Name: Danielle Pransky
Major: Communication & Media Arts / Minor: Film
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Marco Island, Florida
Dream Career: Creative Producer for movies or television
HCM: What are you involved with on campus?
DP: For Her Campus Montclair, I am the Promotional Media Director as well as a writer. I handle all of HCM’s social media networks and help everyone stay connected. Other on-campus clubs/organizations I’m a part of is the Alliance for Women in Media, Femvolution, Fashion Club, and checking out WMSC 90.3 college radio. What I’m most involved with is 1908 Magazine, MSU’s official fashion publication, as a Video Production Director. The other Video Production director (s/o to Steph) and I are responsible for producing promos for social media and upcoming issues of the magazine, filming the photo shoots/events, conducting interviews, doing tutorials/lifestyle shorts… overall our job is to help keep the content within the magazine alive with creative and exciting videos! The magazine is really starting to grow more so with that, we are constantly brainstorming new project ideas. There’s really exciting things coming so stay tuned! Our next endeavor is to produce funny and relatable short skits, similar to the ones on Buzzfeed. I love being involved in 1908, especially for it’s use of student talent and creative vision. The magazine incorporates various forms of creativity into one medium, including photography, writing, advertising, social media, video production, makeup artistry, and fashion design. The new issue is being released on October 22nd and we’re throwing a big launch party that day in honor of the Fall 2015 issue! It’s from 7 pm to 9 pm in the Student Center Ballrooms A/B and it’s open to anyone so bring your friends, see what 1908’s all about and grab a brand new copy of the magazine!
HCM: What made you come to Montclair state?
DP: A lot of my family lives in the NYC Greater Area and I attended a performing arts summer camp, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, for 6 consecutive summers in upstate New York, so this area has always been somewhat of a home to me. My aunt first introduced me to MSU and I was captivated by the Media Arts program, so it seemed to be a perfect fit. For my passion of the arts, my studies, and ultimate goals, having New York City right next door is really stimulating and supportive and I couldn’t be happier.
HCM: What is something you wish people knew about you?
DP: The values that define me: passion, connection, consistency, awareness, truth, creativity, and empathy.
HCM: Who are your celebrity crushes?
DP: Oh there’s too many…. Miles Teller, Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Zac Efron, Johnny Depp… And I can’t leave out my woman crushes (idols): Jennifer Lawrence, Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer, Angelina Jolie…
HCM: What is your favorite quote and why?
DP: “In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself.” Frantz Fanon said that and it has been my favorite quote for quite some time now. I relate to it especially now because I’m at a point in my life where I’m becoming extremely in tune with who I am and with my passions. It reminds me to always keep my mind open and reflect as I experience life.
HCM: You have an AMAZING Instagram, do you have any tips for keeping your Instagram looking fresh and awesome?
DP: Thank you! I’m always so flattered when people compliment my Instagram! I’m very into it. I treat it like it’s my work of art or a masterpiece of some sort. I’m very selective about the pictures that I post and the filters I use. I try to use the same few filters and I find that it looks best when I keep it consistent. I love taking photographs and sharing my life visually. I find it to be a great way of self expression and in some way, it keeps me in check with myself because I feel like my Instagram is very me.
HCM: Finally, what are your goals for the year?
DP: My goals for this year are to really focus on my creative endeavors, grow intellectually and continue to experience. I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflecting lately, especially how I wanted to approach this new school year, and that’s where the inspiration to write my “An Open Letter to Myself, As I Become Who I Am” piece came from. Last year was a big jump for me. I moved to a different state and merged into a completely different lifestyle but it was so exciting and refreshing. So as this new school year began, I felt that I had really settled into this new space and really found my truth and path. I guess that open letter was somewhat of a kick-start to assess the final things I felt like I had to work on at this time to really get me on the right track and to ultimately become the best version of myself.