Peter Bilson (He/Him)

BFA in Film and Media Arts

Senior Expected Graduation – May 2024

https://fmx298.santiago/bilson/

As early as high school, I always had a passion for sports. However, that
came to an end once I graduated. Feeling lost, I started my film journey at The
University of Tampa. I soon realized that the typical film production style
wasn’t something that suited me. With help from my professors like Warren
Cockerham and Dana Plays, I was able to hone in on my cinematography and post
production skills and exert them into an area I loved – Sports Videography.
Along with digital media classes, I was able to combine my passion for film and
sports and quickly began working with sports-based companies.

I believe my greatest work is demonstrated through its editing. Athletes can
be very critical and specific with what type of content they love. That being
said, I learned how to capture a more fast-paced editing style. Combining this
with the more traditional paced filming that UT has taught me, allowed me to
grasp a very cinematic and captivating story to compliment athletes’ gameplay.
Digital Media has been a driving force in a lot of the work I do as well. A
strong knowledge of recent trends on certain social platforms has a positive
impact on companies. I was able to demonstrate my camera/editing skills
alongside my understanding of media marketing with my internship at a sports
marketing agency, (Newport & State), through the school’s incubator intern
program. These skills have helped me excel and connect with new media outlets
and athletes as well.

As I continue down this path, I would like to improve upon my film set
knowledge. Although I am constantly behind the camera or the editing screen, I
am not too involved with the traditional film set productions our school
undergoes. As I expand into new sports campaign markets, having set knowledge
is extremely valuable and can often be crucial on the professional sports level
for completing film shoots. With my senior thesis film approaching in the near
future, I hope to use that as an opportunity to get more hands on set
experience.

Film and Media Arts has given me the gift of combining two aspects of my
life that I love and allows me to distribute them through the same outlet. As I
grow near the end of my time at UT, I have been applying and talking to NFL
Media Outlets as well as some more local ones in Tampa as well. My major has
already helped me film NFL Combine workouts and NBA players in the past and I
believe the knowledge I have gained behind the camera, editing, and my
experience filming on the field will enhance my capabilities in the future.