SCAD Alumni share their experience
Photo courtesy of the Savannah Film Fest
Written by Emilie Kefalas
With the Savannah Film Festival almost wrapped by Friday, Oct. 30 afternoon, four SCAD graduates in the entertainment industry spoke of their experiences at the festival’s ‘Alumni Panel.’ Moderated by Dramatic Writing Professor Chris Auer, the panel offered students of all majors the opportunity to hear from successful alumni who were once in their shoes as students.
Each panelist offered a unique perspective on the entertainment industry, because all four have distinct concentrations. Fashion marketing and management graduate Lauren Driskill is a costume buyer based in Atlanta for the television show “Sleepy Hollow.” Production design graduate Christopher Minard is an art director for the show “The Americans” in New York City. Marc Casey graduated with a degree in film and television in 2009, and currently works as a cameraman in Atlanta for “Vampire Diaries.” Adison Allen graduated with two degrees, one in film and television and one in sound design, and works as a post-production supervisor for Riveting Entertainment in Los Angeles.
When asked what they wish they knew the first time they walked onto a set, Allen replied, “Figure out who the director [and] the DP (Director of Photography) is on set. You piss off the wrong person, you’re done. Don’t screw up a coffee order. Don’t speak up. Keep your opinion to yourself.”
Minard echoed Allen’s advice. “Keep your head down and shut up, and it’s not just because everyone knows more than you. Being on set, watching someone shoot something at three in the morning, you’re going to learn something. [Keep] a lower profile, and let the information come to you.”
Casey stressed the importance of communication when working on set. “A lot of times, on set, you’re your own boss,” Casey said.
For students still networking and trying to get industry experience, Driskill advised students to be willing to work for free. According to Driskill, people are fine to schedule someone who wants to work for free. The important thing is to get out there and get hands-on experience, she said.
Allen raduated with over four-hundred other film and television majors, and he continues to keep in contact with many of them.
“This is your network. This school is your network,” Allen said.
In contrast to Allen’s large graduating major class, Minard was of only a small count of students in the production design department at the time, and he did not have a large network or list of contacts when he moved to New York.
“The only word I have is ‘persistence,’” Minard said. “Persistence is a thing. There are so many people who want what they want, you just have to be willing to fight a long term battle.”
Casey told students to find a city where they want to work and start networking in that area. He explained when he first moved to Atlanta, he would email contacts he had in the industry who were in the city and let them know when he was available if they needed help on set or with a project.
When asked what they would have done differently knowing what they know now, Minard and Casey both advised students to take creative risks while at SCAD.
“You obviously have to work hard. The worst thing that happens here if you take risks, you get a bad grade. You can’t be afraid to fail. If you’re willing to put the work in, your professor is going to recognize you worked really hard,” Minard said.
Though hard work is vital for success in the industry, Driskill reminded students to also maintain a balance between coursework and life.
Allen also emphasized the importance of working hard. “Treat your projects as if you’re turning them in for a major client. And if you love what you do, you really don’t work,” Allen said.
