How Film Your Issue Jumpstarted My Career

I can hardly begin to describe “Film Your Issue’s” impact on my life since I won in 2006 and completed the Walt Disney Pictures paid internship grand prize. Entering this contest, headed by Mr. HeathCliff Rothman, truly jumpstarted my Hollywood career and opened doors for me. More importantly, it brought some national attention to an orphanage in Uganda.

When I visited the orphanage with our team several years ago, they had the resources to provide food, shelter, clothing, school fees, and medical treatment to 84 children. Our mission team still makes annual visits, and they have watched the orphanage continue to grow. A fairly small amount of financial support, at least by our American standards, has given the children at Canaan hope for a promising future, because very little goes a long way in Uganda. For more information, take a look at CanaanChildrensHome.org. The orphanage tries to prepare the children for independent life, and to become people who will benefit society when they leave the orphanage at age 18. They’re currently building an on-site school, as well as a new dorm. As you can see in the full version of my film, kids outside the orphanage look in through the barbed wire with envy. So I’m hoping that Canaan can open its doors to even more children in the future.

As a result of the widespread exposure my film received in dozens of media outlets from “Film Your Issue,” I’m now living in Los Angeles and working in the film industry. “FYI” helped me break in with a Walt Disney Pictures internship, which gave me the connections and experience necessary to line up future Hollywood jobs after college. Upon graduation from Virginia Tech in May of ’07, I moved to Los Angeles and spent my first year out of college working for Director Ben Stiller as a Post Production Assistant at DreamWorks. While there, I worked on the Academy Award-nominated film “Tropic Thunder” until its completion. Currently I am working in Post Production, assistant editing five TV shows for various networks, including Jerry Seinfeld’s new NBC show, “The Marriage Ref.”

The spiral of events in my Hollywood career thus far was set into motion by “Film Your Issue,” so I would like to express my deepest gratitude to “FYI’s” Founder, HeathCliff Rothman, everyone else involved with Film Your Issue, and Canaan Children’s Home for their tremendous hospitality. I would definitely encourage my peers to enter this year’s “What’s Your Issue/Film Your Issue” contest – and remember, even if your entry doesn’t win, it can still generate buzz for your cause or issue, just by being a part of this major contest.

This is your shot!