Since I was 10 years old, photography began to serve as the lifeblood of my creative expression. Although still a hobby, photography pushed me to experiment in the world of motion pictures – better known as film production. I soon came to see the wealth of potential in video production and began to see movies as more than just entertainment. I especially appreciate the medium of film because of its ability to heavily immerse an audience into a story. Film can be used as a method of entertainment and a way of delivering arguments or opinions. If executed well, people can be exposed to worldviews that they would have previously shut out, all without even noticing the exposure. These are the types of films I want to make. The kinds of stories I want to tell. Stories that challenge preconceived ideas that the audience may hold, with the goal of making the world a better place.
In 2020, when we were deep in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw a lot of work in the entertainment and performance art industries pretty much grind to a halt. In light of such a climate, I was worried that I would not be able to pursue a career in the film industry, at least not until I was out of college. Fortunately, I stumbled upon an opportunity to join with a group of volunteers to live-stream the performances of musicians from all over Seattle. This concert live-streaming event was called Sessions in Place. The goal of these broadcasts was to make fans of the musicians aware that they needed help, as well as introducing new audiences to their music. At the beginning and end of each stream, the featured band or group was introduced and promoted. These live streams proved to be a viable way for struggling musicians to raise donations from their fans. Throughout the summer of 2020, I did 40 hours of grip and camera work at Sessions in Place. This work included helping set up and take down tripods, lights, cameras, and a camera crane known as a “jib”. I started by learning from the professionals and mostly just assembling and moving the equipment. Over multiple events, I eventually got to assemble a jib all by myself and operate a dolly camera for one of the live streams. To this day I am still a part of Sessions in Place, now a staple camera operator and crew member for every show – assembling cameras and running a mono-pod for the broadcast. Despite my colossal lack of experience in the summer of 2020, I took a chance and asked to volunteer with Sessions in Place. The connections I made in that collective were my tickets into the professional film industry. Working professionally in the commercial film industry was no longer a dream for me – it became a reality.
