I became aware of cinema at the ripe old age of six months when my mother took me weekly to watch movies at AMC theaters at the “Reel Moms” movie program. The darkness of the theater, the smell of freshly popped popcorn, the moving pictures, and the sound drew me in. When I was a little older, I directed movies with my toys and wrote scripts for short films and plays. I had shots and frames planned in my head and crafted a production list before I even knew what that was. I spent my awakening hours consuming all genres of film. I realized I was hooked on cinema and storytelling and that this was what I was born to do. While my interest in film started as a baby and was sparked by a film production course at Northwestern University, my interest in Film & Media Studies was cemented after taking Television Writing: An Agent of Change, my Freshman year at USC. This class changed my life by introducing me to critical film analysis and showing me how I could use my voice as a change agent. As a budding filmmaker and artist, I thrive to create and be a part of this transformative medium. After taking this class, I decided to change my major to Film & Media Studies with a focus on production. I originally applied to the USC film school, but I was not accepted. I was accepted into the School of Dramatic Arts, so I accepted the school's offer to be near the film school. Being a person of strong will and determination, I knew that if I could get into the Film & Media Studies Program, I would have full access to the School of Cinema and be able to enroll in film production courses. I reapplied to the School of Cinematic Arts during my Sophomore year and was accepted into the Film & Media Studies Program. Through the School of Cinematic Arts Media & Film Studies Program, I can take classes to explore the economic, technological, aesthetic, and ideological characteristics of the TV medium. I am learning how to critique and analyze film, study film techniques and take film production classes, learn about politics & the media, understand gender and sexuality, analyze media's global impact, and study how marginalized groups and races have shaped the media. I am getting an education on how media works and learning how to write and produce stories that will have an impact on its viewers. My education in Film & Media Studies with a minor in Theater/Acting is crucial to my long-term career objectives to create, produce, and act in projects that evoke empathy, refute stereotypes, and challenge societal norms. I want to use my platforms to be a change agent and give underrepresented voices a stage to share their stories and further spur societal change. I will use art as activism to help create a more empathetic and accepting world. I will be an agent of change! To learn more about me and see some of my professional work, please visit my professional website: Othel Robert Owen www.othelrobertowen.com

I became aware of movies at the ripe old age of six months when my mother took me to AMC theaters to watch movies with other moms and babies through the "Reel Moms" movie program. The darkness of the theater, moving pictures, and sound drew me in. Each week I was exposed to a new movie treat. From Disney to Harry Potter to Hunger Games to future dystopian societies, I was mesmerized by each film genre. The storyline, cinematography, soundtracks, and characters moved and inspired me. I became fascinated by acting and all aspects of film. I loved the world of make-believe and getting to be someone else for a little while. I realized I was hooked on film and acting and I knew that was what I was born to do. Acting and film are my passion! I have been involved in film since I was six years old when I was chosen over dozens of seasoned actors for the role of Eric, the principal actor, in a short film titled, "Eric's Haircut". The film won an award at the Chicago Black Harvest Film Festival and Roger Ebert gave me two thumbs up. I was hooked from the moment I sat on the set with the directors watching movie magic. I have over 13 years of acting and film experience. I have worked on feature films, short films, documentary films, and voice-over work. I have worked in front of the camera as an actor and behind the scenes working on film production. I have over eight years of theater acting experience from the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company's Young Ensemble group. My desire is to combine all of my passions and skills to create a career path for the next steps of my journey. I am currently a sophomore in the School of Dramatic Arts at USC in Los Angeles. I am pursuing a degree in Theater/Acting and Film/Media Studies. I was inspired to pursue film, acting, and theater because I love acting and the entertainment industry lacks diversity and inclusion. I plan to use my education, talents, and experiences to continue to act, create and produce film projects, and educate the masses. I plan to use my voice to bring a multi-dimensional, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic point of view to cinema from a young, African American male perspective that is generally missing in the arts today. I want the opportunity to give a voice to people that have been disenfranchised, underrepresented, and voiceless. I want to create characters in films and artistic projects with people that look like me. I want to create positive images of all people of color and not cultural stereotypes. I want to follow in the footsteps of great directors such as John Singleton, Spike Lee, Shonda Rhimes, Ryan Cooglar, Jordan Peele, Ana DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, and Tyler Perry. My college education with concentrations in film and acting sets the stage for putting me on the right professional path to achieve my lifelong dreams. The pandemic really made me realize that TV and film were not just important but essential and necessary. It was the arts that helped save us during the pandemic. We were all at home. We were scared. We were bored. We turned to TV and movies for excitement and entertainment. Watching TV and movies allowed us to transform ourselves to different times and spaces if only for a little while. This whole experience reinforced my desire to be a storyteller and create stories that can educate, entertain, and uplift people. I know that this is what I was born to do. www.othelrobertowen.com

I became aware of movies at the ripe old age of six months when my mother took me weekly to see movies at the “Reel Moms” movie program at AMC theaters. The darkness of the theater, moving pictures, and sound drew me in. When I was a little older, I made movies with my toys and wrote scripts for short movies and plays. I spent hours watching TV and reenacting the shows and commercials. While on set doing student films, I would sit with the directors and look through their cameras absorbing it all in. I became fascinated by acting and all aspects of film. I loved the world of make-believe and getting to be someone else for a little while. I realized I was hooked on film and acting and I knew that was what I was born to do. My career interests are in the areas of film, entrepreneurship, acting, and music/music production. I want to be able to combine my interests, which lie in four different disciplines, to produce films from start to finish, write scripts, collaborate with the different roles on a set, negotiate legal and intellectual properties, and manage the business elements of a production. I also plan to create music for myself and others and continue to act in film and theater. It is my dream to learn new skills from seasoned professionals, collaborate with others on film projects, and share my unique skills and talents with other creative students. I would love the opportunity to share my cultural experiences and talents. I feel that I have a lot to offer and that I can bring a multi-dimensional, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic view from a young, African American male perspective that is generally missing in the arts today. I would love to be able to tell stories from different perspectives. I would love the opportunity to give a voice to people that have been underrepresented and voiceless. I would love to see characters in films of people that look like me. I would love to see positive images of all people of color and not cultural stereotypes. I would love to follow in the footsteps of great directors such as Oscar Micheaux, John Singleton, Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ana DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, and Tyler Perry. My college education with concentrations in film, acting, and entrepreneurship sets the stage for putting me on the right professional path to achieve my lifelong dreams and it will allow me to help others bring their stories to life. The pandemic really made me realize that TV and movies were not just important but essential and necessary. It was the arts that helped save us during the pandemic. We were all at home. We were scared. We were bored. We were tired of the hourly news reports about covid cases and death. We had all this time on our hands but nothing to do. We turned to TV and movies for excitement and entertainment. We binge-watched for hours trying to not think about the pandemic. Watching TV and film allowed us to transform ourselves into different times and places if only for a little while. This whole experience relit a spark in me to be creative and use and share my talents. It reinforced my desire to be a storyteller and create stories that can educate, entertain, and uplift people. I know that this is what I was born to do. I humbly submit my application and look forward to the possibility of fulfilling my dreams of becoming a great producer, filmmaker, and storyteller. www.othelrobertowen.com

I love soccer! My love for soccer began when I was two years old and my mother enrolled me in Little Kickers. I loved kicking the ball and the freedom of running up and down the field. I have played soccer on team sports since I was 11 years old. I love the camaraderie of being on a team. I love the sense of belonging to something. I love the opportunity to share my skills and provide support to my fellow teammates. When I was in sixth grade, I tried out for my middle school soccer team. After the tryouts were over, the team roster sheet was released and to my dismay, I was not selected for the A-team. I was very disappointed but I didn’t give up. I practiced every day for the next year so that I could play at the level that I knew I was capable of playing at. For seventh grade, I made the A-team as a substitute player. I had worked harder than ever to try to make it to the starting team but I was again overlooked by the coaches. I continued to practice my soccer skills so that I could be on the starting team the next year. By eighth grade, I finally earned a starting spot on the A-team. My hard work and determination had finally paid off. High school soccer was a repeat of my junior high experience. During my freshman year of high school, I tried out for the team and I didn’t make the JV A-team. I was placed on the junior varsity beginners’ white team and I wasn’t given much playing time. I had worked really hard over the summer to develop my soccer skills and still, I didn’t make the A-team. By my sophomore year after lots of training, I went to meet with my coach to ask what must I do to become a starting player. We discussed what I needed to do and I worked even harder for a better position on the team. I started out on the JV B-team and worked my way up to the starting lineup for JV A-team. Soccer was canceled for me for my junior year of high school due to Covid-19. I was super excited for my senior year. It had been my dream to play on the varsity team and I had finally made the team. Although I made the varsity team, my dream was shattered because I was not utilized as much as I thought I should be. I had worked so hard and done everything that was expected of me but I still was not given the opportunity to show what I could do. I felt overlooked and unseen. At my senior banquet, I was surprised to learn that I was being awarded the IHSSCA Boys Soccer All Sectional All-Academic Team Award for my leadership, hard work, determination, and high GPA. I had always felt under-utilized and overlooked these past four years but the coaches had seen me. Through all of my challenges, I learned that a setback is a setup for a comeback. I learned that people are always watching you. I learned my actions and attitude control my destiny and its outcomes. I also learned that you should always strive for excellence and give 100%, that sometimes you will fail but you can’t give up, that you don’t accept “no” as an answer, and most importantly, that you can never stop believing in yourself. I will apply all of these life lessons to every facet of my life.

Racism and discrimination are two of the biggest social issues affecting the world today. We all became more aware of how deep the roots of racism ran in America during the pandemic when we saw people rise and take to the streets after George Floyd's murder, saw how people of color were disproportionately affected by health care, lack of employment, and poor education systems, and we became educated on social injustices that people of color were subjected to on a daily basis. Racism is very personal to me as an African American male, actor, and person of color. I want to do my part in trying to confront racism by changing the narrative of how people of color (POC) are depicted in the media and entertainment industry. Most media depictions of people of color show us either in a negative light or show us as some source of a racist stereotype. We often see African American and Hispanic/Latino men depicted as criminals, lazy, angry, thugs, drug dealers, pimps, or athletes. African American females and Latino/Hispanic women are seen as promiscuous, sister girls or ghetto fabulous, loud, or as best friends, maids, single moms who are always looking for a man. Asians are often portrayed as extremely smart, rich, and musically talented, or women are portrayed as controlling Tiger Moms. Middle Eastern, Iranian and Muslim people are portrayed as very controlling, villains, or terrorists. The majority of these roles are seen as a sidekick or someone to prop up the white lead characters. More often than not the characters are not well-rounded and they have no depth. People of color are also seen as comic relief and are often seen joking, laughing, and dancing around for everyone’s source of entertainment. America has had enough of these stereotypes on TV and in the movies. It is time for the portrayals of people of color to change. To change the negative image of people of color in the media, I will first start by taking control of my own narrative by only accepting acting roles that show POC in a positive light and creating and developing projects that allow for the positive portrayal of people of color. I will use various genres such as film, music, art, and photography to reach people, work on breaking down barriers, and unite people. I will use the arts and my talents to show a more diverse representation in front of and behind the camera. I will use my voice to represent my generation, share our cultures, and tell stories that can only be told from people of color’s points of view. It is a known fact that people hire people that look like them. Currently, there is a shortage of people of color in the entertainment field in the areas of screenwriting, producers, directors, casting, and other key industry professions. I will control my own narrative and promote change by going to college to learn how to write, direct, and produce TV and film projects. I plan on taking screenwriting, film production, directing, and business classes so that I will have the foundation and skills to be successful in the entertainment industry. I plan to position myself to be in the room where it happens to make decisions on how POC images are portrayed. I will add diversity to the industry and collaborate with other POC creatives to create projects, stories, and news that represent us. I will work hard to fight racism and discrimination and change the narrative of the media and entertainment industry by promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion one project at a time.

My family lives by five principles: faith, family, friends, food, and community service. These principles motivate me and I try to share my principles with everyone I meet. Faith guides me daily. I pray because I believe it changes things and I rely on it to get me through dark times. Family and friends are my lifelines. They are the ones who love me, support me and encourage me. They literally give me life. Food means love in my family. Each meal is prepared and served with love. It is a way to nourish our bodies and soul. Food means sitting down with family, extended family, and friends to catch up on each other's lives. It's birthdays, Christmas, and Thanksgiving gatherings. Food means sharing. Food means caring. Food means home. My family lives by the motto, " community service is the rent we pay for being". It is something that generations of my family have done and I have accepted that challenge to serve. Since pre-school, most of my extra-curricular activities have had a service component to them whether it was working on Red Cross fundraisers, raising money for school scholarships, working on student government club(s), or working with community organizations that serve underserved communities. With everything that I do, I always look for little ways to try to make a difference. I believe that each and every one of us has a gift and something to offer. I know that we each have the power to promote change and make a difference. I will continue to use my principles as my moral compass to guide me and motivate me. I will try to give back in some manner in everything that I do and I live up to my family's motto to make this world a better place.

Acting and film are my passion! I became aware of movies at the ripe old age of six months when my mother took me weekly to see movies at the “Reel Moms” movie program at AMC theaters. The darkness of the theater, moving pictures, and the sound drew me in. When I was a little older, I made movies with my toys and wrote scripts for short movies and plays. I spent hours watching TV and reenacting the shows and commercials. I was fascinated by acting and all the aspects of film. While on set doing student films, I would sit with the directors and look through the camera and watch the movie magic. I loved the world of make-believe and getting to be someone else for a little while. I realized I was hooked on film and acting and I knew that that was what I was born to do. I have been involved with film since I was six years old when I was the principal actor, in a film short titled “Eric’s Haircut” that debuted at The Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago. I have 13+ years of acting experience in film and eight years of theater acting experience from the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theater Young Ensemble. I have worked on feature films, short films, documentary films, and voice-over work. I have worked in front of the screen as an actor and behind the scenes working on film production. It is my desire to take all of my passions and skills in acting, film, and music/music production and combine them to create a path for the next steps of my creative journey. I will be attending college this fall to enhance my skills and I will be majoring in film/film production with a minor in entrepreneurship. www.othelrobertowen.com

My family lives by the motto, " community service is the rent we pay for being". It is something that generations of my family have done and I have eagerly accepted that challenge to serve. Since pre-school, most of my extra-curricular activities have had a service component to them whether it was working on Red Cross fundraisers, raising money for school scholarships, working on student government club(s), or working with community organizations that serve underserved communities. With everything that I do, I always look for little ways to try to make a difference. After watching how Covid-19 disproportionately affected communities of color, I organized a community project to distribute 1000 PPE kits to seniors and underserved communities. I collaborated with local non-profit agencies to distribute the kits. I also helped my family deliver food packages to shut-in seniors. Leadership and civic responsibility are of great importance to me. At school, I participate in leadership roles in clubs and student government organizations that give students a voice. I am the Head Representative of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SAAD), Senate Representative, Student Ambassador, and a member of the Students of Color. Each of these groups provides me with the opportunity to help the student community by providing them with a voice and working with the Administration to promote change. I have gained great leadership skills and insight from being a Daniel Murphy Scholar, a basketball and soccer athlete, and attending Northwestern University's Civic Leadership Camp. I also gained leadership and civic engagement skills by participating in the National Democracy Project " We Can Project" and the A Starting Point Homeroom Democracy Project. All of these programs have given me the opportunity to participate in democracy in action, advocate for social change, be empathetic to other people's circumstances, and allow me to be open-minded to people's opinions who might differ from mine. I will use these skills in the future in college classrooms, working on school projects, and when I am involved in community projects. The school environment is one of my many communities. Throughout the years in sports, I have collaborated with my fellow teammates, rallied the team together, cheered the team on from on and off the bench, provided emotional support, and motivated my teammates. My efforts were noticed by the school coaches this year and I was awarded the IHSSCA Boys Soccer All Sectional All-Academic Team Award for my leadership, commitment to the team, and high academic achievements. We all live and belong to a variety of different communities. I move between my family community, sports community, school community, neighborhood community, and the global community at large. As a student and an activist, I use my education, gifts, and talents to collaborate on projects that promote change and make a difference. Upon graduation, I will use film, TV, music, and creative outlets to give a voice to people that have been underrepresented and voiceless. I plan to create projects for film and TV that tell stories of unrepresented groups. I will introduce people to characters of people that look like me. I will also portray positive images of all people of color and not show typical cultural stereotypes. I will collaborate with other creatives on a variety of creative arts projects so that people will be exposed to other cultures. I plan to break down stereotypes and open doors for cultural appreciation. We live in a world where we are all connected. Community service gives us the opportunity to unite people, uplift people, and give back to help others. I believe that each and every one of us has a talent, gift, and something unique to offer. I know that we each have the power to promote change and make a difference. I am a strong believer in collaborations and the idea that it takes a village to succeed. Working together united as a community makes us unstoppable. As I move from high school and progress into adulthood, I will continue to let my moral compass guide me, continue to give back in some manner in everything that I do and I will live up to my family's motto to serve and make this world a better place.

I became aware of movies at the ripe old age of six months when my mother took me weekly to see movies at the “Reel Moms” movie program at AMC theaters. The darkness of the theater, moving pictures, and the sound drew me in. When I was a little older, I made movies with my toys and wrote scripts for short movies and plays. I spent hours watching TV and reenacting the shows and commercials. I was fascinated by acting and all the aspects of film. While on set doing student films, I would sit with the directors and look through the camera and watch the movie magic. I loved the world of make-believe and getting to be someone else for a little while. I realized I was hooked on film and acting and I knew that that was what I was born to do. It is my desire to create platforms for myself and others through writing and creating films, TV, and theater projects that represent me and my culture and to direct, produce and explore other forms of creative expression. I bring a multi-dimensional, multi-cultural view from a young, African American male perspective that is often missing in the arts. I want to tell stories from different perspectives. I would love the opportunity to give a voice to people that have been underrepresented and voiceless. I will portray positive characters in films/TV and present positive images of people of color. I wish to follow in the footsteps of great directors such as Oscar Micheaux, John Singleton, Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ana DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, and Tyler Perry. To view some of my professional work in film, commercials, and voice-over, go to my website Othel Robert Owen - www.othelrobertowen.com

I became aware of movies at the ripe old age of six months when my mother took me weekly to see movies at the “Reel Moms” movie program at AMC theaters. The darkness of the theater, moving pictures, and sound drew me in. When I was a little older, I made movies with my toys and wrote scripts for short movies and plays. I spent hours watching TV and reenacting the shows and commercials. I was fascinated by acting and all the aspects of film. While on set doing student films, I would sit with the directors and look through the camera and watch the movie magic. I loved the world of make-believe ​and getting to be someone else for a little while. I realized I was hooked on film and acting and I knew that that was what I was born to do. Acting and film are my passion! Acting has always been a big part of my life. I have been involved with film since I was six years old when I was chosen over dozens of seasoned actors for the role of Eric, the principal actor, in a film short titled “Eric’s Haircut”. The film won an award at the Chicago Black Harvest Film Festival and it was given a thumbs up by movie critic Roger Ebert. I have 13+ years of acting experience in film and commercial work. I have worked on feature films, short films, documentary films, and voice-over work. I have worked in front of the screen as an actor and behind the scenes working on film production. I have over eight years of theater acting experience from the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Young Ensemble group. Being an actor is who I am and acting is what I choose to do professionally.

My father often says, "it's not what happens to us in life that defines us, but how we respond to it defines us". I know this may sound like a cliche but I know this statement to be true. I was bullied throughout elementary school. It was a horrible and humiliating experience. I was hit quite often, called names because they said I spoke white, and treated poorly because they didn't like that I was a straight-A student. I had always loved school but now I hated it. I became angry and upset to the point that I didn't want to go to school anymore. My parents knew something was wrong with me because I was withdrawn but I was scared to tell them about being bullied because they said they would really harm me if I told anyone. When I was finally fed up with being bullied, I found the courage to tell my parents about being bullied and my dad said, " bad things will happen in life son, but how you choose to respond to them would define me". My parents went up to the school and we had a conversation with the principal, teachers, and the guidance counselor. From the conversations, we devised a plan to help me cope with the bullying. I helped start a school-wide "Anti-Bullying" campaign. The PTA and Student Council got involved and we worked to make the school more inviting for everyone. Through this ordeal, I learned that it was possible to survive obstacles. I found my voice and learned to speak up for myself and for others who are being mistreated. I became a more sympathetic and empathetic person because of this and I learned that the actions of one person can indeed make a difference in the world.