Hi everyone! I'm Madison. I'm originally from Pasadena, California, but I also spent eight years living in Manila, Philippines, and one year in Gibraltar. At Dartmouth, I plan to double major in Film & Media Studies and ASCL (Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages). Dartmouth has already opened up so many doors for me and truly changed my life for the better, so I'm really excited to share my college journey and experiences with you all!
Academic Program
Majors in Film and Media Studies and Asian Societies, Languages, and Cultures
An introductory Chinese class for beginners that provides a foundational understanding of the language, including pinyin, proper tones, pronunciation, character writing, basic vocabulary, and sentence structures.
A dynamic, hands-on course that emphasizes empathy-driven problem solving, rapid prototyping, and collaborative innovation through team projects, energizing activities, and practical skill-building sessions.
A course that builds on the foundations of Chinese 001 and 002 by introducing more sentence structures and vocabulary, with regular weekly drills to strengthen speaking and tonal pronunciation, and a shift from traditional to simplified characters in the final three weeks.
A course that builds on introductory Chinese 1 2, and 3, following Chinese 22, and deepens previously learned material through more complex grammar, sentence structures, and expanded vocabulary.
A film theory course that builds on some prior intro experience, where you watch, analyze, discuss, and write about films across different genres while learning how to apply various theories.
As a Film & Media Studies major at Dartmouth College, many of the introductory courses focus heavily on film theory, so it wasn't until this past spring that I finally took my first production class, Cinematography I. Very quickly, it became one of my favorite classes I've taken at Dartmouth. I loved every second of it.
To start off, Professor Iyabo was an amazing professor. You could really tell how much she cared about her students and wanted each of us to reach our full potential. She constantly pushed us creatively, while also making herself available to support and encourage us throughout the term.
Lucky to have had such an inspiring professor this term.
A special shout-out as well to our TA, Ellie, who went above and beyond to make class engaging and create an environment that felt conducive to learning. We also had access to so many incredible departmental resources throughout the course, including the Technical Director, Cage Manager, Post Production Manager, and Digital Lab Manager, all of whom helped make the production experience feel much more approachable and hands-on.
One thing I realized this term was just how incredible the Black Family Visual Arts Center, also known as BVAC, is as a creative hub for students. It has so many amazing resources, from editing rooms and equipment rentals, to one-on-one appointments with staff who can teach you how to use everything.
Beyond the classes themselves, Dartmouth offers many opportunities for students to learn through hands-on experiences and self-directed learning. Perhaps you're interested in film but don't have enough room in your D-Plan to take production courses—or maybe you simply want to learn how to edit a project together or even use a drone. Spaces like the BVAC make that kind of creative exploration possible. The BVAC really feels like a playground for curiosity and innovation, and I think more students should take advantage of it.
I love testing out new equipment!
Learning how lighting can completely transform a scene.
Getting a real-time look at the footage during filming.
Aside from getting to use all the different equipment, one of my favorite parts of the class was how collaborative it felt. We spent a lot of time in class working with our peers to figure out how we wanted scenes to look and come together, which made the process really fun and immersive. I also loved hearing from our guest lecturer, a makeup artist working in the production world, and getting insight into a side of the industry I honestly did not know much about before.
Safe to say everyone was paying attention.
We had three major projects throughout the term: a silent film, a music video, and a final project. For each one, I rented equipment and gradually built more confidence as the class went on. Over time, I also developed a much deeper appreciation for how shots are constructed and how intentional filmmakers have to be when deciding how to frame or shoot something in order to convey meaning.
It was also really rewarding during the class days when we screened our projects together. Getting to watch everyone's work, give feedback, and see how differently people approached the same assignments made the class even more fun. Everyone was genuinely so talented, and it was inspiring to see all the creativity in the room.
By the end of the term, I found myself thinking about cinematography everywhere I went. I'd be walking around in everyday life and suddenly notice lighting, framing, or compositions that felt "cinematic." It even started rubbing off on my friends, who began pointing things out and calling them "cinematic" whenever we were out together.
Behind the scenes from my music video shoot.
Overall, I'd recommend taking this course if you're interested in the production side of filmmaking and want to develop more technical, hands-on skills. It would also be a lot of fun to take with friends!
If I'm being completely honest, none of the assignments ever really felt like "work" to me because I genuinely enjoyed the class. Everyone I talked to in the class seemed to feel the same way too. The projects definitely required us to really show up and put in the effort, but it always felt rewarding in the end.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
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