Name: Katie Bially
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina
Graduation Year: May of 2014
Degree: Communications Electronic Media and Broadcasting
Involvement at Appalachian: Chi Omega, Channel A, which is now App Cable 21, Relay for Life, and other things here and there.
What are you up to now?
I’m working for a company called Twenty-One Films. Twenty-One films is a production company based out of Raleigh that specializes in creative storytelling films.
How did you get involved with this company?
After months of applying to jobs, I found an ad on LinkedIn for an Associate Editor position. I stalked the Twenty-One Films website and instantly fell in love with their goofy personality and true passion for storytelling. I felt at ease in my interview when my boss, Phil McInnis, revealed that he too went to Appalachian State! After a second interview I got a call and was offered an Associate Editor position and could not be more thrilled!
What exactly do you do at Twenty-One Films?
As an Associate Editor I primarily work on the high-end wedding films and creative business films. I choose the music, use audio and visuals to create a story, and communicate with the clients. My favorite parts about my job are the silly string fights, daily pranks, and Friday dance parties! Seriously, I love editing and I love that I am challenged by everyone at Twenty-One Films to learn more and further develop my skill.
What’s your plan for the future?
The only plan I have for my future is that I will continue to do what I love and learn as much as I can on the way.
How does your time at App influence you in your current career?
The classes I took at App gave me a great technical foundation to build on but I think what benefited me the most were the conversations I had with a few of my professors outside of class. Dr. Kelly Davis and Dr. Lynnette Holman both listened when I talked about what I wanted to do, gave me advice on how to get there, and truly encouraged me to follow my passion. Those conversations are very important to me because it’s scary not knowing what’s going to come after graduation but they always made me feel like I could do whatever I wanted to do. Dr. Davis even gave me advice through my interview process with Twenty-One Films! Thats the best part about being a Mountaineer, you always have the support of the Appalachian Community.