The thing about a state school is the professors really understand the struggle. They can really help you get where you want to go. Don’t discount the experience you will have at a state school.
Taylor Desjardins, ’25, dreamed of enrolling at UCLA to study film. Despite hearing California’s siren song, the New Bedford native found a way to achieve her filmmaking goals at Bridgewater State University.
“I admit BSU wasn’t my first choice, but what I found there were connections, professors who were avid about working in film, who were professionals and helped me get my foot in the door,” Desjardins said.
Even though larger schools boast bigger names, Desjardins said there is something uniquely special about learning at a smaller university.
“The thing about a state school is the professors really understand the struggle. They can really help you get where you want to go,” she said. “Don’t discount the experience you will have at a state school.”
The desire to study film started as a child, when Desjardins witnessed her grandfather always walking about with a camcorder in hand.
“Every family gathering, he would have it ready to film our story as a family. He recorded everything. It was as if my family members were in a movie but without a script,” she said. “He is definitely my number one inspiration for becoming a filmmaker.”
She brought her passion to BSU and was happy to find the school offered tools that helped her hone her skills in screenwriting, directing, music and cinematography. Ultimately, Desjardins created films that focused on storytelling.
“I have always been interested in the visual elements, how camera placement changes how a story is told. How lighting changes things. What it takes to create emotion in a film,” she said.
Desjardins also found support from professors like Dr. Christina Hodel.
“Professor Hodel really helped me. She’s an industry professional…when I needed advice for job searching or networking, she was there,” Desjardins said. “She really pushed me to submit to film festivals and helped me to get interviews.”
Her completed film Suspended Frequencies, about two characters with different life visions, garnered attention after being entered into various film festivals.
The film was nominated at the 8th annual California Music Video Awards for Best Student Production Music Video or Film. It was also screened globally at festivals in Greece and France, and will be entered in other film festivals this summer.
Desjardins will next take her talents and work ethic, along with her dual BSU degrees in communications and psychology, to California this fall where she plans to pursue her dream of filmmaking full-time.
“I’m taking life one step at a time and not giving up,” she said. “Nothing will come to you if you give up. You have to finish small goals to get to the big goals. I just have to just keep working toward it and not stop.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu