Morgan Cameron, Film and Media Arts, Spring 2021, Expected Graduation Fall 2021, https://filmfreeway.com/MorganCameron

I’ll be honest: I came to UT knowing nothing about film production. All I brought with me was my desire to learn about all I could because the concept of filmmaking really fascinated me. I ultimately found a strong passion for screenwriting; I’ve been writing pieces since I was a little girl, but something always felt like it was missing. After taking Intro to Scriptwriting, the gap was filled. Everything just made so much sense, and I knew I had to keep developing ideas and turning them into scripts. I took Screenwriting I during the spring of 2020 and developed an out-of-this-world (pun intended) narrative called The Galactic Games that I’m still working on today. That same semester I also took Producing for TV and Motion Pics and discovered I had a skill for all of the bookkeeping and organizing that comes with making a film. The fall of 2020, I took Screenwriting Features to further my writing skills and was blown away when I was able to complete a full, feature-length script that both Prof. Taylor Curry and I were very proud of. In order to gain more technical skills for production, I took Cinematography during winter intersession and came out knowing more than ever before.

When it comes to my strengths, it’s definitely all about my ability to write well thought out narratives and harnessing my strict organizational skills. See, if you’ve ever come across a Pisces with her head constantly stuck in clouds, that’s me, especially if I’m hooked on a story idea. My feature-length script, The Magic Within, required a lot of world building, world rules, and character backgrounds that gave both main and side characters their quirks, so I was always thinking about what to do next and how to implement certain ideas so it would all tie in together in this really poetic way. The same can be said about The Galactic Games where the protagonists have complicated backstories and live in a galaxy far, far away with too many planets, landscapes, starships and species to count (no, this is NOT a knock-off Star Wars story). From a producing standpoint, I can rapidly manage anything from call sheets to production boards, and I’m not afraid to go after a location if need be. Let’s not forget that I’ll keep everyone on a strict schedule too.

After writing about all these great things, I have to say: there is something pretty ironic about me. While I’ve helmed my own small sets, I haven’t been on more than two true film sets since I’ve been in Tampa, and I know that gives me a disadvantage. I guess the fact that I’m not afraid to admit it says something though. It’s bothered me for a while now because very few people have ever asked me to help on their sets, and I really don’t know why. I’m introverted by nature and constantly struggle with my anxiety and the fear of rejection, but I’ve realized that I just need to put myself out there and deal with whatever comes my way. You have to work for what you want, right?

On a happier note…I have high hopes after I graduate. Thanks to my ongoing degree, I’ve already snagged a summer internship where I’ll be spearheading my own project, and I know that’s going to be my first big stepping stone into my career. My first true job may only be as a PA, but I plan to use my skills and ever-growing experience to slowly make my way up! I firmly believe that the Film and Media Arts program has given me a strong foundation in the film world, and I’m very excited to build upon that foundation. I don’t know exactly what the future holds; all I know is that I’m going to be ready to face whatever comes my way.