Many students fresh out of high school have no idea what they want to do and Samantha Durkan was one of them. As a 2009 Murray County High School grad, Ms. Durkan said she was “kinda lost on what my career path should be,” but she went ahead and entered college at Dalton State with a concentration in general studies to please her parents. Bored with her choice, Ms. Durkan began looking into Chattanooga State majors and classes. She says,” it was like a light bulb went off … all my life I had been obsessed with movies and TV and it was then I realized I could turn that passion into a career path at Chattanooga State with a Media Technologies degree.”
The next time you are watching a television show or feature movie, pay attention to the people walking around behind the actors in a scene. The idea is to make the scene look like it would in real life. There is a title for this kind of work and Chattanooga State Media Technologies grad Ms. Durkan has one of them – Background PA.
If you are thinking that the job of a Background PA doesn’t sound that glamorous, perhaps working on the sets of “42,” “American Idol,” “Term Life,” “Walking Dead,” “Resurrection,” “Red Band Society,” “Fast and Furious 7,” “The Nice Guys,” “Insurgent,” “The Accountant,” or “Rings” might change your mind.
The light bulb moment that Ms. Durkan experienced is a common occurrence for students who discover their niche. She says that “Chattanooga State and all the amazing teachers gave me so many opportunities that I never thought I would get out of a community college. (Media Technologies faculty) Chris Willis and Angela McClister were a big part in helping me be what I am today.”
Ms. Durkan recalls being mentored by Ms. McClister who has an extensive background in broadcasting and was able to give her advice about the fast-paced nature of film/TV work. Then the biggest opportunity given to her by Willis, who kept pushing her to work outside the classroom to gain experience, came when she was offered an internship on the film “42.” That film, recounting how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball back in 1947, was partially shot on location in Chattanooga at Engel Stadium in 2012. “I worked hard and had long days, but I enjoyed every minute of it,” she says. Ms. Durkan did so well that she was offered a full-time job and traveled with the movie all summer. “I got my foot in the door and I’ve been working in the film industry ever since,” she said.
“My experience with the Media Technologies program was everything I wanted it to be and more, and it’s only getting bigger and better,” stated Ms. Durkan. “They are listening to what students want and building classes to better teach the new class of future employees and entrepreneurs. My personal favorite is that ChattState is building a bond with community leaders and business owners. Graduates are fully-equipped to get a job because they have been building skills and connections the whole time they have been working hard to get their degree,” she adds.
With an exciting job and continuous opportunities, Ms. Durkan is poised to meet her next goal: assistant director.
For more information about the Media Technology program and how you can get started in a new career, call the Business & Information Technologies Division at 423-697-4441.