Alexander Etseyatse
“ON YOUR RADAR” IS A WEEKLY GRAD FILM NEWS SEGMENT THAT FEATURES A STUDENT PICKED AT RANDOM.
ALEXANDER ETSEYATSE IS CURRENTLY A 3RD YEAR STUDENT AT GRAD FILM. WE ASKED HIM A FEW QUESTIONS AND HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY:
Where do you consider home and what is it like there?
For me, Brooklyn is Home. I grew up here and no matter where I go, there's no where like it. I get inspired by so much going on here, even when I travel to remote areas for long periods of time it's hard to imagine living somewhere else. A big plus, my family still lives in Brooklyn.
What inspired you to study filmmaking?
I was inspired first, right before undergrad, to study film because I wanted to see people that looked like me and the people I knew on the big screen. I just got tired of imagining how it would look and started creating stories myself. Now at NYU Graduate film, my inspirations are a lot more focused. After a three year hiatus from working in film, to take on a 9 to 5 career, I went back to study film because my voice became more conscious, and I wanted to move people with stories that honestly never get told. And coming here (to NYU Grad Film) was a chance to evolve as a filmmaker.
What has been your most rewarding experience at NYU Tisch Grad Film so far?
The first year and half at NYU Grad film has been the most rewarding experience because as soon as you get here you jump right into shooting, writing and collaborating. That for me was a big jump because for the most part I haven't shot anything in three years. But I got to shoot the stuff I wrote and experience it over that period. Every semester we shot a new short film for three semesters straight. That to me provided a lot to work on in my final year of studies at NYU.