Cinema Studies Alumni Spotlight: Claire Haines, B.A. '15
By Kylie Elliot, Class of ‘18
Claire Haines, a 2015 graduate of the University of Oregon Cinema Studies Department, chose the Cinema Studies major because of her interest in film since high school. After applying to film schools all across the country, Haines says “I chose University of Oregon because not only was [it] a great place to live [and] had a great student culture, but also it had a young and growing program that really interested me.”
Haines said Cinema Studies was her first choice of majors when she applied to the UO because she knew exactly what she wanted to do. “I enjoyed directing theater. I directed small films with my friends and family, so I originally really wanted to be a director.” However, after immersing herself in the coursework, she quickly discovered her emerging talents, and her “path changed drastically because of the program. . . .After going through Cinema Studies, I found I was a great editor and I enjoyed being a producer.” When she first started at the UO, Haines was conflicted because she knew many people who went straight into working in the film industry without going to college, and she was anxious to get started as well. However, Haines says, “after my first term, I was able to start on my major classes; and that was my first ‘ah-ha’ moment when I knew I was going in the right direction and I was in the right place.” She also had the chance to add to her experience by studying abroad in London with SOJC Associate Professor in Electronic Media Daniel Miller during her first year and by taking documentary filmmaking classes in the spring of 2013.
Because cinema is inherently multidisciplinary, students take a diverse array of courses from across the university in history, criticism, and aesthetics as well as in digital production. Haines says the trajectory of her career path was affected by these courses and the faculty with whom she connected. Department of English Instructor Stephen Rust changed her outlook on the film industry and her career path through the theory and history classes he taught, and she discovered that she really enjoyed analyzing film. “My favorite class, which ended up being the one that inspired me to want to continue my education, was his Film, Media, and Society class, where we learned the social and cultural impacts that society has on film and vice-versa.” Haines was further impacted by the hands-on experience she gained in the production courses she took during her time as a Cinema Studies major. SOJC Associate Professor Miller gave Haines the opportunity to work on his films and “His passion and knowledge of documentary filmmaking inspired me to dive deeper in history, search for the stories in your adventures, and ask important questions.” The class that affected her career path the most was the “No Budget Filmmaking” course, taught by Cinema Studies Instructor André Sirois. Haines says that after learning many skills in other classes “André’s class put those lessons to the test, and gave me an introduction to what would be my career start.” This course, combined with the Avid Post-Production course taught by Cinema Studies Instructor Kevin May, gave Haines the skills she needed for the “real world film industry,” while also giving her insight into what she wanted to do after graduation.
While at the UO, Haines supplemented her class experience by becoming a member of the Cinema Studies student production team, which she found to be an incredible learning experience. Working on the production team, Haines was able to interview both faculty and students about new courses and current projects as well as film Cinema Studies events. “Being on the production team allowed me to get a front row seat on everything that was going on with Cinema Studies. Whether it was lectures, classes, panels, or viewings, I was able to experience everything that the major had to offer while recording it for others to experience as well.” Haines further engaged in Cinema Studies by working as a student equipment monitor, which she enjoyed because she was able to work with people from all skill levels to teach them how to use technology for Cinema Studies courses.
Haines’s main advice for students who are looking to get involved in the industry is to find a group of people with whom you want to work and take classes outside your comfort zone. “If you find a great group of people to work with and just work on the projects that you want to work on, you will all benefit from just getting your hands dirty and creating films. Yes, it might not pay well at first, but if you continue to work hard together, and put your passion into each project, the industry will notice your talent because you put your heart into it.” Haines’ advice comes from experience. While in the “No Budget Filmmaking” course, she worked with fellow alum Brad Burke, who now owns the company Green Studio Productions, and this subsequently led to working on his next film. “After working so well on our film The Number of Times the Wheel Turns [created in the class], he offered me a job as an editor for a short horror film Waldgeist.” As she became more involved with the company, she moved up from editor to producer and eventually to a head of the company. Now she has produced three of the studio’s feature films, edited two films, and is working on building up the studio and business for future projects.
Haines advises students to challenge themselves by taking more difficult classes at the UO. “Take the classes that are hard, that are thought provoking, because in the end that will make you a better filmmaker. It’s not just about being able to point a camera or difficult editing techniques. It’s about how the story makes you feel.” Haines also finds that the best way to learn about the film industry is to watch the experts do it. “It’s important to have someone guide you through why these filmmakers made the choices that were made in the film and how it compares to what was going on at the time. Know your history and know what inspires you to create, because every great filmmaker gets their inspiration from somewhere.”
Haines is currently freelancing as an editor, and her projects are garnering recognition in the industry. Waldgeist received Best Horror Film and Best Supporting Actress awards at the Oregon Independent Film Festival while the short sci-fi film she edited, G.I.A., won eight out of nine awards at the Orlando Independent Filmmakers Blockbuster Challenge. Haines won the award for Best Editor for that film. She is currently working with GoPro as a post-production coordinator.
Haines’ plan for the coming year is to start looking at graduate programs so she can begin down the path to becoming a professor. “I want to teach students the things that my professors taught me, inspire them to think about film critically, and give them the opportunities that I was given at my time at UO. Thanks to the Cinema Studies Program and the faculty that inspired me, I learned more about what I want to do with my life and my career in the film industry.”
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