At College of Fine Arts Convocation 2024, Michael Palmer of the Department of Film & Media Arts will deliver an address to graduating students.
Michael Palmer
BS in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Statistics, BA in Film and Media Arts, Minors in French and in Theatre
Hometown: Leeds, AL
Three words that describe you: Persevering, Adaptable, Connective.
Most impactful class or professor: Hubbel Palmer (no relation, as always). The first to really say to my face I could make a career out of film, he's been an incredible mentor for the past two years, and I owe a lot of my growth as both a screenwriter and filmmaker in general to his guidance and positive outlook.
A CFA moment you’ll never forget: I cried in Rae Luebbert's office when I had finally made the decision to pursue film after completing my math degree. It was a really hard decision to give up the stability math had offered me for something much harder and unknown, but I felt such a relief in pursuing my dreams. I've never lost that feeling.
What inspires you: I've always thought this was a bad question, because if you're able to pinpoint one thing you're inspired by, it feels like you'd run out of inspiration. I'm inspired by everything and everyone in my life. If I had to narrow it down even a little, it'd be my peers, who are always up to their own incredible projects. Or maybe my therapist.
Major accomplishments: My very first short, "Miss You," secured a spot in several regional festivals, where I got to network with incredibly talented filmmakers who had shown at Sundance, Cannes, and around the world. In collaboration with three other CFA students, I co-created Air Bird, writing and directing two short plays as part of an evening length showcase. The show sold out three nights at the Rose Wagner Theatre, and was supported by the Repertory Dance Theatre, Salt Lake Arts Council, the University of Utah, and Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks. My capstone film involved building a modular elevator on a soundstage that could then be placed inside the real on-location elevator, allowing shots from the two places to match perfectly. I received the Undergraduate Research Scholar designation for doing two semesters of UROP research and publishing in Range. I was the Jewish Technical Supervisor on a feature film that shot in Utah this past summer. I TA'd two semesters of screenwriting for Hubbel Palmer. I had a minor role in Netflix's "Murder Among the Mormons," directed by Jared Hess.