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MAY 22, 2022 | THE MESA TRIBUNE

GRADUATION SPECIAL

G17 Mesa man graduates with film degree from ASU

BY KRISTEN LARUE-SANDLER

Tribune Contributor

Cameron Filas had aspirations toward valor. Enlisting in the U.S. Army just out of high school, the Mesa resident intended to be a career infantryman. But an incident early in the Mesa man’s service led to a medical retirement. Now, Filas holds a master’s degree in film and media studies from Arizona State University. “I’m fascinated by how films shape public attitude and are, in turn, reflective of a culture at any given point,” he said.

Filas believes his time spent in the military was not in vain. Upon his discharge, he decided to go back to school. After transferring from Mesa Community College, Filas set is his sights on the humanities at ASU. He used GI Bill benefits to finance the rest of his bachelor’s degree in history as well as his graduate degree.

“Though my Army career was cut short,” he said, “it is not an understatement to say that I likely would not have gone to college at all if it hadn’t been for my military service.”

Filas made a U-turn from a life of physical discipline to one of intellectual rigor, but again, the army had prepared him for that.

“The discipline I gained helped me maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout my undergraduate and graduate programs,” he said. “My worldview has changed considerably since my time in the Army, but that experience will forever be a part of me.”

Filas credits his success to a wide group of supporters.

“I frequently leaned on my professors, academic adviser and ASU success coach —shout out to Michelle Ponce de Leon — for support,” he said.

He talked about why he chose ASU and his passion for film studies.

When did you realize you wanted to study in your field?

Although I earned my bachelor’s in hisCameron Filas of Mesa had planned on a career in the Army, but after an unexpected medical retirement, the trained his sights on a degree in film at ASU. (Courtesy of ASU)

tory, I always found myself exploring film whenever possible. My favorite undergraduate course was an introduction to cinema section offered at my local community college.

I learned about the development of the industry and got a taste of works across the spectrum, such as the historically significant “Birth of a Nation” (1915), wartime propaganda films from the Soviet Union, Hitchcock, Blaxploitation and a dabbling of foreign flicks — I quite enjoyed Javier Bardem’s performance in “The Sea Inside” (2004). I gladly jumped on every opportunity to study film since that pivotal course, which eventually led me to the film and media studies program at ASU.

What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you, that changed your perspective?

I’m fascinated by how films shape public attitude and are, in turn, reflective of a culture at any given point. Any movie you look at says something about society at that point in time, like a historical time capsule.

You can take, say, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (1963) and ask: ‘What does this film say about Cold War anxiety, the notion of “female hysteria,” and postWWII capitalism?’ It gets really interesting when you start to think about what film scholars might say about today’s films 50 years from now.

Why did you choose ASU?

Once I had decided I wanted to study film and media, the only question left was which school I wanted to attend. After doing my research and weighing the options, I picked ASU because it was one of the few colleges with a modern, respectable film and media studies program and it was conveniently all online. Every single professor in the film and media studies program was dedicated to the students and ensuring we got the most out of each class. They really cared and made themselves available for questions or concerns. Additionally, I always received helpful feedback on assignments and felt the professors — and graders — actively contributed to and helped guide discussions.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

What are your plans after graduation?

I would be ecstatic to have the chance to work in the film or video game industry, but I’ll also be keeping an eye out for opportunities to teach about film and media.

If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

I think education is essential to overcoming many of the world’s challenges, so I would invest that money into building schools that are accessible and tuitionfree in underserved communities. ■