Spring — 2010

Azra Alkan

Film/Academy of Entertainment & Technology

“Hollywood is the heart of movies and television. Coming to SMC was the best way I could think of to start making the important connections that I’m gonna need.”

It’s a long way from the shores of Turkey to the shores of the Californian Pacific. But for Azra Alkan, the prospect of making that long jaunt of discovery was never something she even remotely questioned. Now in her first semester at SMC, she reports, “I’m in the Academy’s Film program, and I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be. I like the building, and I love the program very much,” she says in perfect English. “And most of my professors are also teaching at the big colleges, like UCLA and USC. So I’m completely satisfied with the education I’m getting here. And I’m always emailing my friends back home, and telling them to come on over and find out for themselves.”

Azra chose SMC for two very time-honored reasons. “I learned that this is the best college to transfer to UCLA from, and that it’s also quite affordable,” she says. “I want to transfer to the Film department at UCLA, and then get into directing films and TV. I think that directing is the one area where I can use all my skills. I have the ability to write, and the ability to act as well. So I can appreciate what it takes to tell an effective story, and to also be able to communicate with the actors. I just think that it’ll be a totally creative way to use my energies and talents.”

Political thrillers are the milieu in which Azra hopes to make her mark. “And I definitely want to make my films in America. I think that the Academy is going to help me to meet a lot of very professional people here in the Industry. And so far, I’ve had nothing but the best professors. They’re very caring and helpful, and they really know what they’re talking about. I would recommend SMC to anyone who wants to study in America.”

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