Senior Spotlight: Alan Sims
May 10, 2023 |
Senior Digital Innovation, Film, and Television major Alan Sims is an Atlanta native, but Xavier and the Cincinnati area have always felt like a second home.
As a kid, he visited his grandparents' home on Mitchell Avenue every summer, and became familiar with Xavier’s neighborhood early in his life. Once Alan began classes at Xavier, he knew Digital Innovation, Film, and Television (DIFT) was the program for him. He’d always wanted to go into the film and TV industry but was discouraged by peers who told him he wouldn’t be able to do it. His favorite director, Spike Lee, had similar experiences, which motivated him to work on his craft and improve his skills
In a class during his sophomore year, he and his classmates presented their films to a professional panel. As the only Black kid in that class, his work definitely stood out. In that moment, he understood that the way he conveys ideas in his films and how he sees the world is much different than many others.
“The feedback that I got is something that I’ll never forget,” Alan said upon reflection. Reactions to the behaviors and language used by the Black characters in his film weren’t all positive, and this prompted a realization that some audiences may not understand Black cinema. This “a-ha” moment helped him realize that people need to see more of this representation.
Outside of the classroom, Alan captures film, creative video, and photography for various sports teams in his free time. He hopes to gain more of those experiences in the future, and dreams of becoming a photojournalist with his own studio in San Francisco someday. He also hopes to give back to the community he grew up in, by providing kids with access to quality filmmaking and photography tools.
For anyone considering a DIFT major, Alan's advice is: “Definitely make sure that you know you want to do this. If you know you have the skills and a love for it, then it shouldn’t be a problem to go for it.”
