澳门六合彩官网

Get to know some of our 澳门六合彩官网 students! Bo Ravanh is a Class of 2026 media and cinema studies major.

What inspired you to choose media and cinema studies as your major, and how did you decide that 澳门六合彩官网 was the right fit for you?
I believe cinema is something magical. A film can bring so much good into the world. To me, that鈥檚 what the art of filmmaking is about鈥攃reating these little worlds and putting them on screen. They can change minds, shift perspectives, and leave a lasting impact. That belief is what pulled me in. The power of cinema is something I take seriously, and I would say never underestimate it. What drew me to this major was not just the subject itself but also the community. 澳门六合彩官网 is a place full of people who care about media and storytelling the way I do. So, choosing the media and cinema studies major felt like the right step to build on that interest and take it further.

How have opportunities at the 澳门六合彩官网 or involvement in student organizations helped you grow in media and cinema studies?
Through my media and cinema studies courses, I have built a strong understanding of both the technical aspects of filmmaking and the art and subtext that gives a story emotional resonance with the audience. The MACS courses helped me to understand how people interpret and respond to films, including myself.

I have also been able to apply what I learn in the classroom. I joined the Illini Film and Video RSO as an opportunity to explore filmmaking in a more hands-on setting. It gave me practical experience in content production and film analysis, and it was a great way to collaborate and build connections with a community of student filmmakers who have inspired me to keep learning.

What course within the 澳门六合彩官网 have you enjoy or would like to recommend to other students?
If I had to choose a favorite, I鈥檇 say MACS 320: Popular Culture. It鈥檚 primarily taught by Dr. Josh Heuman, who is a fantastic professor. The class covers a lot of interesting topics and helped me see how popular media affects not just us as individuals, but the world around us. I think that kind of perspective is really valuable for students who are interested in pursuing a career in content creation.

Looking back, what personal or academic achievement are you most proud of, and what is the most useful skill you gained from your time at 澳门六合彩官网?
I鈥檇 say one of my biggest personal achievements in college was making a 40-minute short film with a friend. It was an adventure story called The Heart of Daphne, and we didn鈥檛 make it for a class. It came entirely from our own motivation and love for filmmaking. Looking back, I don鈥檛 think we could have pulled it off without everything we鈥檇 learned here. We even hosted a big premiere, and a lot of people showed up to watch. It was such a fun and meaningful experience; it might be my favorite memory from college and definitely something I鈥檓 proud of.

What advice would you give to other incoming students?
One piece of advice I鈥檇 give is to trust your own voice. In college, especially within the filmmaking community, you鈥檒l come across a lot of opinions about how things should be done. That actually turned out to be one of the biggest challenges for me. For a while, I felt like I had to follow a certain way of doing things to be seen as successful.

What helped me move past that was going back to the reason I started making movies in the first place. When I was a kid, I picked up a [camcorder] and started filming just for the fun of it. There were no rules, no expectations, just creativity and excitement. Remembering that helped me realize that filmmaking isn鈥檛 just about following rules. It鈥檚 about passion, creativity, and finding your own rhythm. It鈥檚 about exploring your own ideas and creating something that feels true to you. So, my advice is to stay curious and learn, because there is a lot to take in here. But also hold on to your perspective. Use what you learn to shape your own style. That is how you grow, and that is what makes you unique as a creator.

鈥擨nterview by Vivian Wong, New Voices Intern