For most of us, the hilarious videos we post on Youtube garner maybe 50 views. For Alexa Galloway, every month an average of 500, sometimes even 1,000, people see her videos. Alexa, a freshman in COM studying journalism, is one of the cast members of COMlife–the online documentary series that follows three Boston University students in the College of Communication. It’s ultimately an inside look for prospective students or others that want to know what it’s like to be a COM student at BU, and live in Boston. In addition to COMlife, Alexa plays basketball on an intramural team, is an active contributor to BUTV, works 4 days a week, serves as a COM Ambassador to the class of 2016, and always finds time to eat her way around Boston. We asked Alexa some questions about her experience as a COMlife star. Not satisfied with the conversation, and being the astute journalist that she is, Alexa took the trouble of adding a few of her own (very hard-hitting) questions to the end of the interview.
Watch Alexa’s COMlife adventures at: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL37AE02C9A86F713B&feature=plcp or on the BU COM website: http://www.bu.edu/com.
Why did you decide to audition for COMlife?
COMlife was also a huge reason why I came to BU in the first place, so I knew it would be a great thing to be a part of. I went to a small high school and coming to a big university I knew it would be more difficult to make a name for myself. I auditioned for COMlife because I didn’t just want to be a number in a school. I also wanted a head start in broadcast journalism and I thought COMlife could help. I also am extremely competitive, and once I saw other student audition videos go up, I had to submit my own.
How do you decide when and what you want to film?
Our producer, Mark is awesome and has great ideas of what he wants in an episode but we also brainstorm a lot of the time. We have deadlines too, so that helps us decide exactly when to film. I really love sports, so I want to make sure I can incorporate that into our episodes. The greatest film segments are the ones that aren’t premeditated.
Do people ever give you looks for talking to the camera when you’re out in public?
Haha YES. But I know people are just curious. I would be too. One time our producer was filming me walking to class down Commonwealth Avenue and you could see people whispering and pointing and all I could think was, “Alexa whatever you do, please do not fall.”
Has being in COMlife helped solidify any career goals for you/opened up a possibility for a career in film?
Being in COMlife helped me realize that I really like to be in front of a camera. It also helped me realize that I am not completely sure what career path I would like to take. I’m still sure I want to stay a Journalism major but exactly what I want to do constantly changes. One of my career goals is to write a book and COMlife gives me something to write about. Before COMlife, I would have never considered a career in film, but now it’s something that definitely crosses my mind. So I guess in the words of Justin Bieber, “Never Say Never.”
What opportunities has starring in COMlife brought you?
COMlife is a really awesome, unique experience to put on my resume. One episode I got to film going to the Lakers vs. Celtics game and I was introduced to a contact that actually let one of my best friends and I film down on the basketball court at the TD Garden. I grew up watching the rivalry so to be on the court was a dream come true and an opportunity that I wouldn’t have gotten without COMlife.
What’s your dream job?
It honestly changes everyday but as of April 11th 2012, it’s a broadcast sports journalist for ESPN.
Do a lot of good-looking guys from BU ask you out because you’re a campus celebrity?
ALL the time. It’s exhausting.
Why are you so cool?
I don’t know. It comes naturally I guess.