With graduation coming up quickly, Video Team Apprentice Riley Nower is appreciative of just how much college has helped her grow in not only her field of video production, but also as a person overall.
“I didn’t really realize just how much I was going to learn and grow when I started college. I feel like I am a completely different person from who I was freshman year.”
Riley’s hands-on approach to working has contributed to her ability to grow so much, but so has her curiosity. Although she typically prefers to dive into a project right away and learn as she goes, she still values input from peers and will seek advice from friends and coworkers if she knows they have experience in what skill she is picking up.
“Learning how others approach their work has helped me. Even if their projects are different from mine, there are usually some transferrable skills I can gain, and it has helped me diversify the way I do things.”
Riley knows she can implement knowledge from others even if they are on a team that has work that is entirely different from video production, such as the Development team. This applies not only to her work at the Corps, but her classes as well, as Riley enjoys the variety of different areas of work her field offers.
This ranges from working with everything from audio, cameras, and production equipment, to screenplays, actors, and more. One of Riley’s favorite parts of the industry is that she gets to do all of these different things depending on the project, as this helps her to learn what she likes to do best. In Riley’s case, she enjoys directing, as well as being the one behind the camera and planning the shots. Furthermore, when she is doing work for Radiance Cinema, an immersive learning opportunity for students interested in film, she even has found that she enjoys writing scripts.
At the Corps, Riley’s favorite kinds of projects are the ones that allow her to get out of the office and go film something around campus, with her favorite of these being the Show Promos project, where the Video Team records Ball State stage rehearsals and produces a promotional video to raise attention for the show.
“Show Promos is fun because you not only get to plan shots that will help preview the show, but you get to watch it ahead of time. The shoots are always laidback, and it feels like you are getting paid to watch a show with your friends.”
With a fun filming environment like that, it’s easy to see why it is Riley’s favorite. When it comes to what she enjoys doing outside of school and work, you can frequently find her sewing, crocheting, and watching movies.
When it comes to advice she wishes she had during her earlier years of school, it would be to not stress so much. Making time for hobbies is very important. Riley understands the value of work-life balance, and she believes it’s just as important to have fun and make memories in college as it is to grow in your field.
Thankfully for Riley, she has put in the work to have an impressive portfolio that will bring her far after graduation!
