’28 Janeya Bailey Smith learned vital skills such as time management and public speaking just in her first semester. Making connections and having strong communication skills have become second nature to the Freshman film/media student. These skills have helped Janeya excel during her first full group production and made her look forward to creating and editing new short films.
What is your major?
I am a film/media major!
What brought you to URI?
When looking for a college to attend, I had no idea where I wanted to go. I had several options but decided on URI because of their Talent Development program. This program allowed me to spend the summer on campus, get used to it, and make friends with people who were going through the same experiences as me.
What are some things you wish you knew?
I wish I had known how much time management I would need. As a film major, when filming with others, you must schedule according to your schedule, the crew’s schedule, and your actor’s schedules. This wasn’t easy to do and felt like a huge puzzle. Another thing I wish I knew was the amount of public speaking I would do as a film major and the connections I would need. Going into my major, I didn’t think it would require as much communication as it did. For my class, I needed to create a pitch and confidently present it to others, and once you have a crew, you need to be able to communicate about everything. When it comes to connections, being able to find actors requires you to reach out to others, and once you have those connections, you can make even more.
What was your favorite memory/class?
One of my favorite memories was filming the URI Ghoul in my FLM 110 class. This allowed me to work on my first full group production and learn how production was done behind the scenes of films/movies.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to an incoming freshman?
Set alarms and turn in your work on time. During my first semester, it felt rough to wake up on time and actually get my work done. But in the end, I finished all my work when it was due, and by the end of the semester, I was stress-free. Also, do not overwork yourself; make sure you take breaks while working.
What are you most looking forward to in future semesters?
I look forward to improving my editing and making new short films that I hope will inspire others to make their own!