The room buzzed in anticipation of a young woman’s debut film premiere.
Friends, family and colleagues entered a dimly lit event hall. Music hummed through the room as guests found a place to sit amongst the carefully arranged tables and chairs. Some gathered cinema snacks from a concession table while others admired the hand-crafted backdrops surrounding the space.
Lights flickered overhead as the event began, and the darkness filled the room. Whirs of a projector pierced through the silence as a young women’s film was seen for the first time.
A young woman with just a camera and a dream.
Anna Kate Jackson was born with an abundance of creativity. A childhood filled with singing, dancing and artistry led her to become the confident visual storyteller she is today. Her passion for content creation inspired her to create Anna Kate Creates, a digital portfolio complete with photography, vlogs, a documentary and, most recently, a short film.
Jackson always seemed to have a knack for cameras, both in front of and behind them. However, she didn’t notice the significance of cameras until going on a photoshoot with a friend. The rest of her media journey at Ohio Northern spurred into action: “…it just blossomed from there.”
“I’ve always made movies, and I’ve always taken [pictures] since I was young, but never have I known that you can do so much with it, ever. I just thought it was just something that you did, right? I didn’t know you could change viewpoints of the world, change people, change systems, change things through a picture or a photo or a video.”
Instilling change in the world requires passion and determination, and Jackson had to work hard for her vision to become a reality. Her path to finding creative freedom was far from easy. Jackson began her journey by studying the principles of photography and discovering her artistic style. She intentionally sought classes that would strengthen her skills, such as Photography and Communication and Video Storytelling.
She then borrowed equipment from professors and recruited friends for photoshoots. When she expanded into vlogging and cinematography, Jackson practiced with technology accessible to her: a smartphone, $30 Amazon microphones, iMovie and GarageBand. Resourcefulness helped Jackson remain creative on a fixed college budget.
“You don’t need crazy equipment to make art or to do this type of thing,” said Jackson. “It’s nice, you know. It is nice when you have the funding and you have that, but on campus, I’m really thankful and privileged to have professors and people that have resources that I can take advantage of.”
“Do not let your thoughts of limitation stop you from trying to do something big. If that was my mindset, I would not be at college.” – Anna Kate Jackson
The more Jackson learned about each discipline, the more she blended her passion for photography and videography together in projects. Concepts were blending together effortlessly, and she soon found herself as a multimedia storyteller. According to Jackson, “A film is basically just a live picture.”
“Both tell stories and both use similar tactics [and] similar vocabulary, like a hook shot, a stabilization shot, whatever it might be. But those are—what I’m learning is—interchangeable in the photography world and video world…” reflected Jackson. “Since learning about how much of it overlaps, I think I just love to tell a story. I love to tell that story, whether it’s through a still image and how much that can communicate or action and how that can communicate through a film. Both are severely impactful in the same regards.”
Combining skill sets creates unique opportunities for artists. Depth is added to a story when projects incorporate multiple layers of visual elements. Jackson’s unique background was particularly useful as she produced her debut film “We Are Still Here”.
Technical precision was vital when bringing the short film to life. Portrayals of heavy themes including depression and PTSD reflected Jackson’s own mental health journey, and she needed a camera to capture those emotions accurately. Drawing on her education and experience, she created a touching portrayal of emotional wellness through digital media.
Jackson premiered “We Are Still Here” after a long semester of patience, reflection and challenge. Her college career came to a close by showcasing four years of artistic growth.
“This movie is something that I’ve been carrying for years, but I’m now finally able [to make] through the teachings of my professors, friends, God, my spirit, all these, [and] my therapists…I have this voice, and I have this story: what’s gonna be the most powerful to get that across? And for me—as I said in my [senior project], as I’ve said pretty much my whole life—I’m a storyteller.”
Photography is a foundational art form in visual storytelling. Blending multimedia techniques can transform a narrative into an emotionally riveting project.