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Life behind the lens

By Gilbert Sosa, age 18 | April 1, 2016

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Gilbert Sosa, a senior at Episcopal High School, hopes to pursue a career in filmmaking. (Photo: Ashleigh Teel)

I remember the first time I picked up a camera during my freshman year of high school. At this time, I had only the slightest clue of the unimaginable possibilities I was able to create with just one camera. That all changed when two friends and I decided to establish a journalism club to introduce to HISD’s Lee High School.

It all began there, from conducting interviews to molding segments for each week’s airings and learning time-management skills. I felt like I was in the right place for the first time in my life, and I started to realize that I was interested in making films. I began to look around to see if there were any schools that offered film programs, and, sure enough, I found Episcopal High School. I was introduced to a phenomenal film program, with over a decade of expertise.

I was accepted into EHS and the advanced filmmaking program after convincing film teacher Pejman Milani. I had to prove that I had the preliminary skills to be part of the advanced filmmaking program, since there were prerequisites. At first, it was difficult adjusting to transferring from a public to a private school because I had never attended private school. I got sidetracked by trying out some new things – since it was a new school with new opportunities – and initially missed the opportunity to further my film skills, which was one of my main reasons for transferring to Episcopal. Ultimately, my junior year didn’t go as planned.

When senior year arrived, I was the only returning veteran to Episcopal High School’s ETV program. I returned with a new mentality and started by collaborating with Houston’s own music artist “DoubleDve” for a short film called Endeavor, and after months of its premiere at my school, great news arrived. The short film was deemed an “official selection” at several film festivals, including the most well-known, SXSW. Now, I hope to make it to Hollywood some day.

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