SPC cinema student finds rewarding educational opportunities

LEVELLAND – When Kamryn Alvarez graduated from Springlake-Earth High School in May 2019, she had already chosen to continue her education in San Antonio. After all, graduating as the Valedictorian of her class meant she would have the financial resources to continue her educational pursuits.

All was right with the world, she said, until her mother, Melissa, pulled in the reigns of her ambitious daughter.

“Mom said ‘No’ so I decided to take a look at South Plains College since it was only an hour away from home,” she said.

Alvarez enrolled in SPC in fall 2019. She elected to major in Cinema and Video Production Technology because she was impressed with the curriculum and classes. Classes were offered in writing for radio, television and film; cinematography; advanced film and video editing as well as courses in audio engineering, lighting technology and video production. Alvarez said she was so impressed by the courses that she knew she had made the right decision.

Alvarez had visited the SPC campus on several occasions during her high school years. She would cheer on their basketball teams in the regional tournament and she participated in UIL Journalism, One Act Play and Drum Major band camps.

“I came from a really small high school, “ she said. “So, when I started in the program, there were a few students from bigger schools that offered programs in film and video.

“At first, I was a little bit intimidated because I thought I was behind as far as experience goes,” she said. “But I told myself that I had to make myself stand out to be successful.”

Alvarez said she would read her textbooks and always participate in class discussions. She wasn’t being assertive, she was working on being recognized. After the first semester, her confidence with the technology grew and she found herself feeling equal to her classmates.

Through her training, Alvarez learned how to work behind the scenes filming Texans basketball games and performances in Tom T. Hall. She even checked out a video camera to film her family and create fun-filled YouTube videos.

Alvarez credits her god father Michael Mosquedo of Earth for her career choice. As a youngster, he would take her to Six Flags for the two-day trips. The first day was spent enjoying the rides. The second day was spent watching and learning the musical performances. The behind the scenes activities really piqued Alvarez’s interest.

While her collegiate success has been everything she expected, Alvarez still has high standards for herself for the next leg of her academic journey. Her older sister, Marissa graduated as Valedictorian of her high school class. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Texas A&M University where she now works as a recruiter.

“I will be following her footsteps by pursuing my degrees at WTA&M where I will major in theater,” she said. “One thing I like about going into this industry is that you have to be able to show you possess the skills that’s required. And that puts everyone on the same level – males and females.”

Cinema and Video Production Technology

The Cinema and Video Production Technology program is designed to provide individuals with preparation and experience for entry-level video production technical positions. Graduates will possess basic knowledge of techniques, procedures and operations of equipment used in the video production industry. This includes training in television and audio production, graphics, lighting and editing. Students who successfully complete the curriculum will receive and Associate of Applied Science degree.