Daniel Char-Ordonez 

BFA Film and Media Arts 

Fall 2023 

Expected Graduation in Spring 2025 

He/him 

https://fmx298.santiago.bz/char/

I came to this university as someone with little-to-no knowledge of how to make a film. I had a bit of experience writing my own scripts but that’s about it. So needless to say, I was a little scared. But all those feelings quickly disappeared after my first class: Sound, Image and Motion. Throughout the course of my first semester, this class taught me the basics of filmmaking and gave me the tools to prosper and make my own films. The professor, Taylor Raye Curry, was an inspiring force in the classroom that helped all the students succeed. But the class that really let me unleash my creative potential was Narrative Production, also taught by Prof. Curry. If SIM provided the tools to make a film, Narrative gave me the opportunity to demonstrate what I had learned. I’m proud of the work I’ve created and beyond grateful for having the chance to do it. 

The ability I pride myself on the most is writing. Growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living, but I would always toy with writing my own stories. This finally flourished during the pandemic, when I took the time to write tons of my own scripts. I also like to act and am working every day to get better at the craft, acting both in my own films as well as my friend’s. I am great in the sound department and take on this position often in my friend’s productions. Finally, I am an easy person to work with. I always follow orders on set and do everything in my power to assure the production runs as smoothly as possible. 

An area that I could improve on is directing. I don’t feel super comfortable in the director’s position and find myself struggling sometimes. At first, my fear of making a mistake or not doing it right held me back from getting better at directing. I felt like I was going to mess everything up. I have since learned to control those emotions and no longer have a fear of directing. Now I always try to improve myself by directing my own films and working on other’s sets. I’ve grown to like the process and even look forward to it now. 

After I graduate from UT, I want to move to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams. I want to work hard to find opportunities to work on filmmaking in any capacity I can. I’ll use all the knowledge I’ve accrued during my time studying to make a name for myself. I’ll live with my brother, a fellow film creator, and we’ll combine our abilities to make excellent films. My end goal is to become a renowned actor while writing scripts on the side that I can sell or direct myself.