89 SARAH K. REIMERS Attended 1994 - 1996 Lead Editor Walt Disney Animation Studios Los Angeles, California “I recommend mixing your general studies with one or two of your major/minor requirements per semester as you start out. Mix things up and let all of your coursework inform the whole. Some of my most interesting courses were not related to my major, but certainly influenced my work. You just never know where inspiration will come from.” CALEB DAWDY Class of 2015 Communications Manager AbelCine New York City, New York “A piece of advice I can offer is to absorb as much as you can in regard to film theory and to cinema outside of your country, favored genre, and comfort zone. It’s crucial to at least attempt an understanding of the myriad ways of coming to a story and all the possibilities therein of making a film. Even if an approach or style doesn’t seem to suit you, at least you’ll be able to better define what it is you find attractive about filmmaking, though in time you might find your tastes find inspiration in that once- challenging approach to storytelling. If you have a wide knowledge or cultivate an openness to different styles, I think you will further find that your career opportunities open up as well. No matter the form the art takes, we are all here to tell a great story, and the means to that pursuit are boundless.” SHANE MCSAUBY Class of 2015 Writer, Director Graduate Student New York University Tisch School of the Arts New York City, New York “Go into class as an open book, take in everything you can. Go in as if you know nothing about filmmaking, even if you know everything there is to know about it. Treat every exercise and project as seriously as you can. Take risks and make mistakes; this is how you will find your voice. As writers/directors we constantly ask of people to be present and in the moment, specifically with actors and audience members, yet oftentimes we forget to be present ourselves. We’re always thinking about the next step, the next move, the next hustle, graduation, etc. I think that the best thing you can do in film school is to remain present and in the moment. Know that becoming a writer/director will never be easy, and you’re going to go through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. If you make a bad project, ask yourself why you think it’s bad, write it down, email it to yourself, and read it before you make your next project. Look at the people around you, find your people, find your collaborators, help each other, feed off of each other, learn from each other. Some of the people you meet in school will be lifelong collaborators and friends; this is one of the most important aspects of film school. Take advantage of professors who read and critique your scripts and work because once you get out of school, it’s going to be extremely hard to get people to read your scripts until you start making a name for yourself.” 9 10 7 MARGO SHAW Class of 2016 Photography Studio Manager Envoy B2B Grand Rapids, Michigan “If you’re looking to boost your ‘skills’ list on a resume, learn programs and software. Learn Photoshop through YouTube tutorials, even if you’re not a photographer. Try your hand at visual special effects, audio editing, html coding, or 3D rendering softwares. Invest in a couple of these and download them on your computer. Having even a basic understanding of creative programs can be your secret weapon in an interview – and on the job.” 8
