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Student spotlight:
NATHAN KNOX
My name is Nathan Knox and I am eighteen years old. Although I have lived in Missouri
since I was three years old, I am very excited to journey outside of my home state to attend the University
of North Carolina School of the Arts. I will study film production and major in Directing. Making videos has been a hobby
of mine for a very long time and directing films is my passion.
In the world of film, who is the director you a
admire the
most and why? I have a certain admiration for Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg knew he wanted to direct films at a very young age, much
like myself, and he took every opportunity he had to reach his goal.
reac
and
He snuck onto the Universal Studios lot as a teenager an ended up
meeting some people who allowed him to come back to the lot for
the rest of the summer. At age 16, he wrote and directed “Firelight,”
a feature-length film that aired in his local movie th
theatre. Years
later, Universal Studios signed Spielberg as a TV director. At
age 29, he directed Jaws.
Spielberg has made some incredib movies
incredible
in his day, but I truly admire his ambition.
a
He worked very hard to break into the film
in
world, and because of this, he became one
b
of the most influential film dire
directors of
all time. My dream is to becom the next
become
Spielberg.
When did your drea to
dream
become a film di
director
begin?
My dream of b
being a film
director developed over
deve
several years. It began
year
as a hobby. First, I
made short “Survivor
Man” paro
parodies in my
front yard w my
with
mom’s cam Then, I
camera.
started exp
experimenting
with different editing
ere
software an video
and
effects. In middle
m
school, I began making
be
videos for Character
C
Council. I worked on my own projects, testing different effects and
techniques. Somewhere in my first few years of creating videos I fell in
love with it. By the time April Bryant asked me to make videos for her my
sophomore year, I had already decided I was destined to direct films.
What steps have you taken to make this dream come true?
There is one essential thing I have done over and over that has helped make
my dream come closer to being a reality; I never pass up an opportunity.
The first major step was my Inspiring Minds contest entry. My video
“Challenge Me” won first place, and more importantly, caught the eye of
April Bryant. Mrs. Bryant asked me if I’d like to create videos for the R-III
District as a Community Youth Volunteer (CYV) student. I accepted
immediately. After working with Mrs. Bryant, not only have we won four
state Audio/Video awards, but I have also had the privilege of working
on many video projects with other members of the district. It was difficult
at times to juggle multiple video projects, schoolwork and a job, but the
experience and skills I have gained will stick with me for the rest of my life.
It is because I never passed up these opportunities that I am going to the
college of my choice with more experience than I could have ever hoped
for, and I will someday direct films because of the opportunities to come.
What do you think your biggest obstacle will be in achieving
your dream to become a film director?
The film industry is not an easy one to break into. I have entered a
competition composed of thousands, many of which are much more
talented than me. I believe my biggest obstacle in achieving my dream will
be proving that I want it more than anyone else. There are thousands of
aspiring film directors out there. The one thing that separates us all is what
we are willing to do to make our dreams come true. Where others give up,
I have to press forward. That is the real challenge, and that will push me to
become the influential director I plan to be.
NING MOVIES
RD WIN
AW A
IDS
"Prop KHappy "
rd:
of
ion Awa
Parody al Communicat ns
"Challen
ge Me"
2012 Ins
piring
Minds W
inner
els"
"Meet Mr. Bertans"
& "Meet Mr. Je
STA
2013 & 2014 M
Professional
n Award:
Communicatio
visual
District Audio
n
ofessio hool Publicatio
STA Pr
2014 M her Unique Sc
PRA
rom NS tion)
Ot
ement f
cia
v
ns Asso
n Achie
4 Golde Public Relatio
201
l
l Schoo
Nationa
(
FOLLOW NATHAN'S WORK ON HIS
CHANNEL
"Missio
Impossib n
Avoiding le:
Tardies"
2014 MS
TA Pro
Commun fessional
ication
Award: S
chool Bu
Audiovis ilding
ual
NSKNOX