In Tribeca Flashpoint’s Spring 2010 Production-In-Action, REACTOR, students, faculty, and staff exercised their creativity and collaboration, combining the talents of all disciplines to make an immersive “Pervasive Game” experience.

On Friday, April 16, 2010, journalist Lilia Chacon spoke to students as a part of Tribeca Flashpoint’s Jumpstart Speaker Series. Film & Broadcast student Thomas Merry shares his reflections.

I recently attended a Jumpstart presentation by Lilia Chacon. Lilia, an accomplished reporter for Fox News Chicago, shared her path to success with me and my fellow Tribeca Flashpoint students.

She told several stories of her experience as a journalist, including how she wore high heels to a gang fight. But one story that specifically stuck with me was when she was still in school, one of her teachers mentioned that she had a misplaced sense of perfectionism.

I took that personally because in a way I have always been a bit of a perfectionist. I don’t want to make any mistakes and sometimes I become over critical of myself. Especially in writing a story or even directing in my studio production class, there is always something I wish I did better and tend to dwell on it too much.

For example, when I am writing a story, I think it is the best story ever; it feels perfect. When I sit down and read the finished product, all of a sudden it is a crappy story. I tend to nitpick. I start wishing I took another angle, or didn’t put a certain element into the story.

Or, when I recently directed in studio production class, I felt like I did a great job when I was done. However, when I watched it, I started picking out shots I didn’t like and lost confidence in myself because of this need to be perfect.

So during the Q&A session after the presentation, I asked Lilia how she kept from being over critical of herself. Lilia responded that you just move on to the next project, not worry about the past, and just keep moving. This hit home with me. You’re going to make mistakes and the best way to get by is to learn from them and move on.

I was surprised at how interested I was, and thought this was the best Jumpstart I have attended in my brief time here at Tribeca Flashpoint.

“Their portfolios blew me away. But really, it was their professionalism that was most impressive.” – Employer Quote from Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy’s inaugural job fair, Saturday, May 1, 2010.

With their resumes, portfolios and reels perfected, upcoming May 2010 graduates in Film & Broadcast, Recording Arts, Game & Interactive Media, and Animation & Visual Effects had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the heavy hitters of Digital Media Production.

As excited as our students were to meet with representatives from industry professionals nationwide, the recruiters themselves — representing companies such as Pilgrim Films, Disney Television Animation, Jellyvision, TLC (The Learning Channel), WB Games Chicago, and many more — were every bit as excited to meet the Tribeca Flashpoint Class of 2010.

A few quotes from employers:

“We came back to find another [2009 Flashpoint Graduate]. He was so great, we’re sure to find another here!”

“Why would I pay an agency $80K to do a spec spot, when I can give to the scholarship fund and work with a better group of talented individuals like your students.”

“I’m so glad to hear about Core Studies being such a focus at your institution. I was just interviewing a Harvard grad with a 4.0 – who couldn’t even look at me when he spoke!”

Congratulations to everyone who made the first Tribeca Flashpoint Job Fair a tremendous success, and an enthusiastic “well done” to our truly amazing soon-to-be graduates!