Oscar Estrada

Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?

I create videos for social media because I enjoy creating content that makes a positive impact on others. Whether for entertainment or information, a video is one of the most effective ways to communicate and engage with an audience these days. I make entertainment news videos for my university, in which I show the fun aspects of campus life from a student's perspective. Every week, a friend who is the news anchor and I go and participate in different events that take place on campus. By interviewing organizers, attendees and taking part in the events, we are able to portray what it is like to attend the event and share it with other students. Our goal is to motivate students to engage in the campus life, meet new people and have fun.

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

I started out making videos because I was impressed with the capacity of this medium to have a positive impact on people. Through well-crafted storytelling, videos can be a powerful tool to entertain, evoke feelings, or call to action. In addition, I was also interested in the technology that enables the production workflow, from capture and broadcasting, to display. With rapid technological advances in areas like VR, drones, and HDR displays, these are very exciting times for the entertainment industry. And my current undergraduate program allows me to tap into both worlds since it blends both the artistic aspect of filmmaking as well as the engineering that goes into the development of imaging systems.

Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?

My friends and family played a big role in encouraging me to pursue my goals. They would always tell me to keep making stuff and working on my skills, as well as supporting me by sharing the videos and providing me feedback.

What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?

The most fascinating part of my work is that it gives me the opportunity to travel to different places. Recently I went to Croatia to make promotional videos for the study abroad programs at my university. It was an amazing experience. I had never been to Europe and it was really cool to experience the Croatian lifestyle, meet new people and share it with the world.

What other jobs led you to your current career?

Throughout my time in college, I've had different jobs that have helped me craft my career path. I've worked as a barista, teaching assistant, photographer, and videographer, as well as a quality engineer intern. These jobs have allowed me to improve both my technical and soft skills, as well as to get a better sense of what I would like to do upon graduation.

What are your degrees and certifications?

I am working towards a Bachelors of Science in Motion Picture Science from Rochester Institute of Technology.

What are your hobbies?

I like camping, skiing and improv comedy!

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Learn and practice as much as you can. Youtube is your best friend these days. Find out what kind of content you would like to create, and start doing it, even if it doesn't look good at first. Be persistent, accept feedback from others, and have fun with it, because your passion ultimately will make your work shine.

How did you get involved with the Nautilus Exploration Program? How did you get on the ship?

I found out about this internship around 2 years ago, I don’t remember how, but I thought it was really impressive and unique. While most internships require you to stay in an office environment, this was a totally different opportunity in which I could get to work in what I liked, make a difference, and experience life at the sea. I applied back then but did not get into the program, so I decided to step up my skills in order to get selected. And 2 years later, I’m excited to get on board.