Hi there, my name is Mackenzie Semmens and I’m an aspiring filmmaker. My interests include screenwriting, cinematography/photography and film editing. I believe that continuously educating and improving yourself is the key to success. I am currently expanding my knowledge by studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film, Screen & New Media) and Bachelor of Business at the Queensland University of Technology.

Growing up in suburban Ipswich with my working-class family taught me to be independent, responsible and hard-working from a young age. I love my family, after all they always did their best for me and encouraged me to take any and every opportunity. I worked hard in school and got a scholarship to study abroad in Japan for a year. I also had various leadership responsibilities that took the form of both Math Captain and Media Captain. Despite my success in mathematics and language, my true passion lied with film.

Like many people I adore the sense of escapism that films create. This was what first enticed me to study film and the industries culture that surrounds it. I fell in love with the magical wonders of film but what specifically caught my eye were; Crime Dramas, Nature and Historical Documentaries, Supernatural/Sci-Fi Dramas, Comedy (especially anything Edger Wright) and hard hitting Social Dramas. I also watch my fair share of Anime.

I wanted to learn more about this art form such as how films were made, the meaning behind them and how the production companies behind them operated. Not only did I want to learn about it but I also wanted to be a part of it. So I started experimenting. During high school I made various student films including an experimental film about sexism, a mockumentary about the many uses of shoes and a sex ed PSA.  

The enjoyment I experienced from making those short films made me want to pursue a career in the film industry. What better way to chase after my dream than to go to University and learn the theory, meet like minded people (and a few who aren’t) and make a name for myself.

So that’s what I’m doing!

This first year there have been a lot of setbacks (COVID-19, job loss, etc.) but I am still working hard and improving myself so that I can bring people the same joy that others have brought me.

Feel free to contact me if you want to collaborate, I am always open to meeting new people.

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