Nicholaus Living, '17, was raised in New Orleans and has been familiar with Dillard since childhood, three members of his family are graduates. But it was meeting Dr. Walter Kimbrough, in 2012, at church, then a follow-up with him on campus and a tour of the film department that solidified his decision to attend.
Once here, he was immersed in film projects. The summer after his freshman year, 2013, he worked on Meka Jean, where he began in the art department and had about seven different jobs by the time the film wrapped.
"It was overwhelming at times, working full-days on the set," he said. "But, I really enjoyed it and I knew that it was going to be hard work." Living has been afforded the opportunity to make films with a lot of his classmates of varying budgets; ranging from indie films with a $25,000 budget and other productions with $300,000 to spend.
Living said he always liked films and eventually became more interested in creative writing in the 9th grade and sought to become a screenwriter. Since matriculating to Dillard, he has learned more of the technical aspects of filmmaking. Now, he could work in the production office or the art department or be an assistant director, a or a camera assistant and has even done sound.
"I'm much better equipped to making those goals of becoming a screenwriter and director a reality because I've learn so much about the process as a whole," he said. After graduation, Living said he'll work on his own short films and continue working on other productions and plans to start a production company.
He said that he thinks as a film major, Dillard was the best place he could've attended because of the ability to get the experience earlier in his academic career. He added that film is a very hands on process and you won't get by with just theory. He said, "It's a normal opportunity at Dillard, but it's not a normal opportunity at a lot of other film schools."
Dillard University website, New Orleans, LA
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