Meet Sydney Brooks | Student Filmmaker
We had the good fortune of connecting with Sydney Brooks and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sydney, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but I currently reside in Atlanta to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design. Growing up, I always had a love for anything to do with a camera. I can’t remember where the impulse to take photos came from, but I do remember how happy I was when I was gifted my first Canon for Christmas. My high school was small and didn’t offer any camera classes, so I was completely self-taught.
By the time I graduated high school, I didn’t feel prepared enough to go away for school. I was so shy and anxious that college seemed like a distant idea that wasn’t fit for me. As a compromise, I went to a community college I could commute to every day. Having to pick between majoring in photography or film filled me with dread. Photography seemed obvious, but there was something about film that felt so much bigger than myself that it drew me in. Ultimately, I went with film because the major required a few photo classes, so I could get the best of both worlds. It felt like there was a whole universe opening up, learning sound design and studio lighting. I felt lucky that my community college offered major-specific courses so I could know for sure what I wanted to do for the rest of my education.
My transfer to SCAD was terrifying. Beforehand, I took a gap year and a half because of COVID. I struggled to go outside as I became accustomed to everything being held over Zoom meetings. Entering a restaurant made my chest tight. Crowds made me panic. It took a lot of introspection and pushing myself to get to where I am today. In 2019, I couldn’t fathom living in a dorm room away from home. By 2023, I had moved to an entirely different state in a large city where nobody knew my name. It’s funny to think that without the pandemic, I probably wouldn’t have gained enough confidence to make that decision.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Every undergrad film student at SCAD has to create what’s called their “Capstone” film to graduate. I’m most excited as I enter the post-production stage for mine. I had the opportunity to produce a short called Omenala about a young Nigerian man who must protect the legacy of his father after his death. This film was so important to the director, Stephanie Byron-Ene, that I knew I had to help bring her vision to life. We both flew to Lagos, Nigeria over our winter break and we hope to have the film submitted to festivals by the spring.
There are plenty of challenges that come with producing a short film in another country, especially one you are unfamiliar with, but Stephanie was so gracious in answering my endless questions. I learned a lot from this experience and I know it’ll make me a better filmmaker when I graduate and enter the field. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that you simultaneously need more and less money than you think. If you set a goal for your budget and don’t reach it, you quickly figure out that your crew is your best and only resource. You’ll find yourself raiding your director’s home for vases to use as props. You’ll beg your cinematographer to promise he can do day-for-night in the interest of time because you can’t afford to add a fourth day to the schedule. These sacrifices won’t make the film you wanted to make, but it will make the film you’re capable of.
Also, never assume somebody else has taken care of that one little thing you’re unsure about. Learned that one the hard way because I was too afraid to ask. Never again.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting the city, the first place I’d suggest going to would be the Georgia Aquarium. I’ve only had the opportunity to go once, but I’ve been dying to go back and see the sharks. I could stare at them for hours without growing bored. I’d also take my friend to Atlantic Station because it’s a short walk from SCAD’s campus. There are so many stores to browse. After some shopping, we could go to the movies and grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The older I’ve gotten, the more I realize how lucky I am to have a support system of my family behind me. My grandparents have helped me more than I could ever properly thank them for. The version of me today does not exist without them.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydney.brooks?igsh=MW1mYW9wcnlhdmkxcA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Other: https://www.instagram.com/omenalafilm/profilecard/?igsh=MTRwczd5cnF3b3RncQ==
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