MY STORY
WHERE IT BEGAN…
Being an only child to a single parent working full time, I had a lot of time to sit still and observe the world around me.
Naturally, I was a daydreamer.
My imagination and attention to detail would manifest itself through art mediums. I started drawing portraits not long after learning to write. I would move on to tracing comic book art and popular Japanese mangas. Eventually, I started illustrating my own short one-two page comics, including my friends as characters. I got a lot of practice with framing subjects, using depth/perspective in backgrounds, dialogue, and story beats. Into my teen years, my interests transitioned into playing music, and being in a band. It was during that time in high school when a bandmate introduced me to a video camera.
With that camera, I documented our band practices and things we did for entertainment.
It was when I showed videos of our skits to my homeroom teacher, Jemmie Godwin (now Smith), that my path began to materialize. Jemmie happened to be the theater teacher, who then, encouraged me to nurture my story telling with the camera. She loaned me her personal handycam, which I proceeded to take with me everywhere. I documented my social life and got comfortable behind the lens.
I ended up making a couple of holiday films for the theater club, and through encouragement (unrelenting peer pressure) from Jemmie, I entered a private high school film festival my senior year.
The theme of the festival was: documentaries involving U.S. History. I decided to make a documentary about my family fleeing the Khmer genocide in the 1970-80s and the geopolitical landscape America was experiencing at the time of the Vietnam war, whilst also, being a great example of “the land of opportunity” for my family. I had barely met the deadline, as I was mourning the death of my grandmother, who was the focal point of the documentary. She praised America for providing a good life. She was hospitalized at the time, and the day I filmed her interview in the hospital was the last day she was conscious. I watched her pass away. I included photos from her funeral and the legacy of she left behind. She commanded great respect. I wanted to honor her, and touch others with her story. (It ended up being a real tear jerker for most)
Being from one of only two public school students attending at the time, I watched others with a lot talent and even greater access to resources than I had, take most of the prizes into the finals. After not hearing my film mentioned the entire night, I had accepted defeat.
I was so discouraged that I didn’t even hear my film and my name when I was called for 1st place. In my peripheral, Jemmie was freaking out and screaming “YOU WON!”. After a moment of confusion, I got up to receive the prize in disbelief.
A year later, I was asked if my film could be included in the Young Filmmakers Showcase at the Nashville Film Festival. Jemmie attended the screening and pulled me aside afterwards to tell me what one of the high school film fest judges told her:
“When the judge saw your entry, he said it was clear that you were the winner.”
I knew that I was good at art in general, but had no expectation of it being useful in the world. Until that point, I had no definitive career goals and was expecting to join the military like many of my relatives/mentors.
But, my film’s reception convinced me that maybe, storytelling was a career path worth pursuing.
*I still keep in touch with Jemmie and her husband Andy Smith.
Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am. I can’t thank you enough for believing in me.
FILM SCHOOL
Before being absorbed into Belmont University, Watkins College of Art, Design, & Film in Nashville, TN was where I decided to earn a degree in film. (Although I technically never graduated.)
I attended from 2009 to approx. 2015. Initially, I started as a major in Directing, but changed to editing so I didn’t have to make as many required student films. It was the frugal thing to do.
I cut my teeth early by working on higher level student productions while I was fresh, to learn as much as I could. By the time I got around to making my first student film (which was MOS by curriculum), I was already operating with a lot of experience and confidence.
Some people make fun of film school, but the education was actually quite useful. Knowing the entire process from concept to distribution and all the intricacies in between, really allows one to be flexible. Quite often, I’d work with actors who’d want to write/direct their own projects, but couldn’t preproduction their way out of an upside-down cup. I’ve had to teach a few how much work goes behind making a film.
The education has showed it’s value many times and every time I find a gap due to poor prep. I’ve currently found myself in more of a producer role lately, in addition to directing and cinematography. Because, when someone drops the ball, someone else needs to step up so the project doesn’t crash and burn.
As many (wiser) film students do: I religiously studied DVD extras, behind the scenes content, and VFX breakdowns to learn how Hollywood filmmakers achieved cinema through ingenuity and available resources. I took all of that knowledge and applied it to creative problem solving on/off set.
By chance, I worked on many action based student films. I did them so well, and so often that I was typecast as the action guy. It bugged me to the point that for my third student film, I wrote a rom-com. Because, my love for film spans more than just the action genre, and I had to prove to everyone that I was a well rounded filmmaker. I also enjoy doing sound. Since I like playing and recording music, sound was easy to pick up. I would often be asked to do sound on set. For most of my time in film school, I worked 3rd shift loading trucks at UPS. I could often be found napping in the mixing studio before leaving for work. I worked until the sun came up, and took another nap before my first class of the day.
I slowly transitioned from attending school to working full-time. Eventually freelancing full-time.
WHERE I AM NOW
Fast-forward to now, I co-own a production company, BAER Cine, and often work with the local stunt team creating action shorts.
Between projects, I’m often working as a freelance cam op.
(As Nashville’s narrative market is still small.)
But, I am always working towards making the highest quality cinema I can; finding fulfillment in creating art that I can be proud of and people can enjoy. Cheers to a future of possibilities! 🍻
