My name is Kaitlin Sorge, and I am a graduate alumnus at Bowling Green State University. I graduated in April of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. I am a shadowing student from the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. For my degree, I majored in Film Production and minored in Media Production. It was a rewarding experience to be able to learn the ropes of both film and television networks. All my life, I grew up in Mentor, Ohio, with my mom, dad, and brother. Growing up. I had an interest in books, video games, and music. Back in 2012, I started playing the trombone for a fifth-grade band recital. After that, I practiced and participated in more band concerts. It made me have a more of an appreciation for movie scores and artistry of film composers. I was proud of the perseverance it took to continue playing the trombone for six years. I would play The Legend of Zelda game to decompress from the band rigor. I learned about the series from watching my Dad play Ocarina of Time when I was younger.

My favorite movie at the moment would have to be Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson, 2001). With the recent digital remastering of the film, it made me interested in the storyline and the books associated with the film. The story arc of the characters had a satisfying conclusion. The director, Peter Jackson, drew audiences in with the love of these characters and their overall story arc and progression throughout these films. My favorite TV show series at the moment would have to be Andor (Tony Gilroy, 2022). The show is a Star Wars adaptation of the recent film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Focusing on pre-existing characters allows the directors to develop the cinematic universe. The set design and wardrobe are one of the most interesting parts of the series. It gives you a sense of wonderment that you are a character among those on the screen.

I would love to intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission to experience more pre-production duties and positions. I would love to learn more about the processes of pre-production. Finding sets for films is one of the most important parts of pre-production. The process of preparing an area for filming after that decision is also an exciting part for up-and-coming filmmakers. It would be amazing to see a director make their vision a reality in Cleveland. I would love to help up-and-coming as well as established directors give a vision of what they want to do. It is rewarding to support those and make their own passion project to become a reality. In addition to being a part of the process of bringing film productions to Cleveland, Ohio, and its surrounding areas.

My career aspirations in the film industry are to be a Digital Imaging Technician and Assistant Editor. I talked with an editor in California who worked on episodes of Charmed, Law & Order: S.V.U., Grey’s Anatomy, and more. We had spoken on the phone, and she had given me advice on how to succeed in this career. She started off with an on-set position and networked with editors who visited the set. It was a great conversation that gave me immense knowledge. As someone who lived in the Midwest and found a great career in film. Taking courses in college made me strive to gain more knowledge and practice non-linear editing for documentaries. On the other hand, I have gained knowledge in many different on-set positions such as Grip, Gaffer, 2nd Assistant Camera, and more. It has been such a great experience to learn new roles and the responsibilities of it. On the set of The Mysterious Happenings of the East Marsh (2025), I learned the role of Grips and all that goes into lightning. I had a great time learning from my on-set crew and mentors. In the future, I truly hope to have more experiences like this to learn more and make creative works.