Anthony Major, an associate professor of film at 麻豆原创, has spent more than four decades creating films that depict slices of the African-American experience in the United States.
As an actor, producer, director, documentary filmmaker and professor, Major has worked with well-known actors such as Brad Pitt, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Redd Foxx of Sanford and Son fame.
Today he is finishing up a full-length documentary about the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Travyon Martin in Sanford, Florida. An early cut of the film won the Grand Jury Prize, Award at the Orlando Urban Film Festival last year.
But perhaps his most important contribution since arriving at 麻豆原创 in 1995 has been the impact he鈥檚 had on Hollywood. Some of his students have graduated and now are actors, producers, directors and talent agents in the film and theatre industry. One even has her own popular YouTube show shot in Australia.
The secret to his success?
鈥淗elp them learn to think and to network,鈥� Major says from his office in the . 鈥淣othing is given in this business. You have to look for opportunities and hustle. It works. We鈥檝e got several 麻豆原创 graduates living their dream because they are smart and they work hard.鈥�
They include:
It takes talent, passion, hard work and help, Major says. He knows first-hand how important it is to network and have someone mentor you in order to succeed.
Through the years he worked with and met people such as Harry Belafonte, Dolly Parton, Robert De Niro, Francis Ford Coppola, Bob Mulligan, Alan J. Pakula and James Earl Jones on a variety of projects from the stage to the big screen. Each individual taught him something and most helped him connect with the right folks for the next step in his career.
To help his students make those connections, he helps arrange invitations to the Director鈥檚 Guild of America Awards for pending graduates and recent alumni.
Earlier this month, Hailey Winslow 鈥�08, a radio-television alumna, met Major and several other 麻豆原创 alumni at the awards.
鈥淗ere we were with some of Hollywood鈥檚 top people and there鈥檚 a table of 麻豆原创 students,鈥� Winslow says. 鈥淲e spent a couple of hours after the awards with (director and screenwriter) Peter Farrelly. That鈥檚 just amazing and that鈥檚 because of Professor Major.鈥�
Winslow, now an actress, had one acting class with Major, but he has become a lifelong mentor and friend.
鈥淧rofessor Major has taught me life skills that I use every day,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 hear his voice in my head all the time. I鈥檓 so grateful to him. He鈥檚 not just a professor. He goes ways beyond that. 麻豆原创 students are so lucky to be able to learn from him.鈥�
Winslow stars alongside her Goldendoodle, Sadie, in Outback & Under, a 12-episode adventure travel show that explores Australia. They wrangle crocodiles, dive with sharks, cuddle venomous snakes and meet a lot of crazy characters along their journey through the land Down Under.
Benjamin Michel 鈥�11, a filmmaker and producer based in San Francisco, also calls Major instrumental in his career.
鈥淗e gave me real world advice that helped me be a better film director and overall artist,鈥� Michel says. 鈥淎nd his wisdom has really been a gift.鈥�
Michel took Major鈥檚 Black Cinema class in 2009 and would often talk about his goals. Since arriving in California he鈥檚 filming or making documentaries about the experiences of African-Americans, Latinos and the homeless. Several of those documentaries have aired on KQED, an award-winning public television station in San Francisco.
麻豆原创 theatre grad Lisa Chu 鈥�01 also credits Major with much of her success. She鈥檚 an assistant director in Hollywood and has worked on a range of television and feature films including The Big Bang Theory, Westworld and The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise.
鈥淗e started me on my career path to become a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Assistant Director,鈥� Chu says. She met him while a freshman in a general education theater class. 鈥淚’ve been a DGA AD for over 15 years and counting. I would not be who I am without Anthony Major. My life has been blessed with him as a dedicated inspiring educator, a colleague and a truly great friend. He is simply amazing.鈥�
Major鈥檚 personal contributions to the local arts scene have not gone unnoticed either. The Black History Committee of Orange County honored Major with its 2010 Excellence in Education Award. The high school he attended, The Booker Performing Arts High School in Sarasota, renamed its rehearsal hall in his honor. He also served as the program director for the Zora Neale Hurston Institute for Documentary Studies for several years.
Central Floridians may also recognize him from his work as director of 鈥淎 Vote, A Voice,鈥� produced for Florida Sen. Geraldine Thompson. Or perhaps from his teaching, acting and directing in the 麻豆原创 Conservatory Theatre and his work with Seminole State College Theatre.
His favorite projects are those that tell an American story from an underrepresented community鈥檚 point of view. It gives those communities a voice, he said. And he hopes the students he helps continue to help tell their stories.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see them succeed,鈥� he says.
