SCAD Student Ambassador Blog
Savannah
My SCAD Film Festival Favorite Moments
15 days
“Sure, its well known that the SCAD film festival is one of the most renowned events at SCAD during the year. It brings the glamour and excitement of Hollywood into Savannah each fall. As a volunteer for the event, I get the opportunity to be an integral player any part of the festival process. I’ve met celebrities, including Alec Baldwin and Stan Lee, and saw premieres of exciting unreleased films such as Rise of the Guardians. And what I have learned through this once-in-a-lifetime experience is that the real fun in Hollywood is not whose autograph you get or what you see first, but the people you meet on an individual level. When I saw Alec Baldwin, it during was the admittedly unglamorous – but necessary! – shift at the Concession booth. The movie was playing and our work in the lobby had come to a halt as everyone watched the film. This is my favorite part of a night at the Film Festival. I get free popcorn, can sneak into the back of the theater, or simply talk with the other volunteers. I meet so many great students who also share my love of film and television by getting to know the people I work with. I have made some of the best friends this way, and even if we don’t have classes together, we see each other every year at the film festival. We were in the beautiful lobby of the Trustee’s theater, when a man walks in, nods to us and asks directions to the green room. We had stocked it with candy, sodas, and popcorn before the door-opening rush of ticketholders, so we politely pointed him in the right direction. He thanked us and went up the stairs we showed him before we began to freak out. (But quietly! There was a movie playing.) It was, of course, Alec Baldwin. And, like the other celebrities I have met at the film festival, he was refreshingly polite and down to earth. It was the combination of a fantastic personal experience with great friends that made that night, and every night I work at the Film Festival, a truly memorable and rewarding experience.” – Emily Overfelt
Stay on top of your work!
15 days
“John Rise, my Drawing II professor from this past quarter, taught me a good deal; a good deal I didn’t expect! I took the class because I had to- not to say that I didn’t want to, it was just a requirement that
needed to be met. However, I heard of John Rise’s reputation for being such a wonderfully skilled professor that I made sure to take his class’s section. With no clue what I was in store for- I didn’t take the class very seriously. Though throughout the course of the quarter that mind set changed very quickly due to Professor Rise. With my major being Motion Media, drawing isn’t too much of a strength for me, and that’s okay, though it became one. Rise taught us the importance of being consistent with your work; as far as how much time you spend on it and how much effort is put forth in that time. His teachings were to at least spend however much time on it, say an hour, every day. That way there is a consistency to the time you work, and it becomes a habit of daily upkeep of your project even if it is just for a shot period of time. Ever since Rise’s class I’ve continued, and strived to include that habit while working.” -Ryan Brady Rish
Making Apparel at SCAD
15 days
“This year as I got even more into my major I took apparel I, II, and III. As a fashion major it is important to learn and know how clothes are constructed. I just knew I would enjoy these classes because I love making clothes. Not just designing but physically making a garment. I realized last year when I took intro to fashion that I don’t want to design clothes, I just want to make them. I may not be the best at it but I still enjoy doing it. In Apparel I, I learned how to drape a garment on a dress form. By using twill tape to make style lines and using muslin to drape with I created like a base for what my design will look like. After draping the garment I then took those pieces and transferred them to on to pattern paper. From there I trued everything to make sure sure lines were straight (or curvy depending on the design) and smooth. After I have the pieces on pattern paper I then can make a mock up of my design out of muslin. This is to insure that I can create our design in whatever fabric I chose and that it fits like we want it to. If everything is good with the muslin, I can then make my design out of the fashion fabric I chose. With Apparel II it was all flat patterning, no draping. The online time I used the form was go get a measurement and for fit purposes. I used a lot of pattern paper in this class. I learned how to draft do different techniques such as dart manipulations, different types of sleeves. collars, and more.
Towards the end of the course I created a jacket and a pair of pants that was fitted to me. I also made a t-shirt dress by using a technique called rub off. This is basically just copying a garment that has already been made. So for the class we just had to take a t-shirt that we owned and copy it. I just made mines into a dress. This past quarter I took Apparel III which was a combination of both draping and flat patterning with adding elements of design to it. There was more creative freedom in this class which I enjoyed. I really stepped out of my comfort zone for this class. I created my first evening gown which I am very proud of. I attempted to create design and create a conceptual design which wasn’t too successful but I learned from it. I created a design which had to have some kind of historical element to it. The only down side to this class was time. I had a different project every three weeks, which wasn’t bad but I hate having to rush on a project. But it still worked out for the most part. Like any other class at SCAD, it did get a little intense at times. Overall I enjoyed my apparel classes. They were my favorite fashion classes and made me realize that I wanted to be a pattern-maker. I still like designing and having my own ideas but I’m just a little more passionate when it comes the technical work of making a garment. I always tell people I love making idea come to come life, whether they’re mines or someone else’s. So a dream of mines is to be a head patter-maker at a big company. I would like to work with evening wear, but for the time being, it doesn’t matter if it’s men, women, or children’s wear, as long as I’m making clothes” -Brianna Ethridge
My Young at Art Experience!
15 days
“In February I signed up for a Young at Art Visit at Ellis Elementary School. I and a few fellow ambassadors did a career fair that just featured us SCAD students. The students came to each one of us in groups and just looked at our work and listened while we talked about what we do at SCAD. The students seemed to be really interested in me work and they asked really good questions about what I do as a fashion student. To me, I found this YAA visit the most rewarding. The kids were pleasant to be around and I enjoyed talking to them.
Even though some students did not seem to be interested in fashion or art and design in general, they were still interested in my work and asked questions. These students ranged from ages 7-12 years old, so I assumed it might be hard to try and keep their attention but I was wrong. I did have one boy who asked me if I make boys clothes (in a sweet soft voice). He was so sweet and cute that I felt bad after telling him no, especially when he lost interest in my work and didn’t ask any more questions. I have a few sketches of men’s wear that I did, but I did not think to bring them with me. Next time I will be sure to bring them to show that fashion design is not just for girls. On the other hand, I met a little girl who actually wanted to be a fashion designer. She had so much enthusiasm that she wanted to show me some of her sketches that she had did on her ipad. I too was excited that she was interested in fashion so of course I wanted to see her work. She showed me her sketches and told me that she wants to go to SCAD one day.
Out of all the YAA visits I’ve done since being an ambassador, this was my favorite. I enjoyed talking to the students about my work and the teachers were nice also. The students seemed to be well mannered and respectful. Now their were a few small moments where kids were just being kids, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I felt good that day after leaving the school. This visit was sure worth the time. Hopefully one day some of the students will have an interest in art and design and will want to attend SCAD.” -Brianna Ethridge
Why Being a Mentor is Awesome!
15 days
“When I heard that being a mentor was required for returning mentors, I rolled my eyes and wondered how I would be able to fit another activity in with my full schedule. Needless to say, I wasn’t so keen on the idea of being a mentor. I knew that one of my cross country teammates, Kelsey Higgins, applied to become an ambassador, and that put her on my radar for her to be my NewBee. I knew of Kelsey because cross country, but being her mentor built a foundation for a friendship that has been carried out through cross country and ambassadors. Long runs and workouts at track practice became study sessions for Kelsey’s ambassador’s test. Kelsey and I would work on graphic design homework in Adler together or meet up for diner at the Hive to catch up on life after our track season ended in April. The coolest thing I did with my mentee going to concerts over Spring Break and bonding while road-tripping across South Carolina. Kelsey often came to me asking question about the program and what classes with what professors she should take for the next quarter. Knowing that she trusted me to come to me for advice was an wonderful feeling. I think that every mentor should have that relationship with your mentee.I know I wasn’t a believer on this whole “Mentor” thing, but I now know why Lori made it required and I am so glad that she did. These experiences would have never happened if I was in the Ambassador program or was required to become a mentor. I am so grateful for this opportunity because not only did a help a new ambassador into an amazing program, but I gained a friendship that will last for a lifetime.” – Claire Wind
