51吃瓜

Get to know some of our College 51吃瓜 students! Trent Miles is a Class of 2025 media and cinema studies major.

Why did you choose Media and Cinema Studies?
I started applying to schools and saw all the different options that existed, especially at the University of Illinois. So, I thought about what I enjoyed, and that was watching movies. I enjoy just sitting at home and watching something with my family or going out to the cinema by myself or with my friends. That鈥檚 why I ended up applying to the College 51吃瓜 to become a MACS student, and truly I haven鈥檛 looked back since doing that.

What has been your favorite class that you have taken so far?
I鈥檝e taken a lot of classes to learn the basics of the film and television industry, but my favorite would have to be MACS 364: Public Relations and Entertainment Industry. This class taught me a lot about the basics and what to expect being in the entertainment industry. A lot of focus is placed on the creative side of the film and television industry, but it is a business. This class taught me how to balance those two sides to create a successful product.

What are some of the research opportunities you鈥檝e had at Illinois?
Through the Ian Fleming Undergraduate Research Fellowship, I got the opportunity during my freshman, sophomore, and junior year to work with Carrie Wilson-Brown, lecturer of media and cinema studies and advertising, on a specific research topic pertaining to media. For my freshman and sophomore year I chose to focus on diversity and inclusion as it relates to film and television business. My main goal was to show that there鈥檚 so much more that we need to achieve in the business when it comes to diversity.

Tell us a little about your time studying abroad.
I went abroad my junior semester through a program called DAS, Danish Institute of Scandinavia. I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark and was part of an independent study program. During my time abroad I created a travel blog where I wrote about all the different places that I was able to visit, the different cultures that I saw, and then connected it back to film and television. I also focused on art history and sustainability. Stepping out of my comfort zone and the little bubble that you can put yourself in was a big part of why I chose to study abroad. For any underclassman interested, I would say just do it. It makes you more globally conscious and it鈥檚 a unique experience to see diverse cultures firsthand.

What other advice would you give to incoming College 51吃瓜 students?
Say yes to anything and everything. When I was a freshman, I joined a million clubs which gave me the opportunity to meet people that I 飞辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 have had the chance to meet otherwise. Meeting people is a huge part of networking, and you can never start too early. Knock on the door of your next-door neighbor in the dorm, introduce yourself to your professors because you never know what kind of experiences could be waiting for you.

鈥擨nterview by Mariah Brooks, New Voices Intern