Marcus Villagran

After I graduated college, I fell in love with visual storytelling from my time as an intern with Newsday, the biggest newspaper in Long Island, NY. Quickly, I realized how powerful it can be to provoke change in the world. I developed a knack for the medium.

When I returned to my hometown in Vegas, I still had a strong desire to do the kind of work I did with Newsday. But it was difficult. With Newsday, I had access to all sorts of cameras, lenses, and editing software. Back home, I had to start from nothing. I wanted to continue to learn and grow in multimedia so I bought a camera despite not officially working for any news or multimedia company. I knew having this important tool of the trade would open the doors to new opportunities.

My idea was to shoot and create as much as possible regardless of whether I was paid or not. I figured the camera would pay for itself if I was good enough. It was a test, a way to measure my passion and my abilities.

I started very small. My first project was a video for a student club event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I didn’t ask for any money, just an opportunity to shoot. I did a lot of free work for a while which was an important part of my journey. Before long I discovered Green Our Planet, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing kids in the city with school garden education programs.

At Green Our Planet, I met and worked with co-founders and co-CEOs Kim MacQuarrie and Ciara Byrne, celebrated documentary filmmakers and the people spearheading Nevada’s school garden movement.

I was immediately drawn not only to their work with Green Our Planet, but also to their incredible experience, knowledge and wisdom in filmmaking. I had an opportunity to work with a well-run organization and to learn from the best mentors in Kim and Ciara.

Having an internship through Mentors made a direct impact on my growth as a multimedia professional. I was able to dedicate 100 percent of my time to my work, expand my learning and focus on projects I believe can positively impact the world. I have also learned much about being an excellent mentor and can incorporate that as I become mentors for others interested in videography.

At any given moment, I am looking for two things: a way to improve my craft and a good story.

With Mentors and at Green Our Planet, I have found both.