Ximena Salazar Ortega
Film and Media Arts BFA ’24
Junior

Growing up in Mexico City, amongst a family of computer science majors and business managers, I knew nothing about having a career in the arts. I was always involved in musical theatre as an extracurricular from school, but I knew it wasn’t what I was ultimately meant to do. My parents invested most weekends taking my brother and I to watch movies, see plays, or have movie nights at home as ways to spend time together. Thus, I grew up surrounded by the medium I love, cinema, I just didn’t know it was possible to make this passion into a lifelong career. In High School, I moved to the completely strange, exciting, and intimidating country that is the United States. I found comfort in continuing theatre; an artform that I knew and loved. However, I got more involved in the technical aspects of it, what goes on behind the scenes. Little did I know this was sparking a deeper interest in collaborative work and working with a crew.

With no knowledge on filmmaking whatsoever, I applied to The University of Tampa because I needed to be in a program that was fully hands on, and being in a small school allows for more personalized mentorship. I knew I made the right decision when I was in my first film class ever and we were already learning how to use a camera. In the past three years, I have had the opportunity to learn from amazing Professors such as Warren Cockerham, Taylor Curry, and Aaron Walker. Not only have they provided me with great filmmaking skills, but they have also taught me many life lessons that have allowed me to grow. I also value my time I spent abroad studying under dedicated mentors at FAMU in Prague. It was very important to me to have a different cultural perspective on how we view and make cinema.

My journey at UT has allowed me to find a passion behind the camera as a cinematographer. However, Professor Curry’s mentorship has also led me to truly enjoy directing. In her Narrative Production class, I would always point out that I didn’t consider myself a screenwriter, so I was struggling to write my film. She kept encouraging me and mentoring me, and she help me become more confident in my writing. This newfound confidence was then reflected in my performance as a director because I could trust the material I had written, and I knew what my vison truly was. I turned this insecurity into a strength, and I continue to rely on these incredible mentors to guide me through my process.

I have enjoyed my time at The University of Tampa, and I am forever grateful for all the lessons I have learned here. After graduation, I would like to continue my education, perhaps in a more specialized focus program, such as a Masters in cinematography. I also want to continue to work collaboratively with all the fellow talented filmmakers I have met along the way. I hope to find my place somewhere in this magical industry where I get to keep doing what I love and sharing it with the world.