Faculty Shout-out by Professor Justus Neiland:
“Naomi was a super sharp, engaged contributor to Contemporary Film Theory in the spring of 2023. That was a very difficult semester, and I especially appreciated Noami’s kindness to her peers, as well as her resilience and optimism. She is an active listener to others, and engages with peers and instructors generously and with kindness. She also did a brilliant job co-leading a class discussion Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire through concepts of queer spectatorship. I can’t wait to model that performance for future students! I know she has been excited to participate in our Film in Britain study abroad program for a few years, and I’m thrilled that she is joining Dr. Pillai on this program this summer. What a great way to celebrate the end of her time at MSU. She’s just the kind of student that will maximize the study abroad experience!”
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
My major is actually Media and Information, but I have minors in Fiction Filmmaking and Film Studies. The biggest experiences throughout college for me have been the clubs I’ve gotten involved in. I’m co-president of MSU Film Club, as well as Executive Producer and Events Director for MSU Telecasters. Both of these clubs have lent themselves to fantastic social and professional experiences, and I’ve made some of my closest friends and fondest memories from MSU at meetings, film shoots, and events.
Which classes, instructors, or experiences particularly stand out for you and why? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?
Contemporary film and media theory with Justus Nieland was one of the most interesting and fulfilling classes I have ever taken. It reignited my love for academic reading and writing, and exposed me to so many movies I never would have watched on my own, as well as movies that had always been on my list. For one of the projects in this class students were tasked with leading discussion for a film of their choosing (from the syllabus). This project was a bit life changing for me, as I had never considered teaching as an option, but after working on our lesson, preparing questions based off our readings, then the participation and discussion that occurred from our lesson made something shift within me. FLM 484 with Margo Sawaya was another class that helped me grow my skills as a screenwriter. This was a specialty screenwriting class that focused on pilot episodes. It forced me to be creative as well as learn more about the screenwriting side of the industry and start thinking about my future and what I can accomplish as a writer. I worked on a very fun and personal script that pushed my own limits as a writer and made me think more strategically about plotlines, character development, and pacing. I was also very lucky to be able to experience the TIFF Study Abroad program. This trip was one of the highlights of my college career. I was able to see 18 films, and experience the friendly and exciting culture of the festival. I made so many friends through this program, and saw some of the best films of the year there. It gave me the opportunity to experience films I never would have had the chance to see outside of the festival, and ask questions of renowned actors, filmmakers, and writers.
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
Take classes you wouldn’t usually be interested in! Some of the best classes I’ve taken at MSU have been film studies classes I didn’t think I would like. I never thought I would be interested or competent in screenwriting, but now it’s a career path I’m considering pursuing, after taking CAL classes. This goes for electives too! Explore your options. I took martial arts classes, sewing classes, and even psychology and family planning classes.
What coursework-related projects were/are you working on this year, and what interests or excites you about them? (capstone courses, honors thesis, independent studies, etc.)
I’m the Head Gaffer, and I’m part of the foley and premiere planning teams for the Fiction Filmmaking Capstone this year. I’ve been loving this project because it’s so collaborative, and I’ve made so many lifelong professional and personal connections with my peers. I also have gotten so much practice with film production, and been able to grow into the lighting role.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
After graduation I plan on studying abroad with the Film in Britain program. While I’m there my goal is to network and make connections within the film world. After that, though, I’m not fully sure yet. I want to continue to hone my writing skills, and hopefully create more films of my own, while putting my skills to use in a professional setting, maybe in news broadcasting or advertising.