Amanda Patterson

BFA Film and Media Arts

Senior | Expected Graduation – Fall 2025

https://pf.fmxut.com/patterson/

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve preferred using my hands to learn and create. From spending hours in my room building LEGOs, to hours in the wood shop, and now hours on set, I’ve been at my best when using my hands. Although, right next to me through every LEGO set and woodworking project, there was a movie playing. Growing up as a military child, movies were what kept me sane through every move across the country and world. So naturally, between the comfort I found in film and my need for hands on work, everything clicked when I started taking film classes in high school. For a little while, at least. There were a few side quests along the way, ultimately ending with me in a two year Engineering technology stint. The girl who needs to work hands on… stuck behind a computer… One degree switch and a cross country move later, everything has clicked again. But whether I realized it or not, throughout every detour film still remained a staple in where I saw my future going. When I was in Engineering Technology, I wanted to use my degree to design props for films. When I was thinking about pursuing fixed wing aviation, I wanted to gather aerial footage for productions. With construction, I was going to build set pieces. All roads led to film.

Once I got to the University of Tampa, everything became more clear the deeper I enriched myself in the film department. I was thrown in head first as a DP on one of my first sets (through narrative productions) and I was so excited about the opportunity that it didn’t occur to me just how wild that was until a few semesters later as I worked more and more. I never slowed down though. Thanks to Professor Warren Cockerham, I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of complex camera setups and rigs, such as the Steadicam. Never has a piece of gear felt like more of a perfect fit for me. Preparing for one set started me on a path that I am planning on pursuing and crafting a career out of. One of my aforementioned career side quests led me to work towards a goal of competing in the Olympic Games as a Rower for Team USA. For two years, I pushed myself physically and mentally, teaching myself to hone technique and pay attention to small details that could make or break a race, a skill that I was easily able to apply to operating a Steadicam rig. Rowing gave me a mental and physical drive that I still find myself reflecting and relying on as I progress further in my filmmaking and Steadicam journey. 

Everything changed for me once I learned that Steadicam was something I wanted to pursue. I was fortunate enough to be asked to work on multiple senior seminar projects, as well as separate independent projects specifically as a Steadicam Operator and it gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself more with many pieces of camera equipment. Within a year, I went from battling imposter syndrome and struggling to take charge, to holding my head high on every set and walking in with the skills and confidence I need to perform at my best. It’s a feeling I’m honestly worried I’ve grown addicted to. Throughout the past few semesters, I have found it increasingly difficult to pull away from work and spend time as a human being. My life at UT revolves around set days, it’s when I learn the most, when I spend time with the friends I’ve made, where I do the majority of my networking, and as my confidence has grown, so has my comfort with the work. Being on set has become such an integral part of who I am that it can be hard for me to separate life and set life. On the other hand, it has given me such an incredible new spark of creativity and deepened my love for the art of filmmaking. Every worry I had that switching from a STEM major to an Arts major has faded. Camerawork and directing have already made me far happier than sitting behind a computer ever could.

I am currently enrolled in a course that will soon grant me a Steadicam Operators License and after I graduate, my goal is to purchase my own rig and travel the country, offering my skills as I go on lower budget productions to fill my resume and network as much as possible. After spending some time traveling the country, I plan to travel overseas and follow the film industry wherever I can. My goal, as weird as it sounds, is to never be comfortable. I have never been one to enjoy staying in the same place for too long (a trait I credit to the numerous moves I made throughout my childhood), and as such, I know that if I allow myself to remain stationary for too long, I will actually drive myself insane. Regardless of where the future takes me, it will have been what I learned at UTampa that gave me the confidence and skills to pursue my dreams.