Alumni in 5

Katie Dehn '06

Katie Dehn '06

Employer
52 Watt Studios / Senior Video Editor

1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
Following graduation I spent a year freelancing on various small projects in Michigan as a video editor, PA, and boom operator. One of my highlights was working as a PA on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Detroit. I then took a part time job at my current employer while also working part time at a photography studio and soon I became a full time employee as a junior video editor. I am now the senior video editor at 52 Watt Studios and love my coworkers and our clients! I did take a year off to move to Houston where I freelanced as a wedding video editor and was a PA for The Voice auditions. But I am so happy to be back in Michigan for the past 7 years now and to be with the company that gave me my first big-girl job.

2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
My favorite experience was working on the GVSU Summer Film Project: The Gospel According to Roy. It was a unique experience that was just like working on a professional set with professional actors and crew. I loved the comaraderie we all shared and still keep in contact with many of the film students from that film!

3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Early in my career at GVSU a professional in the film industry shared with our class they wished they had taken more business classes along with their film classes. I took that to heart and minored in business. This was immensely helpful in understanding the "business" of show business as well as managing my freelancing career and personal finances. It also exposed me to students that had different viewpoints and world perspectives that I wouldn't have met if I only took film classes. I felt this made me a more well-rounded person and also more empathetic in general. ALSO, get an internship!!!! So glad I took that advice and interned for the Pistons in Auburn Hills in 2004 when they won the championship. Awesome experience and still looks impressive on my résumé!

4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand Valley experience.
Confidence-building, friendships, hands-on

5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
I have a great passion to help college students build professional skills and transition smoothly into the working world and I am so pleased I get to do that by serving as president on the GVSU Film and Video Alumni Chapter and through our Alumni Live episodes that connect students with GVSU Film alumni. Find us on Youtube at Grand Valley Film & Video Alum or Facebook @AlumniLiveGVFV

February 2021

Interest Area(s)
Film And Video

Categories
Detroit

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Page last modified February 13, 2021