Personal Narrative: Slave No More

10 years ago, I first stepped on Temple University’s lavish campus. At that point in time, I was confident that Temple would be an institution that I could excel in. It turns out I was right! I majored in Film and Media Arts, and from the first day I attended that class, I knew that this was the right career for me. During my second year in Temple, I and my peers made a film titled, “Slave No More.” The film was centered on a young black male who vowed to overthrow the plantation’s slave master, after seeing his family slaughtered before his very eyes. That film – which I wrote the screenplay for and directed – won Best Film at the Independent Spirit Awards. After that masterpiece, I never looked back. Three years later, after writing and directing several other indie films, I was hired to direct Marvel’s Black Panther 3. …show more content…
After that film was released, job offers came pouring in. As you know, I would then go on to direct Marvel’s Avengers: United, Hunger Games: The Return of the Mockingjay, Star Wars: Episode 11, and many other films I’m sure you’ve heard of. When I think back at my first year in Temple, I remember how much I struggled with completing a screenplay that I was satisfied with. Even after I graduated, I always nitpicked at my scripts and stories. Before I let this conflict grow any bigger than it was, I remembered what my professor told me. His exact words were as followed: “If you are not confident with your own work, how do you expect to become a good writer. There will always be people who criticize you, and there will be those who thoroughly enjoy what you produce. If you’re afraid about being criticized, then you will never evolve. You’ll learn just as much from your mistakes as you learn from your achievements.” From that day on, I always remained confident no matter the job I was working