1981). My dad made a comment about how the movie was often studied in film schools, and I remember thinking it was the coolest thing that you could go to school for film. I knew from then on out I would want to go into filmmaking, specifically cinematography.
I knew I loved seeing how light made me feel, and I wanted to study why certain imagery could make me feel a certain way. I also knew I wanted to tell stories by basically taking a narrative theme and translating it into images, because that's what really resonated with me. The filmmaking pathway at Ballard was the first place I got to even talk about movies and why I liked them. Getting to discuss how a certain shot made me feel or how I would shoot a certain scene was all I had been looking for. Once we started getting to storyboard our ideas and execute them, I knew I was in the right place. Learning the importance of story before all the technical ideas was perfect, because the first and most important goal of filmmaking is to tell a story that will reach people.
In my last year at Ballard, I
collaborated with my friends in class to put together a music video called Song for Anna that got recognition at
the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), as well as a Merit Award
through the National YoungArts Foundation. My time at Ballard helped me to
build a strong resume and portfolio, giving me access to financial support
through academic scholarships once I reached Columbia.
I started at Columbia College Chicago as soon as I could after Ballard. I was drawn to working with 16mm and
35mm film, something I knew I wouldn't be able to do much once I left school.
Instead of lighting a scene and then just checking the monitor to see how it
looks, I learned how to calculate the ideal lighting ratios and do the math to
figure out how much light I needed. The beauty of film is how much time you
spend on each shot, making sure every part of the frame will be exposed the way
you want it. Once I started shooting films digitally I was paying much closer
attention to the details of light, so I think shooting on film is an important
experience to have.
I was on set nearly every
weekend at Columbia. I drifted more towards the camera department, and ended up
pulling focus (1st AC) on a lot of projects. I love how in touch with a scene
you are as a 1st AC; paying close attention to the spatial relationships
between the lens and the action feels so involved and hands on. I graduated a
year early from Columbia and took a job working as part time staff in the
Advanced Camera Cage at Columbia, working with film and digital cameras as a
technician and Teacher’s Assistant. I started getting work on indie films and
advertisements near the end of my last year in school, which is another bonus
of going to school in a big city like Chicago.
As of now, December 2017, I
am fully freelancing in Chicago and working mainly as a 1st or 2nd AC. I hope
to be in the union, Local 600, within a few years. Working as a freelancer
means I don't have a rigid schedule and I might not know when the next work is
coming, but once you get the first job the rest come much easier! I love what I
do, and I feel very excited to see how this industry develops. Back at Ballard,
Lawrence showed me that there are so many jobs in this industry and that it
really is possible to do something if you just stick with it.
On
being a woman in the industry
It's no secret that film is a
male dominated industry, specifically on the cinematography side of things.
Lighting and camera departments used to be all male, but I can say that in
Chicago I have worked with a relatively even mix of women and men. At least half
the working cinematographers in my class were women, and there were never any
competitive or cutthroat vibes. We all helped to lift each other up and look
out for each other, and I've met many amazing, hardworking people in this
industry.
I will say, if you decide to
go into this industry as a woman, be prepared to stand up for yourself. While
most men you work with will be totally respectful, it's not unheard of to come
across someone that sees you differently because of your gender. Luckily,
especially lately, these kinds of problems are getting more (deserved)
attention and people are increasingly intolerant of sexist behavior on set. It
may be intimidating to show up on a new set and see that you are the only woman
in your department, but those are the women that inspired me to work in this
industry. Know your strength and remember that you are there for a reason.
I truly believe that the future of this industry is female, and every time I
see another woman in my department it inspires me.
P.S. Good note for guys -
it's great to want to help out but if you ask a woman if she needs help and she
says she's got it, let her do her job!
