Sam Clark (middle) poses with Robin Howard (left) and Anna Proulx on the LA semester occasion. (Picture courtesy of Sam Clark)
Sam Clark '24 has recognized for the reason that age of 9 that he wished to be a movie director when he grew up. After a household journey to Egypt the place his father took hours and hours of video, Clark discovered himself fascinated by footage and the flexibility to inform tales by way of movie.
When it was time for him to decide on a university, Clark was enthusiastic about Syracuse as a result of it not solely boasted one of many prime movie colleges within the nation, but additionally due to its InclusiveU program, provided by way of the Lawrence B. Taishoff Middle for Inclusive greater schooling within the Faculty of Schooling. InclusiveU, celebrating its tenth anniversary this yr, gives one of many first alternatives within the nation for college kids of all ages with mental and developmental disabilities to expertise faculty life in a totally inclusive atmosphere.
The choice to attend Syracuse was probably the greatest he ever made, Clark says. He has spent the previous 4 years finding out the craft of filmmaking by way of his programs, primarily on the School of Visible and Performing Arts (VPA) and SI Newhouse Faculty of Public Communications.
For the previous two semesters, Clark has taken benefit of Syracuse College Los Angeles (SULA) immersion packages, getting a style of life on the West Coast and “within the trade,” as he he mentioned
“LA has been unimaginable,” says Clark. “Each morning I am going to my internship after which at night time, I take unbelievable courses with professors who’ve been within the trade and know the ins and outs of working within the media and leisure fields.”
Clark and Doug Robinson (left) of Doug Robinson Productions at an occasion in LA (Picture courtesy of Sam Clark)
Within the spring of 2023, Clark participated within the Newhouse LA semester and interned with Doug Robinson Productions (based by fellow Orange alumnus Doug Robinson '85) on the Sony Photos Leisure lot, the place his duties embrace reviewing and evaluating scripts, shadowing manufacturing assistants on set and listening to pitches for future initiatives.
“Is it [Doug] he took me on the set of an '80s flashback present referred to as 'The Goldbergs' and I discovered the artwork of manufacturing, enhancing and sound mixing,” says Clark. At night time, he studied appearing, writing and manufacturing by way of his Newhouse programs.
Notably, he additionally discovered an expert and trade mentor underneath Robin Howard, director of Newhouse LA. “Robin has been nice at giving me many alternatives in LA, from going to trade premieres to instructing me about pitching and serving to me attend PA. [production assistant] bootcamp, which was very useful,” says Clark.
“Sam actually is a shining gentle, a unbelievable younger man!” says Howard. “Everybody right here has been deeply touched and impressed by his journey with us. It’s a reward to know him.”
When the college and workers affiliated with the VPA LA Semester noticed how enthusiastically Clark was embracing the Newhouse program and all that he was studying, they inspired him to remain in Los Angeles for the autumn semester by way of their immersion program. Clark had one other internship, this time as a growth intern with the Gotham Group, a expertise administration firm, the place his duties included listening to and evaluating shopper pitches and their potential for develop into a movie or tv manufacturing. “I can't say an excessive amount of concerning the kinds of initiatives I've labored on, as a result of it's form of categorized,” Clark says with a smile.
Her fall 2023 programs embrace a senior filmmaking venture, a writing class targeted on episodic dramas and a networking class, which she says was her favourite class of the semester. “SULA helped me with the alumni neighborhood in Los Angeles and making connections with individuals who might assist me in my future profession, hopefully with getting a job within the trade,” says Clark. “I particularly appreciated Anna Proulx [VPA program director for SULA] and the various alternatives she gave me as an InclusiveU pupil, together with facilitating my attendance at a number of movie festivals.
Clark (middle) hits the pink carpet with filmmakers Alejandra Vasquez (left) and Sam Osborn at AFI Fest, hosted by the American Movie Institute. (Picture courtesy of Sam Clark)
“Sam embodies the spirit of SULA – a constructive perspective, a willingness to attempt new experiences, an openness to community and introduce himself, and a powerful work ethic,” says Proulx. “He has touched this program in so many constructive methods, and we’re honored to be a small a part of his studying journey.”
Clark's senior movie venture is impressed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes — the plot includes synthetic intelligence taking on an actor's profession. He says he discovered so much about his initiatives along with his internship on the Gotham Group, and hopes to get a job as a manufacturing assistant after he graduates in Might. Finally, he aspires to meet his dream of turning into a filmmaker, and whereas Clark isn't certain if he'll keep in Los Angeles or return to his hometown of Philadelphia, he is aware of that his time at SULA has ready him for future success.
“Sam is the epitome of what you wish to see in a university pupil,” says Sam Roux, educational coordinator of InclusiveU within the Faculty of Schooling and Clark's educational advisor. “He's very conscious of the transient nature of school and he places in on daily basis to get essentially the most out of this expertise. The man is a complete rockstar.”
Rockstar, sure, and hopefully someday a giant time movie director too.
