Written by Kaitlynne Rainne, Photo courtesy of Marc Femenella
Marc Femenella began at SCAD in 2001, with the intent of majoring in graphic design. But he soon learned his passions were elsewhere.
“I didn’t have the fine-art craftsmanship required, and frankly, I’d grown weary of X-Acto knives and color wheels,” Femenella said. Then he decided for fun to take an introduction to video course. His movie-buff background as a kid who made documentaries about his favorite movies; Femenella was a film editor before he even realized it.
Sitting in Hamilton Hall, reunited with his passion and with equipment better suited to him, Femenella knew he was home. Soon after he switched his major to film and television and graduated in 2005. Little did he know, it wouldn’t be the work of just his class projects that brought it together but a little bit of everything he did during his time at SCAD.
Femenella also became involved in Student Media as a DJ and show host for SCAD Radio. He also wrote and edited the arts and entertainment section of District. However, this was all before SCAD offered a writing degree.
Femenella shared his frustrations about not feeling as though the work they were doing was relevant to an art school. That thought shifted as he recalled his fondest memory of working with Student Media when District won several big awards.
“I think from then on, we knew that being a student newspaper wasn’t about being appreciated by your administration or even your student body,” Femenella said. “It was about reporting what mattered even in the absence of local accolades, and knowing we were doing it fairly and ethically.”
Upon graduating, he landed an assistant editor job and quickly moved up the ranks. While some projects may be more glamorous and artistic than others, Femenella proudly shared that he is doing what he has always wanted to do.
When asked about his current project he said, “In a few months, I’ll be co-executive producing my first series for a new network which I can’t quite reveal right now. However, it is kind of a full circle thing for me. Showrunning is a lot more like running a newspaper or radio station,” Femenella said.
Femenella also shared some advice for students involved in in Student Media. “It is not easy being a part of a student newspaper, but the stories are there and they need to be reported,” Femenella said. “Don’t ever feel like you’re wasting your time. It all comes into play every day.”
Femenella noted that right now, the world needs media and journalists. It needs the eagerness of students like ourselves and the hunger we have for storytelling.
“So get your art degree, but get your second education in District.”
