Panorama archive · Media
Do the Crazy Thing
Originally published
Submitted By: Tia Morrison
Location: Toronto, Canada
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been fascinated by media. When I was nine, Avatar: The Last Airbender moved me deeply. You might be thinking, how could a nine year old be moved by a cartoon show? Well, I’d answer, media can mean something different to everyone. That’s what makes it powerful. Avatar: The Last Airbender led me to learn how to web design by creating a fan site. It led me to learn how to edit by creating fan music videos. It eventually led me to the AYV Program at Earl Haig Secondary School.
My participation in the AYV Program made me confident and prepared to pursue my choice of study in the RTA program at Ryerson. As a result of the AYV Program, my view on the media industry has been changed. Before, I was a consumer of media. But creating media has taught me that I am no longer a consumer, but a prosumer. It has also emphasized the influence media has over people. For this reason, it is important that we tell inclusive and accurate stories as media producers.
At Earl Haig, the AYV program invited industry professionals to teach us current practises in the media industry. Once we had a workshop with a Director of Photography and Film Director. We all walked away with a wealth of knowledge on camera techniques, how to direct actors and how to prepare our films for production. The AYV program also gave us a chance to learn industry standard software. We were provided with the Adobe Creative Suite. As a result, I feel very comfortable and confident editing on Premiere Pro, After Effects, Illustrator and Photoshop. Through the AYV Program, I learned about the AYV Summer Camp. During the summer of 2014, I took part of the week-long camp. I still can’t believe we produced a one-minute film, showcased that film at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and learned how to pitch our film in just a few days. It blows my mind. The camp was such a great experience and I wish I could do it again. I had the chance to work with diverse people, younger and older than me. The film we produced is called, “I Aspire” and has been submitted to various film festivals.
My mission in life is to create media that affects others profoundly, just as Avatar: The Last Airbender affected me. Currently, I use my YouTube channel to tell inspiring works to those around the world and hopefully impact them positively. Ultimately, media has empowered me to be confident and think wholesomely about the world and the various stories all around us. This is why I'm doing the crazy thing and following my dreams to become a successful film and television editor.