With N.C. State being a top-notch engineering school, some might think a film studies degree from the University would be useless. However, one of the school’s alumni is proof that this is a false assumption.
David Hambridge, an alumnus from 2009 with a B.A in film studies and a minor in creative writing, said he has continually advanced his career as a filmmaker by making both documentaries and commercials for television and the internet.
“I was able to be my own creative entity, running my own business as a freelancer,” Hambridge said.
Despite his current success, Hambridge said he had no idea what his career path would be when he started college.
“I actually was at a point where I didn’t know what I wanted to do in college when I started as an undergrad,” Hambridge said. “I thought about where my interests were, and I always liked making music and videos growing up, so I decided to declare a film studies major.”
After transferring to N.C. State from East Carolina University, Hambridge said he found internships in Raleigh and Wilmington through N.C. State’s Film Studies Program.
“I was fortunate enough to be thrown in the middle of the professional world while I was still a student,” Hambridge said. “I met a lot of contacts downtown while doing an internship over at Triangle Boulevard, and it picked up like a snowball from there.”
During one of his internships, Hambridge said he shot a lot of web videos with the people he was working with that became really popular. He also said he had a friend working for The News & Observer, who gave him advice about freelancing and things such as which camera worked best.
“It’s all about people being autonomous and individual,” Hambridge said. “Freelance is a power. Even President Obama talked about in a recent speech how freelancers are the future. When you’re doing it for lower costs and you have the right skill set, you can really go places.”
Hambridge’s most recent project is a documentary titled, My Masculinity Helps. The film, which was made possible by a grant through the University, examines the help of African-American men and boys in the fight against rape and sexual violence. Hambridge co-directed the film with Marc Grimmett, an associate professor in curriculum, instruction & counselor education.
“My interests lie in documentary storytelling and in being authentic with the subjects being portrayed in my films,” Hambridge said. “I want to be true to the story I’m telling, while giving it my own touch. I establish trust with the people who are the subjects of these documentaries. It’s almost like doing a job interview. The more comfortable they feel the better.”
Although Hambridge said he enjoys commercial filmmaking, he said he often has to fight for creative freedom during projects.
“When you’re working with a corporation, the marketers like to have control over the creative process,” Hambridge said. “I often have to ask for creative freedom when marketers want to be involved in every step of the process.”
Though he does storyboards, Hambridge said he hasn’t been able to write films as much as he did in college. Though he took screenwriting courses while at State, he said his work now has less of a narrative emphasis.
“I’ve done some shorts, but with the business I have and the way it runs, I don’t have as much time as I used to,” Hambridge said. “While I would like to focus more on the narrative, the business side does tend to get in the way.”
In terms of advice he has for current film students and aspiring filmmakers, Hambridge said the most important thing is autonomy.
“You have to find a sense of autonomy and learn the hard technical skill sets,” Hambridge said. “It gives you leverage, because the skill sets are high in demand. You’ve got to know everything from directing and producing to editing. The more you know the better. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
For more information about Hambridge and his films, check out his website: www.davidhambridge.com.
