I am a cinematographer currently attending USC's School of Cinematic Arts graduate film program. I was born in Washington D.C., but lived in the South between Mississippi and Alabama. As a southerner living in Los Angeles, I'm pursuing the dream of a country adolescent venturing out into an industry I've come to love through the art of cinematography.
From the inception of life, I've always been pushed towards academic success. When my friends spent long summer days in the heat of the countryside, I sat in the house with my grandmother reading any book I could grab from her shelf. I grew up understanding hard work does not guarantee success, but success does not come without hard work. I enveloped myself in this motto constantly pushing myself in academia. This led me to attend college on scholarship at The University of Alabama before I was accepted into my current graduate program. As a child, I was constantly heckled for being the "smart kid." The child who sifted through his homework more than roaming the backlots.
Now, I've learned to embrace my love for knowledge, but more so my belief you should never be ashamed of your intelligence or passion for something others may not understand.
I'm sure as Blerdnation grows into a powerful and flourishing community, I will find an individual with similar ideals and interests I can look up to considering I'm still a young man developing my identity. Until that point, I admire every individual whose a part of Blerdnation.
Now that I've become a part of Blerdnation, I've been reading the rest of the features of my fellow Blerds. It's amazing to see a cadre of individuals from different backgrounds, with a similar understandings of creativity and progression. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the great people who will become a part of the nation.
The most awkward situation I've been in was orientation day during undergrad. My father and I sat down with my academic advisor to set up my classes for freshmen year. My Dad pushed for an array of nursing classes. Needless to say I was less than enthused. When my father left I immediately went back inside and changed everything to undecided.
Story is king.
At the moment, my goal is to finish USC's grad school film program. Once I leave the institution, I hope to work as a cinematographer in the field as much as possible while. My ultimate goal is becoming a prominent Director of Photography working on feature films.
Recently, I finished watching the first season of a show known as, "Once Upon A Time." It is currently in its second season, but this show represents individuals with a tight and focused understanding of story. Story is king, and those who understand its intricacies are destined to greatness. It seems like such a simple thing to tell a story, but I've learned it is a trying craft. It is (to a degree) an innate talent, but anyone with promise can hone their ability. Now, I'm learning to become a better storyteller while understanding how cinematography advances narrative.
I believe someone who would be an amazing addition to Blerdnation is up and coming Director, Ryan Coogler. Ryan recently won first place at The Sundance Film Festival for his feature film, Fruitvale. Coogler represents an intelligent, artistic, yet driven man whose found success through his art. That is an amazing feat.
Follow your passion with absolute tenacity. Don't be afraid of failure as a you hone your talents. We all have an ideal aesthetic we hope to achieve, but you can not expect to reach this pinnacle early in your career. Set aside your frustration, and keep practicing what you love. You'll grow as an artist, and when you look back at your past work, you'll see the progression.
Cinematography is visual storytelling. It is the advancement of narrative through visual elements. I love cinematography since it blends two of my favorite elements, visual aesthetic and story. The best cinematographers not only strive for a beautiful picture, but understand the necessity of advancing a story through what you see.