Art Imitating Life with H Spencer Young
On episode six of Media in the Mix, Grace Ibrahim is joined by AU alum, artist, director, screenwriter and strategic consultant, H Spencer Young. Young received his bachelor's degree in Visual Media from the School of Communication and received a Film Direction Certificate from the Academy of Performance Arts in Prague. He has since gone on to direct, write and consult for companies like Vogue, CBS, Food Network and Nike, along with working for individuals like Beyonce and Mykki Blanco.ÌýÌý
Young’s love of creating started early. Whatever tools were in front of him from a guitar to a camera, he constantly pursued new artistry and design. However, at the heart of it all, has always been directing and writing. Ìý
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With any project, Young strives to start with an open mind and balance risk with reward. He said that understanding what you bring to the table, as an artist and person, is absolutely key. According to Young, the best way to set yourself up for success in any creative business is to find the places where who you are aligns with your clients’ needs.Ìý
As Young reflected on his journey to filmmaking and directing, he readily admitted it wasn’t always easy. After completing his degree and moving to New York, he didn’t immediately find success, but he firmly believes how you respond to failure is what makes or breaks you. He says the opportunities to fail early and learn from others serve as great preparation for post-grad life. ÌýHe is now part of SOC’s Alumni Mentorship Program and hopes to help students prepare for post-grad life and careers in media. His top advice for students: Have an open mind and be committed to success.ÌýÌýÌý