Christopher Yates
Radio-Television-Film
Class of 2019
How are you using the skills that you learned at Moody in your current position and as a filmmaker?
I use the skills I learned at Moody daily. One of the most gratifying parts of being a filmmaker is that you’re always learning new ways to do things, better ways to tell stories, more effective ways to communicate to and compel an audience. I don’t think there’s truly a point where you’ve “mastered” it or learned it all. Certainly, that process of learning these things and refining my skills as a filmmaker began at Moody; the tools I still use today and the the basis on which I’m constantly trying to improve came from my RTF education.
Tell me about your working as a filmmaker, do you have any films coming up?
This summer, I directed my first feature film, "American Spirit." It stars Yasmeen Fletcher and Cooper Roth as a former high school couple who reconnect after a night of partying gone awry in their junior year of college. It explores growth, intimacy, and the impact of shared history through the conversations the pair shares over the course of a single night and takes place entirely on and around UT’s campus.
Were you in any student orgs?
I worked briefly as Technical Producer for Local Live at TSTV and enjoyed it immensely.
How was your RTF degree helpful to your career?
Personally, I feel the connections I made to other filmmakers in the RTF program has been the most valuable benefit of my RTF degree. Most of my collaborators are fellow RTF grads I met during my time at Moody. And I’ve formed many additional professional relationships since graduation because of the shared connection Moody provides.
If you care about it, chances are other people will too. If you want to tell a story, there’s an audience for it. Find your own style and let it guide you.
What have you learned so far from working at UT and as a filmmaker?
I’ve learned the value of self-motivation. If you care about a project and want to see it realized to its fullest potential, you have to be the one to make it happen. That often requires a great deal of stepping beyond your depth and learning as you go— but there’s nothing that can prepare you more for doing something than by simply doing it and allowing yourself the grace to fail in the process.
Were there any words of wisdom from professors that you use at your job today?
Ya’Ke Smith completely changed the way I look at the working relationships between directors and their actors (which has been entirely invaluable to my work as a filmmaker), but I can’t think of a specific quote or mantra that I’ve used.
What advice do you have for #TEXASMoody students?
If you care about it, chances are other people will too. If you want to tell a story, there’s an audience for it. Find your own style and let it guide you (rather than what you think other people want to see).
What do you miss most about Moody College?
This may not be the answer you’re looking for, but I miss living in a walkable community. My apartment, classes, and social life were all in a small area no larger than a few square miles. There’s a lot of joy and inspiration that comes from walking everywhere you go, and I miss having that interaction with the world on a daily basis.
Can you talk about your career path?
After graduating from Moody in December of 2019, I started a videography company with a fellow UT grad, which we still run today. I’ve used that company as a basis to fund and create narrative short films, and now ultimately my first feature film. Earlier this year, I was also given the opportunity to work with the TexasExes as their Video Producer, which has been a wonderful way to come back to UT and be a part of campus life and the UT community once again.
What classes and professors helped the most?
Directing Workshop with Ya’Ke Smith and Advanced Screenwriting with Tom Willett are by far the two classes/professors that have most impacted my outlook on filmmaking.