About Zach Brown

As a native Floridian and Air Force veteran with a deep passion for filmmaking, Zach Brown’s journey in the entertainment industry began at a young age. He spent much of his childhood attending movies with his family, which sparked his love for storytelling. Growing up immersed in theater and surrounded by the magic of Disney World and Universal Studios, he had the unique opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the entertainment industry, further fueling his passion.

In 2025, Zach earned his Bachelor's degree in Film and is eager to bring a distinctive perspective to storytelling that resonates in his work behind the camera. For him, movies have always served as a form of escape, and this emotional connection drives his commitment to creating impactful and meaningful content. He has developed a strong foundation in directing techniques, including shot composition, blocking, and actor collaboration, and continually refines his ability to bring diverse creative visions to life.

Zach is proficient in industry-standard software such as Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing, Final Draft for screenwriting, and Shot Designer for pre-production planning. His technical expertise extends to understanding camera movement, lighting setups, and sound design, all of which allow him to craft immersive and visually compelling stories.

Education

Franklin High School: High School Diploma - 2008

University of NW Florida: Associates of Science - Biology - 2018

Full Sail University: Bachelors of Science - Film - 2025 Salutatorian

Full Sail University: Masters of Science - Entertainment Business - 2026

Goals and Timeline

My goal is to expand my professional network and build relationships that open doors to industry opportunities. Within six months of graduation, I plan to connect with several mentors and professionals to gain hands-on experience and strengthen my skills.

Reflection of My Goals
and Timeline

When I first started this course, I had a pretty simple goal in mind: I wanted to build my professional network and make real connections that could help me move forward after graduation. I knew I wanted mentors, opportunities, and hands-on experience, but I honestly wasn’t sure how to approach any of that. My hope was that by the end of the course, I’d feel more prepared — more confident — about stepping into the industry and talking to people who could guide me. I set the goal of making several meaningful connections within six months after graduation, but I didn’t really know what that process looked like.

Throughout this course, though, my perspective shifted a lot. I learned that networking isn’t about collecting business cards or sending a message just because I “should.” It’s about building relationships that actually matter — relationships where both people bring value. That was one of the biggest mindset shifts for me. Instead of feeling like I had to impress everyone or “reach out the right way,” I started thinking more about being authentic, being helpful, and being someone people want to connect with.

I also gained a much clearer understanding of what artist and product managers actually do. Before this class, I don’t think I realized how much coordination, communication, and strategic thinking happens behind the scenes. Learning about that made me appreciate the industry even more — and it made me feel more prepared to be part of it.

One of the parts that stuck with me the most was how the course tied networking into long-term career planning. It made me realize that I’m not just trying to meet people for the sake of it. I’m building the foundation for the kind of professional life I want after graduation.

Overall, this course helped me feel more grounded and more confident about taking the next steps. I still want to build those relationships and expand my network — but now I feel like I actually know how to do it, and that makes a huge difference.

Mastery Journal Reflection

When I started this course, my main goal for my Mastery: Personal and Digital Leadership (PDL) timeline was to become more intentional about how I present myself and my work within the entertainment and film industry. I wanted to better understand how digital leadership and personal branding could support my long-term career goals. Looking back now, this course helped me make real progress toward that goal and gave me a clearer sense of direction.

One of the biggest things I learned from this course is that personal branding is not just about having a website or portfolio, but about how clearly you communicate who you are and where you’re headed. The assignments pushed me to think about my goals more seriously and put them into words, which led directly to updates I made to my Digital Leadership Portfolio. Adding a clear Goals and Timeline section helped me define what I want to accomplish after graduation and how I plan to get there, instead of leaving things vague or assumed.

The course also changed how I think about leadership. I used to associate leadership mostly with titles or formal roles, but I now see it as something that shows up through actions, collaboration, and accountability. This really applies to my work in film, especially when directing and writing projects like The Boot. Leading a creative project requires communication, trust, and the ability to guide a team while staying open to ideas from others, and this course helped me recognize that as a form of leadership.