Elevating Voices Through Immersive Storytelling: Mychal’s Work in Digital Media
Throughout his time at Ignacio House, Mychal has developed an intense passion for storytelling. “It’s more than just a narrative; it’s about giving life and a platform to people to be seen and heard,” he explains. Mychal recently entered his junior year at NYU where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking and visual sociology. In collaboration with faculty and staff, he customized a course of study that not only aligns with his interest, but one that will also help him cultivate the necessary skills to enter the digital media industry, with special focus on video production, editing, and narrative construction.
This past year, Mychal had the chance to get a hands-on learning experience through his work with Cut + Measure, a post-production creative group based in Brooklyn. Cut + Measure specializes in Color Grade, Sound Mix and Design, VFX, as well as all aspects of delivery such as Quality Control, Audio Description, Translation, and Closed Caption creation. “The work experience makes it concrete. Applying the skills I learn in class allows me to learn from others in the industry and fine tune my own approaches to creative projects,” says Mychal. As he has progressed through his studies, Mychal has taken a special interest in the mechanics of videography, editing, and production, focusing primarily on chronicling stories of transformation and growth from the lived experiences of a diverse range of people. “Everyone has a story. There are different ways to tell it, but what is most important is that the story is told well and gives those involved a chance to have a voice in the way it is told,” he says.
With the start of classes, Mychal is back hard at work in the classroom taking a combination of seminar and experiential courses. But that has not stopped him from soaking up real-world experience to refine his storytelling and videography skills. In August, Second Chance Studios—a non-profit media company here in New York—awarded Mychal a Digital Media Fellowship which will allow him to collaborate with other creators and industry experts to produce cutting edge projects, including documentaries and featurettes, focused primarily on uplifting the voice of those behind and beyond the walls. “I’m very grateful to be learning so much from a great group of dedicated professionals. Even more, I look forward to paying it forward as I prepare to take this next step in my professional development,” Mychal shares.
We are incredibly proud of Mychal and applaud him for his tremendous work! We are excited to see all the new heights he will reach in the months and years to come!