Daniel Connor Wilson鈥檚听interest in the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking started early in life.
Like others of his generation, he was drawn to the impact of visual storytelling, at first through the tiny lens of his smartphone, which allowed him to capture snippets of life on the fly, and later through the lenses of higher-quality digital cameras with more robust cinematic capabilities. Along the way, he learned and grew, honing his artistic eye and developing a lifelong passion for cinematography.
This May, Wilson is graduating from CU 麻豆影院 as a second-generation Buff with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in cinema studies with an emphasis on听. His goal, he said, is to combine his interests in nature photography, music, sports and art to launch a career in cinematography, working for a major sports team or in the film industry.
鈥淚 am thankful to have had the opportunity to be able to study听听at the University of Colorado, as I have been able to meet some of my best friends and colleagues. CU has provided me with many experiences that I will never forget, and I will keep them with me as I go forward,鈥� Wilson said.
The combination of听听came naturally to Wilson while he was growing up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he and his parents shared a love for听听补苍诲 spent weekends at movie theaters or going to concerts. Some of the films that stirred his imagination with motion-capture and other tech wizardry and screenplays were Titanic听补苍诲 the Harry Potter听补苍诲 Pirates of the Caribbean听series. He was in awe of the film scores of Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman.
He wanted to learn more for himself. In high school, he filmed hours of video while his drumline ensemble practiced for indoor percussion competitions, producing the annual ThunderRidge High School Grizzlies drumline documentary. Later, he was recruited as a documentary filmmaker for Colorado鈥檚听, a world-class competitive drumline team that competes annually in the听听(WGI) 鈥渟port of the arts鈥� competition.
Growing up near the Colorado Rockies fostered his love of nature photography and filmmaking. On family trips to the mountains, he hiked to remote locations and captured drone footage of the rugged beauty of mountain passes and high-elevation lakes and forests. On other trips, he slung his camera pack over his shoulder to capture images of waterfalls, mountains, beaches and lifestyles in the Pacific Northwest, Canada, California, Mexico and elsewhere.
Last spring, he attended the world-renowned Telluride Film Festival with classmates and a film studies professor, an experience in his own backyard that cemented his desire to be around other filmmakers and creative people who are actively working in the film industry.
As a Colorado native with deep family roots in southern Colorado, Wilson said he will always carry the stories of his family and the state with him wherever the future takes him.
鈥淪o much of film is about recreating a time and a place and sharing other life perspectives,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s a Coloradan with deep cultural and family roots in this state, Colorado鈥檚 history and stories will always move and motivate me. They have given me a foundation for life.鈥�
Get to know Daniel Wilson:
What is one of the greatest experiences or lessons from your time at CU 麻豆影院 that you鈥檒l carry with you into the next chapter of your life?
Studying the arts at CU allowed me to learn how to step out of my comfort zone, while still being听able to have creative freedom on my projects. I was able to explore different styles of filmmaking that allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the industry entirely. Being exposed to various styles of art culture has strengthened my knowledge in the world of visual art.
What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?
My advice for incoming students is to experience all of the events that their program has to offer. If I could go back to the beginning of my college career, I would听take advantage of the many screenings and promotional film events that occurred听on campus. The university has so many incredible opportunities right on the main campus.
What does graduating from graduate school represent for you?
Graduating from college allows me to look back on all of the memories that I made. While much of my time on campus was for my studies and projects, I was able to make friends and connections that I will have for the rest of my life.
What continues to drive your passion for your work after graduation?
I am looking forward to taking my skills to the next level and seeing what my true potential is in the world of cinema. I hope to be able to see the world through the lens of a camera and create content that people will enjoy. I think of all of the times that my mind was blown by a piece of cinema and hope to be able to give that feeling to someone else one day.听
