How Film Can Transform You by Lan-Anh

How Film Can Transform You by Lan-Anh - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Look all around you - art is everywhere! It comes in all different sizes, shapes and forms; whether it's street art, sculpted art, sketched art, or cinematic art...it's a way to express one's feelings and forces you to think out of the box. My love for art stemmed at a young age and eventually grew stronger as I participated in art club and photography class, and it was then that I had developed an endless passion in the art of video editing. Therefore, I've decided to pursue my career in Film Editing. I've learned to hone my artistic skills, adopt new techniques, and apply them to my creations. This was the start of my video editing journey.

As a young aspiring artist, I had been captivated by a video with entrancing effects featuring my favorite character from Harry Potter: Newt Scamander. I was completely mesmerized. From the colors and visual effects in the video, to the song in the background, it matched his character perfectly. I was enchanted by this video in so many ways that it gave me the desire to learn how to create video edits and give it my utmost focus. It would be a chance to showcase my creativity to others while at the same time, give a lasting impact on them just as this video had impacted me. I would be able to utilize the skills that I'd adopted in class and create something that everyone could enjoy and be entertained with.

Video editing is definitely a creative process. I first had to set a technical plan in place before any creations could take place. I immediately researched the internet for programs that would allow me to produce edits that were compatible with my laptop. After sifting through multiple online programs, I finally discovered software that I would stay consistent with and still use to this day: the After Effects program. Considering my novice editing experience at the start of this journey, I made the decision to invest in a desktop computer in order to use this program productively. The most enticing, yet most discouraging, aspect of editing in this program was its complexity. But the challenge of it gave me the determination to push forward and never give up. I learned so much about myself in this journey. Persistence and resourcefulness were the key factors in this journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Without both characteristics, there would be no end result, thus, no creative product. Therefore, pushing forward was the means to an end.

My extracurricular activities, coupled with my love for art, has enabled me to thrive and grow both emotionally and artistically. Through my creations, I believe that I have paved the way for others who may be interested in this path and have a desire to challenge themselves. What started as a curious hobby at a young age, blossomed into a passion, and now I hope to have a successful career as a professional Video Editor within the Film industry. I'm certain one day you'll see my name on the big screen.