New York University's film school is world renowned and its graduates include such luminary filmmakers as Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, and Oliver Stone. Caedmon's Juliet Adelman, Class of 2011, is currently a senior at NYU Tisch and may someday join those Academy Award winning directors.
Juliet is currently studying abroad in Spain, but took a few minutes to chat with us about her program at Tisch, her desire to experience life in Europe, and what a film set at Caedmon might look like if Juliet was behind the camera. Great work, Juliet. We look forward to seeing your on screen work in the future.
You are a senior at NYU Tisch pursuing a BFA in film/television. Tell us about your program and what you’ve most enjoyed or been most inspired about?
NYU Tisch’s undergraduate film & television program encourages students to explore many facets of the filmmaking process. I’ve had the opportunity to take courses like Camera I, where I learned about the science of cameras and how to use actual 35mm film. I have also taken various writing courses that explore the television scripted format as well as feature length screenplays. One of my favorite classes I ever took was called Media Mavericks, and it focused on experimental filmmakers whose work paved the way for some of the most groundbreaking cinema of all time.
You’re now studying abroad in Spain. Why was studying abroad something you wanted to do? Studying abroad was part of the reason I chose NYU for college. I have known since I was young that exploring other cultures and languages is very important to my identity and awareness of the world around me. In high school, I took Spanish and Mandarin for years, so when applying to NYU, their incredible abroad sites were one of the main factors that drew me in. With the pandemic, I was nervous I would not get the chance to go, but I am so grateful that I did because I got to travel all over Europe (and even to Morocco!) One of the most amazing things I did while abroad was take a course at the Prado Museum studying art history taught entirely in Spanish. I was able to complete my Spanish minor while abroad and got to make a documentary while there, merging my filmmaking knowledge with my Spanish skills.
Filmmakers are storytellers. For you, what are the elements that make a story interesting and engaging?
I believe that the key to a truly great film is the story. There are lots of beautifully shot films that don’t achieve successful storytelling. For me, a great story has character development for the protagonist, a mentor to help the protagonist reach their goals, and some element of universality so viewers can identify with the characters.
If you were to produce a film about your time at Caedmon, what would you center the story around and why?
Coming-of-age is my favorite drama and I’m actually writing a script right now about being a middle schooler in New York City. I think if I were to make a film about my time at Caedmon it might follow a shy little girl who is trying to find her voice in a sea of more outgoing, assertive kids. Caedmon always had a great art education, teaching me about classic musical artists, theatrical productions, poems and books alike. Not to mention the memorable field trips to the Met and King Tut exhibit!
In this rapidly changing world, what are the most important qualities Caedmon students should possess in preparing for their middle school, high school, and college years?
I think the most important qualities to possess are confidence in yourself to do anything you set your mind to, understanding that there is always more to learn, and acting on your big ideas. If I had told myself I could never make a movie because it seemed too intimidating, I would never be at the *best* film school in the world working towards my dream. Being humble is also such an important quality that people often overlook. Don’t be the loudest in the room. Listen, observe, and then speak. You will sound infinitely more intelligent, and people will have so much respect for you!
