NW-SCC Graduate, Andrew Reed
MUSCLE SHOALS– Award winning filmmaker and university professor, Andrew Reed (native of Phil Campbell, Ala.) had no idea he would develop a love of videography at Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) that would shape his career path.
According to Reed, his freshman year on the Phil Campbell campus of NW-SCC he began an on-campus job to make some extra money. “While I was there (NW-SCC Phil Campbell campus) I worked at the Alabama Center for Advanced Woodworking Technology creating instructional videos,” said Reed. “That experience really cemented my career path in video production.”
After graduating from NW-SCC and receiving his bachelor degree from the University of North Alabama (UNA), Reed received a Fellowship to pursue his Master’s degree in Telecommunications at the University of Alabama. According to Reed it was there that he found his other passion. “There I got into documentary filmmaking and developed a passion for teaching production courses,” stated Reed. Reed earned his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has now taught video production courses at four different universities.
It was after Reed completed his Masters at the University of Alabama and returned to UNA to teach that he began working on his most well-known film,I’m with Phil. I’m with Phil is a documentary where a man from New York named Phil Campbell discovers a rural town in Alabama with the same name. He then invites Phil Campbells from all over the world to join him there. However, a deadly tornado strikes the town and his stunt takes on an entirely different tone of disaster relief and awareness.
According to Reed, I’m with Phil and the deadly tornado taught him a valuable life lesson that everyone can benefit from. “Both April 27, 2011, andI’m with Phil taught me that we all have opportunities to try to do some good in the world,” said Reed.
PHIL CAMPBELL, ALABAMA, USA (3/1/2012) — Christina and James McCulloch, and daughter Lily, 20 months, (other children are Blake, 6, and Faith, 9) in front of their future Habitat house. The McCulloch’s previous home was destroyed by a tornado in 2011. — (c)Habitat for Humanity/Steffan Hacker
“When we are presented with those opportunities it’s our God-given duty to do the right thing. We saw a lot of potential with the convention and film to help raise awareness for the town’s plight and we acted on it. I think the I’m with Phil story has impacted a lot of people, and encouraged them to do more for their communities.”
Twenty (20) Phil Campbells from around the United States came together to raise $42,000 which was given to help build a Habitat for Humanity home for a deserving family in Phil Campbell, Ala. who lost their home in the tornado.
Aside from festival screenings, I’m with Phil was released on Alabama Public Television (APT) April 24, 2015. I’m with Phil was selected for the Heartland Film Festival’s Best of the Fest event in 2015 and won “Best of Show” and “Best Director” awards at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in 2012. Reed has directed and/or produced 10 films since 2010 and is currently in progress on four others.
Currently, Reed manages to balance his time between filmmaking and teaching his Film and Media Arts classes at the University of Pikeville in Pikeville, Ky. as the Assistant Professor of Film and Media Arts.
Regardless of the exciting journey his next film is sure to take him on; Reed will never forget where it all started. “NW-SCC helped me get my feet wet in the real world without drowning in it,” stated Reed. “People need an opportunity to gradually transition into the different phases of life and NW-SCC allowed me to do that.”
MEDIA RELEASE/Northwest-Shoals Community College/Trent Randolph, Public Information Officer
