This is one in a series of four articles about students who plan to continue their elective studies after high school.
Upasana Mannur, staff writer
Film enthusiast and student cinematographer, senior Noah Dains learned his craft through self-teaching, with a camera and an idea.
“Dains focuses on really putting out caliber content. You’re now in a world where the best really have to craft in a way that they stand out,” media director Romeo Carey said.
Dains joined Advanced Film and TV Production last year, skipping the prerequisite. As part of Advanced Film and TV Production students record assembles, work on the school website, conduct interviews, participate on KBEV shows, etc.
“Dains and two other students used different tools, plugins, and software for digital special effects and 3D. Their short film is so good that I’m going to integrate that for a presentation in a Netflix Original Series,” Carey said.
He began filmmaking before high school filming Nerf fights and events around his home. After his freshman year, he became more involved by interning at a local arts theatre. The director began inviting and mentoring Dains while on set for the art theatre’s short films.
“I started to develop my skills and started learning the professional aspects of things,” Dains said.
Sophomore year, Dains worked on projects with friends for English class presentations. He learned to edit with Final Cut Pro. After joining KBEV last year, he worked on different positions around the set until he found his niche in cinematography.
“That’s what I really enjoy doing. Directing and writing isn’t as important to me as controlling the look,” he said.
Dains continued his internship and worked on growing YouTube channel Pixel Storm Films that has about 8000 subscribers. Last summer, Dains worked on projects in Anchorage, Alaska, to gain experience rather than capital.
“When I’m an adult, I’ll be prepared. I know freelance work isn’t easy,” he said.
Dains plans on working while attending college in Los Angeles. His main focus is on USC School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
“Los Angeles film schools are where you wanna go if you wanna be involved in the industry while at school,” he said.
Dains admires cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and director Alfonso Cuarón’s work in “Gravity”.
“My style is limited by budget for the things I want to do. I tend to copy aspects of movies that I love. Gravity for example has these really long camera shots. I fell in love with those shots and I like taking long shots,” Dains said.
Dains hopes to work on feature films in the future. He encourages students to work in high school to pay for equipment.
“For students freshmen who want to pursue this line of work make friends who you like doing this, and definitely join KBEV. It’s also important to watch lots of films, good and bad. That way you can see the mistakes and the highlights,” he said.
Subscribe to Dains’ YouTube channel, Nosterooni, and visit www.noahdains.com