Stories (in films, novels, comic books, television shows, and history books) have captivated my imagination for as long as I can remember, and it is this fascination that developed into my storytelling passion. Ever since I was a child, I have loved not only hearing stories but also telling them. I began to tell tales with the use of hand made comic books. The Alpha Stick Comics Studios (as my two friends and I called ourselves) published well over twenty epic graphic novels of varying lengths, which were all received quite well by our fans. Eventually, though, the studios had to be shut down as high school came into the picture, but that only brought new opportunities to further my creative capabilities.
In high school I joined the school's television station and produced numerous shorts. I also wrote a few short stories and narrative poems and even started working on four different book series. However, my passion for storytelling did not lie within words on a page or even in public interest videos. My passion for storytelling needed images that could speak a thousand words with numerous emotions and could engulf the viewers into a strange new universe. What I needed was a film crew. With them, I was able to make exceptional films that allowed our group to almost completely sweep the school's film festival. After high school I continued to make films on my own. I created many short clips of varying subjects and entered a couple film festivals. In my spare time, I still try to perfect old films and work on new ones as well.
It is this burning passion of storytelling and film making that drove my desire to become an cinemartist. However, I didn't just want to be any typical filmmaker. As cliché as it may sound, I wanted to change the world. I wanted to create films that will have some significant impact on the world by following in the footsteps of those like D. W. Griffith, Steven Spielberg, Akira Kurosawa, and even Al Gore. Because of the popularity of films, I believe this effect can realistically occur. I am sure that others will have a story that they must tell the world, or they may want to give their audience an escape from the tribulations of society. These are great reasons to study film, but I want to do more. I want to inspire others to action with my films – to take them away from the dredges of this world while also providing them with a method to experience the true beauty of life.
I hope to accomplish this goal by feeding off of my philosophy in life. I believe that our lives are all that we have. Even if there is an afterlife, we will not be the same beings, and because we only have such a short time, it should be our goal in life to leave an imprint upon the world. After our deaths, we will be remembered by those that knew us, but after their deaths, we will be left to sink into the sands of time. Thus, it is our priority to leave a lasting legacy. This philosophy is what drives me to excel in everything I do. I can think of no better way to leave a mark than by positively changing the world, and I see no better way to do this, than by creating films that will inspire this change. I realize though, that the tides of the River Time wash away all things – Rome fell; Ozymandias is no more; and even the grand Emperor of China has been dethroned. However, the influence of anything great still exists, and that is what I wish to do – leave some positive influence on the world for ages to come.
While I know what I want to do, I have not perfected a method of conveying my message. I will sharpen my skills, allowing me to instill emotion and inspiration into my audience, and begin to create works of deep significance and eventually achieve my goals. However, other than my love for recounting grand adventures, who am I really? Words on a page cannot allow you to truly understand someone's character. Even the greatest film ever made could not accurately portray the full essence of any one person. It is with the hope that I may proceed towards that end that I do what I do.