LETA ARMSTRONG

I grew up with parents who were both photographers, so I was always surrounded by cameras. I got my first digital camera at 9 years old, which I mainly used for photos such as the one you’re seeing. 

As time went on, I started using my phone to make trailers, music videos, and shorts with friends and family. I loved making these, and I loved how easy it was for me to do so using apps like iMovie and Video Star. But one thing I almost always insisted on was being the one behind the camera. I was fine to be in any kind of video, but I preferred holding the camera and bringing my vision to life. 

Middle school rolled around, and due to me spending copious amounts of time on Youtube and Instagram, I gained a love for editing as well. I would edit clips from TV shows and movies, as well as my own videos that I took over time. I used Cute Cut Pro to cut and add music to my little edits. 

I got my first Nikon DSLR at 14 years old. I went to a sleepaway camp every summer for six weeks, where we were completely unplugged. But I desperately wanted to document my time there, and writing in journals wasn’t enough for me. I needed a visual aspect to look back on fondly. I brought my DSLR to camp in 2018 and my love for photography skyrocketed. 

All of this culminated in me deciding to become a film major halfway through my freshman year in college. I had such an appreciation for the art of filmmaking, and paired with my love for visual storytelling, I felt like it was the right move for me. And boy, was I right. I took basic and intermediate level courses before hopping on my first student set, which ignited a spark in me that I hadn’t seen before. Once my first set was over, I had the opportunity to be on many sets afterwards, learned so much, and made so many connections. Learning the theory and also the practical behind filmmaking was crucial to my development as an artist and creator. I love working with other people, it’s one of my favorite aspects of this field. I’m so excited to further my education and push myself to create, collaborate, and connect with everyone here at JTWO!