Through his studies at ULethbridge, Scott Nelson has made himself into a well-rounded individual, picking up skills in traditional film, modern cinematography and graphic design. As he prepares to graduate this spring, Scott has already begun to build his dream career as a freelancer, combining his love of videography with the outdoors.
The Fine Arts Faculty are so much more than just classroom instructors, they almost take on the role of mentors getting you ready for the real world of working as a creative professional.
Meet Scott. Adventurer. Leader. Motivator.
Program: Bachelor of Fine Arts - New Media | Major: New Media (Cinematography)
Why did you choose to pursue fine arts at ULethbridge?
Lethbridge is a beautiful city with access to some beautiful locations like the Crowsnest Pass and Waterton Lakes National Park, so it just made sense that as an avid outdoorsman to be here. The ULethbridge New Media program also offered more of a general media arts education above and beyond what I would've received if I pursued a more traditional film school education.
What inspires your artistic/musical practice?
The great outdoors has always been a big motivation for my artistic practice. I enjoy finding beauty in the world around me. Lately, I've been inspired by the people around me who are passionate about their own craft, and capturing that motivation.
Did you know what you wanted to study before you came to ULethbridge? Has your academic plan changed?
I originally wanted to pursue a traditional film school experience but found great enjoyment in other aspects of media like graphic design the moment I got to ULethbridge. This has turned me into a well-rounded media professional, more than I could ever hope for when I started my academic career.
What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?
Being hired by the University to create a series of highlight videos for a scholarship that I received (the Abbondànza Fine Arts Award) was definitely a surreal experience, and felt like that was a big step forward in terms of transitioning from a student into a professional.
How have your professors or instructors impacted your education?
At this point in my academic career, it almost feels like formal education comes second to the relationships that I've made with my professors. If you're willing to put in the work, they're willing to help develop and refine your passion above and beyond anything achievable in the classroom setting.
The Fine Arts Faculty are so much more than just classroom instructors, they almost take on the role of mentors getting you ready for the real world of working as a creative professional.
Have you received any scholarships and awards?
I've been fortunate enough to receive the Abbondànza Fine Arts Award on two separate occasions, which has been huge in relieving the stress of having to work as much to cover tuition and put that extra time towards perfecting assignments or pursuing passion projects.
Tell us about your experiential or work-integrated learning opportunities at ULethbridge and how these have enhanced your education?
I completed an independent study with associate professor Bryn Hewko (New Media) in my second year, which was to create videos to assist other professors and instructors in the Faculty of Fine Arts create tutorial videos for their online classes during the pandemic. This was as close to actually working on a commercial set as you possibly could get in an educational setting and set me up for success as far as giving me a real-world experience that I could translate over to working with my own personal freelance clients.
As part of the New Media program requirements, I elected to complete an internship, and in this case, it was with the Teaching Centre and Agility right here at the University. This was a great experience to be able to study the intricacies of the tools of the trade (cinema cameras, editing programs, etc.) with some pressure of having to deliver a high-quality product in the end.
What are your hopes/plans for the future?
I'm already working as a freelancer, and plan to continue that into the foreseeable future. It's always been a dream to combine my love of the outdoors and outdoor sports with my passion for videography, so I'll be looking for a way to make that happen!
Beyond that, I hope to get my Bachelor of Education and inspire the next generation of media professionals and hopefully, I'll get that opportunity in the near future!
What advice would you like to give those about to begin their journey at ULethbridge?
You get what you put in with this program. The classroom experience is only a small part of what the University of Lethbridge has to offer. Work hard and you'll get so much more in return than what's listed on the syllabus. Have fun with it too, excitement and passion can be seen in the final work!
