5 minute read
Camera Ready
Andrea Bucilla • Rob Pittard • Quinton Smith
Carrying a Journalism Degree into the Film Industry
By Tate Dye
Photos Courtesy of Bucilla, Pittard & Smith
A JOURNALISM DEGREE is both valuable and extremely versatile. News anchors, magazine editors, educators, and a seemingly endless collection of careers have emerged out of the School of Journalism and New Media. A number of journalism alumni have even landed jobs in the world of movie production and independent filmmaking. Each filmmaker’s journey is different, from landing first jobs after graduation to making connections and creating new stories. Throughout the challenges and memorable achievements in a film industry career, a degree in journalism has proven to be a helpful advantage to those working in movie production.
QUINTON SMITH began making movies with his family’s VHS camera at the age of four and creating short sketch comedies with his middle school friends. Smith knew that he wanted to turn his passion into a career upon coming to Ole Miss, where he graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in cinema. He now lives in Anchorage, Alaska, as the owner of Landsick Media, LLC and a freelance filmmaker. Smith’s education was much more than his experiences within the classroom. He recounts the number of hours spent working up the courage to interview strangers outside of the Union for soundbites. “My journalism degree was so useful because it got me out of my shell,” says Smith.
The post-college job hunt is not always a smooth ride. Even though Smith knew he wanted to work in the film industry, he could not find a job anywhere. Eventually, a prior connection helped him land his first job in Alaska. The production company was impressed with the demo reel that Smith had created as a part of a 500-level Ole Miss journalism course. He worked here for two years before he began freelancing. “That was one of the most terrifying experiences in my life,” says Smith. “I hadn’t planned on ever working freelance and didn’t know the first thing about how to start a business.” Through hard work and determination, contracts fell into place and Smith continued to make connections that would lead his production company into a safe and successful position.
ANDREA BUCCILLA was a middle school English teacher in Brooklyn when she uncovered her fervent interest in film production. Graduating in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and new media, Buccilla decided to remain at Ole Miss, where she earned her master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2012. After seven years of teaching, she knew that her heart was leading her down a different path.
She found herself spending time on indie film sets and learning more about production, going back and forth with the idea that she could be capable of succeeding in the film industry.
“I realized that, contrary to what I’d been feeling, I was qualified to work in this industry,” says Buccilla.
If you want to succeed in the film industry, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone and set yourself apart. Buccilla took a leap, leaving behind her employer of seven years because she knew her passions were leading her behind the scenes of video production. She now co-owns an indie production company, Greater Fool Productions, with her husband.
This leap of faith also led her to a full-time position as a creative producer for Madwell, an ad agency in Brooklyn. To set herself apart from the competition, Buccilla wrote a screenplay as a cover letter when applying for this position. Relying on creativity and innovation is a key component of a journalism degree that can create so many different career opportunities.
“There are new challenges every day in the film industry,” says
ROB PITTARD.
A journalism degree provides a versatile skillset and an extensive perspective within a production career.
“I’m not a cameraman, but I know how to work the camera. I’m not in props, but I understand what the props department does on a daily basis,” says Pittard.
Pittard graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science with a specialization in public relations. During his time at Ole Miss, Pittard focused on making connections and building his résumé.
Upon graduation, Pittard worked on set at Olympus Has Fallen in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, before landing a public relations internship for the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout the early stages of his career, Pittard was able to forge new connections, ultimately leading him to his current role as a key assistant location manager in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has worked for a number of production companies including Sony and Paramount.
With a number of successful and well-known productions in his portfolio, Pittard is thankful for the hands-on experience he gained through his journalism degree. His broadcast journalism courses brought him into the studio, where he was able to pick up skills that he would carry with him throughout his career and onto the big screen.
Rob Pittard enjoys his role as a key assistant location manager in Atlanta.
Quinton Smith on location in Alaska working as a freelance filmmaker.
Andrea Buccilla is co-owner of a production company with her husband and is also a creative producer for an ad agency in Brooklyn, NY.
“It is a very surreal feeling to see your own name on movie credits,” says Pittard.
Having a journalism degree in your back pocket may supply unique outlets of creativity that only you can bring to the table.
“You don’t have to go to film school to be a filmmaker,” says Buccilla. “Be a production assistant, shadow people, offer to read scripts, participate in table reads…just put yourself out there.”
Willingness to connect with others and hard work can carry hopeful filmmakers further into a successful and enjoyable career.
For these three alumni, their journalism degrees helped lay the groundwork for their budding, enjoyable careers in the film industry.
“You learn a little about a lot because every day is a different assignment,” says Smith. “I’ve got the University of Mississippi to thank for preparing me for that.”
“Broadcast journalism is not the same as a film degree, but it helps you understand how all of the parts work together as a whole.” —Bob Pittard
“You learn a little about a lot because every day is a different assignment. I’ve got the University of Mississippi to thank for preparing me for that.” —Quinton Smith
