Donovan Mulholland, Community Arts Videographer Intern

Donovan Mulholland, Junior at York College - Major: Communications Tech/TV Production

I’m a photographer/videographer majoring in Communications Tech/ Tv Production at York College. When thinking of what I wanted to do as a career, I remembered advice I was once given to just follow my passion. I was able to break down my passion into one thing: Stories.

Growing up I always had a story to tell or was at least listening to one. If my dad and I ever went out together 9 times out of 10 it would be to the movie theater. I’ve had various times when I’ve walked out a movie theater with my whole perspective on life changed. To me that feeling is everything. That is the magic of art, to be able to impact someone’s life, yet do it in such an indirect way. There is no one actually teaching you, but you learn so much from the message that you receive from art. While watching movies I often thought it was kind of “too out there” for me to make my own film until one day I questioned “why not me”?

Most stories follow a template called the “Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell in which the hero is first called to adventure for whatever they want to achieve. The journey itself is what actually transforms the hero into their greater self. Then that transformation is what leads to the achievement of their goal. I believe we all, in our unique way, are experiencing the Hero’s Journey. At the root, all of our stories are one in the same. Both the struggle and success are necessary for growth and also make our stories/lives beautiful. My passion is to capture that beauty and inspire others through films.

Favorite artists: Mooji (Anthony Paul Moo-Young)
Quote: “The greatest step towards a life of happiness and simplicity is to let go. Trust in the power that is already taking care of you spontaneously without effort.” - Mooji