Peoria Times
24 YOUTH
January 20, 2022
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Film grad wants to be part of a Hollywood revolution go into the industry with a purpose bigger than myself. … I want to be a part of a revolution in Hollywood, a changing of the narrative to be about the happiness and success of people from all walks of life rather than solely one skin tone and one language.”
BY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Shannon Sons dreams of working as writer, producer and showrunner in the entertainment industry, but she wants to do it with purpose. “Peter Murrieta is a professor at the film school that not only has taught me extremely valuable lessons about screenwriting and filmmaking but also about how to pursue your career and life with a purpose,” said the Peoria resident, who graduated in December with a BA in film and media production, with a concentration in producing, from the Sidney Poitier New American Film School. “His words of wisdom have helped me mold my own purpose as I move into the industry, to develop and produce uplifting stories from underrepresented communities on screen.” From short stories and poetry to screenplays, Sons said she has been writing and sharing stories her whole life. She said during her time at ASU, Murrieta helped her realize that “whose stories we tell and create is important.” “He is a champion for the Latinx
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Shannon Sons of Peoria graduated in December with a BA in film and media production, with a concentration in producing from The Sidney Poitier New American Film School. (Photo courtesy of ASU)
community and continues to write and produce stories that show the daily joy and love of being Latinx,” she said. “It inspired me, a white woman, to
Answer: My “aha” moment for when I knew I wanted to study film and media production was during my final year of high school. I spent my junior year pestering the principal to greenlight my production of a schoolwide lip dub — better known as a music video with a mashup of popular songs. On the first day of my senior year I was pulled into his office, where he told me he wanted to make the lip dub a reality. I spent three months working on pre-production by myself. I created the mashup of songs, detailed the route around campus (where) we would record, made instructional videos for both students and staff to know how to prepare themselves for the day, and much more.
When the day of production finally came around, I remember feeling like everything I had done leading up to that moment was rewarded. It was the first time I was able to see a production I put together leave a lasting positive impact on all those who were a part of it. I will never forget the feeling I received when this large-scale project I had been working on for weeks finally came together. It felt like magic, and I knew I had to pursue producing in college. Question: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective? Answer: The biggest takeaway I have from my time at ASU is the importance of a team. During my freshman year of college, I thought filmmaking was something that could be executed to a high standard by yourself. Yet, my courses at ASU challenged that philosophy and proved me wrong. Throughout the past year and a half, I have been SEE SHANNON PAGE 26
Christian receives the Panther Preferred Scholarship BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
Greenville University in Illinois named Joseph Christian of Peoria the recipient of the Panther Preferred Scholarship. This $19,500 scholarship is offered for fall 2022 and is renewable annually. Panther Preferred is a college scholarship without a GPA or test requirement, awarded to students who strive to succeed regardless of circumstances. Christian demonstrates the qualities
of character and service the University and scholarship sponsors look for when choosing a Panther Preferred Scholarship recipient, according to a statement from the university. Panther Scholars: • Demonstrate passion and perseverance toward accomplishing a longterm goal. • Are diligent and show academic determination. • Value others and seek to serve those around them, always going the extra
mile. • Aim to change the world and believe that even small things can make a huge difference. Freshmen, transfer and degree completion students are all eligible for this scholarship. Christian will be a part of a group of scholars who will be trained for future leadership on campus, host events for other groups, and promote character and service initiatives throughout the campus community.
Greenville University has a unique approach to student scholarships, investing in students who receive leadership scholarships, like the Panther Preferred Scholarship, preparing them for leadership on campus and for lives of character and service beyond their years in college. All of Greenville University’s students receive some form of financial aid. To qualify for this and other scholarships at Greenville University, apply at greenville.edu/apply. PT
