John
(Freedom Student)
As of right now, I am 21 years old and a senior at the Pennsylvania State University. I am majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in both Theater and Communication Arts & Sciences. After I graduate in the Spring of 2012, I am looking to become a reporter for a news company either in New York, Philadelphia, or California. I've interned with WFMZ, the news company that broadcasts the Freddy Awards, and I've also MC'd the Freddy Awards that year as well. In the summer of 2011, I interned at two production companies based out of Pennsylvania called Golden Pepper Productions and Medstar, giving me much needed experience to become a versatile reporter.
But, I do keep my theater experience in my back pocket. I've come to realize that it is a passion of mine that will never leave me because acting still excites me as much as it did during the filming of this movie. So, I keep myself "theater-satisfied" by being a member of the Penn State Thespians and doing their musicals such as Once Upon A Mattress and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I also broadened my acting career by acting in movies put together by film majors at Penn State.
I've really kept myself busy since the making of the movie. I work during the school year at The Penn State Bookstore where I make enough money so I don't have to ask my parents for it (I just hate asking).
As for my feelings on being in the documentary: I am just honored. I am honored to be a part of such an inspiring and eye-opening movie. It is still surreal to me just to think that I am part of something that has the potential to reach thousands, if not millions, of people and change their minds about the arts. Because. if you can't tell, I cherish the arts greatly and hope that someday everyone can see them as I do. Most Valuable Players undoubtedly shows exactly what makes the arts, The Arts.