On Campus News

Jennifer Brofer, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, was one of the six student filmmakers chosen to help present awards at this year�s Oscars. Brofer talks about the experience itself, what was involved, the 30 second video that won her the position, as well as her future plans for filmmaking.

Can you please tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am from Arlington, TX. I joined the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I served 10 years as a Marine Corps combat correspondent (MOS 4341) and was stationed at Parris Island, SC; Washington, DC; Syracuse, NY; Camp Pendleton, CA; and Helmand Province, Afghanistan (one-year tour in 2010). I was honorably discharged in January 2012 and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2012. My major is Radio-Television-Film.

What awards did you present at the Oscars and what was the most exciting part of the experience?
I presented awards for Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor, Original Score, Sound Editing and Documentary Feature. The most exciting experience was presenting the Oscar to Meryl Streep who then presented it to Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor. Standing next to Meryl Streep on the Oscars stage was absolutely surreal. She's so graceful and poised. When Daniel Day-Lewis was giving his speech, he made a few jokes that made Meryl laugh, so I laughed along with her. To be in the same room as Meryl Streep and Daniel Day-Lewis, much less on the same STAGE, was an honor. It was an experience I'll never forget.

What was involved in rehearsing and the presenting the awards? And what did you learn from the experience?
We went through several run-throughs in the days leading up to the Oscars. Our main duties as presenters were to walk on stage to present Oscar statuettes to celebrity presenters and escort the Oscar winners off stage. When rehearsals first began I was nervous because they placed cardboard cut-outs of all the celebrities in the chairs where they would be sitting on Oscar night, so when I was on stage I would stare at these faces and begin to get anxious about actually seeing them in person. But by the time dress-rehearsals rolled around, I got to meet the actual celebrities in person so we could rehearse our duties as trophy presenters. I met so many celebrities all at once -- Meryl Streep, John Travolta, Renee Zellweger, Ben Affleck (too many to list) -- that I finally got over my nerves. So when Oscar night finally came, I felt very prepared to execute my duties with confidence.

To be chosen as one of the student filmmakers who presented at the Oscars, you had to submit a 30 second video explaining what you hope to contribute to the future of film. What did you say in your submission video and how did you decide what was important to convey in that limited time frame?
The message I conveyed in my 30-second video was that I would bring honor, courage and commitment into my film career -- core values that I learned during my 10 years as a Marine Corps combat correspondent. I think it's important for those in the entertainment industry to know that whomever I may work with in the future, I've got their back. Filmmaking is a team effort, and I'm willing to put in the hard work necessary to bring an idea to fruition.

What are your immediate filmmaking plans?
I will continue making short films, and I hope to attend the UT Semester in Los Angeles Program next spring (2014). There are only 45 spots available, and if selected I would use the opportunity to network with other filmmakers and (hopefully) intern at a production company. I graduate from the University of Texas at Austin next year.