Michael Calandra

BFA Film and Media Arts

1st Semester Junior

Expected Graduation May 2022

https://vimeo.com/michaelcalandra1

When I was in freshman year of high school I signed up for a TV Production class, not expecting anything but an easy A. Little did I know by senior year I would be in that class three times a day pursuing a film degree the following year. This was just the beginning. Since being enrolled at UT I have had the best professors that have taught me so much. From Professor Walker in Advanced Post-Production teaching me essential software’s to Professor Curry in Narrative/Documentary production teaching me the importance of a good story, I’ve learned a substantial amount since the high school TV Production days.

I consider my strengths to be cinematography, sound design, and especially editing. This is where I find my escape. Zoning into the cut for hours on end, jumping out of reality and into the edit. I started editing on an iPad using iMovie at a young age. From that point forward I always had the camera in someones face and was always making something new. This led me on to TV Production in high school where I acquired industry certifications in Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, and later my FAA Remote Pilots License for Commercial Aerial Photography. I am proud to recognize my improvement from my younger days, now having the privilege of clients reaching out to me for paid work. My weaknesses are lighting and story. As I practice, my storytelling has gotten exponentially better, but I am still looking to improve. As far as lighting I wish to gain further experience and hone my skills to produce a beautiful outcome.

As opposed to many film majors, my main focus after graduation isn’t in film/television (although this isn’t out of the question). My dream job would be to move to California and work full-time for a surf company, creating content for socials and YouTube. I wish to inspire everyone through my work, looking forward to also making short films with meaning and impactful. I am currently already getting practice doing so. Recently I started a creative company with my best friend, working with various companies to create a brand for their social media through the content we make for them. While I do this, I am working on growing my personal brand and acquiring more freelance clients. I look forward to the future and can’t wait to see where this degree takes me.