Davin Michaels '06

Davin Michaels

Davin Michaels '06

Major: English, with a Film Studies minor
Hometown: New York City

Why did you choose to come to Bowdoin?
I chose to come to Bowdoin because I wanted a challenging academic atmosphere and a small student body that would allow me the benefits of personal interaction and close relationships. When I came to visit, I met students with whom I saw myself being friends and I sat in on classes with professors that I found intellectually stimulating. Also, I have lived my whole life in New York City and was looking for a different environment that would contribute to my academic pursuits. I love Maine and the opportunities to explore the outdoors that I found here have in many ways significantly enhanced my college experience.

Why did you choose you major?
Ever since high school, I have always been interested in English. I love reading and writing, especially creative writing. I was very impressed by the English professors at Bowdoin and I have been able to take many challenging classes in the department. The professors are so expert in what they teach and so friendly to talk with that it makes the department seem more like a family. I find that English is a great major because it is a discipline that brings together two of my other interests: film and theater. I am a Film Studies minor and have been obsessed with film ever since I can remember. Thanks to Tricia Welsch, [associate professor of film studies on the Marvin H. Green Jr. Fund Chair], the smallest department on campus has become one of the best. It was actually in a Film Studies class my sophomore year that I first knew that I wanted to be a filmmaker.

What has been your favorite course at Bowdoin?
The best class I have ever taken was [Assistant Professor of English] Aviva Briefel's "The Horror Film In Context." Professor Briefel is the best professor that I have ever had and she opened me up to a whole new way of watching and thinking about films. We watched classic horror films like "The Shining," "The Silence of the Lambs" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and then read great psychoanalytic criticism of the films and the horror genre. It was in this class that I also first read Sigmund Freud's essay, "The Uncanny," which inspired my honors project this year. The class also inspired me to make my own horror film last fall, putting what I had learned in the classroom to practical use.

Have you engaged in any independent research while at Bowdoin?
I am currently working on an Honors Project that combines Film and English. I am writing a screenplay adapted from a Victorian short story. It looks at the art of adaptation and the themes of voyeurism, the uncanny and automata in film and literature. It is by far the most exciting thing that I have ever done with my education and it has given me the opportunity to engage closely in a very specific topic which I love. I have also taken independent studies in Theater in which I have worked on writing and directing an original musical, "Home," presented this spring. I have been working with James Nylund '06 and Michael LoBiondo '06, and the musical is our satirical vision of some of the challenges that we will face upon graduating from Bowdoin this spring. Although the musical has been in production for four years, its themes strike a particular chord for us as seniors, getting ready to take that leap into the real world.

What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Bowdoin?
One of the most rewarding jobs that I have had at Bowdoin has been being a tutor and coordinator for the America Reads program. I love teaching reading and math to second and third graders each morning. I am a mentor for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and also participated in an AmeriCorps service program during my junior year. As the co-president of the Film Society and as Film Manager of the Bowdoin Cable Network, BCN, I have tried to increase the campus's exposure to film as both a form of entertainment and as an art. Finally, I am a Writing Assistant, which has allowed me to combine my love of writing and teaching.

What is your best Bowdoin memory?
I was on the sailing team my first year at Bowdoin and whenever I think about one of my happiest memories at Bowdoin, I imagine sailing at sunset on the ocean. When I tell most people that, they think I go to school in a country club instead of a college. But the truth is that it was a great experience and I feel so lucky that I was able to leave campus after a full day of classes and engage in an outdoor sport. The miracle is that I am the poster child for non-athletes and yet my limited sailing experience allowed me to take advantage of a great opportunity to learn a sport, meet great people and enjoy the outdoors. I was able to replicate the experience by leading the sailing pre-orientation trip for two years.

What are your plans for after graduation?
I am planning on doing more screenwriting and filmmaking on my own, and searching for jobs on film sets in New York City. It is my goal to eventually become a director.

What advice would you give to a prospective student or first-year about the Bowdoin experience?
College is not high school. You have to let yourself change in college and you have to realize that so much of your important experiences and life lessons take place outside of the classroom. Bowdoin has so much to offer academically, but there are also endless options in the extracurricular realm and it is wise to take advantage of as much of it as you can. Most importantly, be sure that you do what you love, don't take on too much at any one time, and remember to spend time with your friends.

Story posted on March 02, 2006

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