6 minute read
The Lens of Learning
The University of Pikeville Film and Media Arts (FMA) Program has approached its 10-year anniversary of graduating students who have become successful professionals in film, news, design and broadcasting. The goal of the program has always been to provide opportunities for students in a diverse area of topics and help them choose classes that will support their career goals. With a hands-on approach to learning, students are actively engaged in projects in front of and behind the camera.
After taking over the program from its founder Bruce Parsons in 2014, Professor Andrew Reed, MFA, MBA ʼ18 worked on retooling the major to appeal to more students by bringing in community members to lead the way in growth, and new courses were created to provide students with a broader range of options.
“I tried to bring in a lot of adjunct professors who had life skills in certain areas. Not all students want to be filmmakers,” said Reed. “Many are interested in media production and want to pursue careers in broadcast, television news or sportscasting, while others are interested in technical skills like graphic design, motion graphics or Photoshop.”
Viewers may have spotted Kyle Nagy ’19 at the 73 rd Primetime Emmy Awards troubleshooting issues in signal feeds as the only audio and video technician on the red carpet. He is one example of how the changes Reed brought to the major help launch students into accomplished careers.
“The thing I remember most about Kyle is his enthusiasm. Even coming from an area with a much larger film industry, he was always eager and embraced the work,” said Reed. “That excitement never waned. He was always working on things and pushing himself to do more.”
Coming from just outside the Los Angeles metropolis to play football for the Bears, Nagy felt a little out of his element when he first stepped on campus. He dabbled in media production, and after accepting the scholarship offer, he was excited to see FMA on the majorʼs list.
“My first impression was a culture shock. Pikeville had a much different culture and atmosphere than Los Angeles. People knew immediately I wasn’t from Kentucky because of my accent. I felt a little out of place, and it was hard being so far away from home,” said Nagy. “After visiting student success, I met people who gave me the most comfortable sense of home. From there, I was introduced to my coaches and Professor Reed, and I knew that was where I was meant to be.”
With only eight students in his senior film class, Nagy says he truly benefited from the smaller class sizes, allowing him to thrive in his element while receiving individualized attention.
“I could have easily gone to a larger film school since Hollywood is in my backyard, but I doubt I would have gotten the personalized education that I received at UPIKE,” said Nagy. “Out here, people are in such a big class. There may be 250 other people all learning the craft the same way.”
Nagy was impressed by the level of expertise Reed brought to the program, and he is grateful for the deeper one-on-one connection the two shared.
“Being in Eastern Kentucky where film isn’t a big industry, what Professor Reed brought to the table was impeccable,” said Nagy. “Getting to know him on a personal level made a difference for me. He helped me discover my capabilities and our relationship was a huge benefit. From the time I started school at 5 years old, till the time I graduated, no other educator has impacted my life the way Professor Reed has.”
Reed has created events on campus to provide students with more opportunities to showcase their work and engage with the public in the region. This past April, Reed hosted the 8 th Annual Film and Media Arts Festival, a two-day event exhibiting submissions from the region and internationally that is run almost completely by students.
“My favorite memory at UPIKE would have to be the Film and Media Arts Film Festival,” said Nagy. “Getting to collaborate with so many filmmakers helped me immensely. It was an amazing experience.”
Two other well-established film events are the spring U-Parody short film competition, where students submit parodies of popular television shows, movies or game
shows, and Horror Fest in the fall. Reed has also worked to secure UPIKE as a screening partner for the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, who connect documentary filmmakers and their impactful work with audiences throughout the South. This opportunity allows students to interact with more prominent featured filmmakers.
Upon returning to California, it was not long before Nagy began freelancing for Total-Media, working on events like the Puppy Bowl, the Emmy Awards and Pepsi award shows. This experience was a springboard to his current position with Element Studios, where he serves as the technical director for live events and corporate planning. He also owns his own videography business, K2 Films, where he is partnered with schools in Los Angeles County to create video content to be broadcasted to staff and families. This work was crucial when schools went to remote learning during the pandemic.
“My last semester was senior production, and I had to build my own team of people and run a small production. UPIKE taught me how to continue working alongside a team and realize my skills can grow in film, but I also learned that I couldn’t do everything by myself,” said Nagy. “You learn these skills you need to be successful, but itʼs really on you if you want to take that to another level.”
With creative people and filmmakers everywhere, there is a lot of competition in his field. He believes knowing the right people gives him an edge.
“I try to shake as many hands as possible, whatever setting I am in,” said Nagy. “That enables me to meet and get to know a more diverse group of people. At UPIKE, I was able to expand my knowledge of people geographically. After commencement, I didnʼt just know people in L.A., I had contacts with many people on the East Coast as well.”
Nagy’s success is no surprise to Reed, who saw the potential in him early on, noting his strong work ethic and desire to learn.
“Kyle always pushed himself and created high-quality work. He took advantage of the opportunity and made the most out of his education,” said Reed. “This is very much a field where you get out of it what you put into it. The program is really about the experience and the portfolio you develop. Students with a willingness to learn will succeed.”
By Amy Charles
