Heavy hands and precise fingers pound away on a keyboard as Mike Rich, a North Lake College Video Tech student known to many by his stage name Mike Miller, navigates his way through YouTube to find the newly released Star Wars movie trailer.
Rich grew up in South Grand Prairie but attended Sam Houston High School in Arlington where he graduated in 2010.
He was just happy to be finished, but admits he felt aimless. After having spent most of that summer indoors, he became restless and, soon after, felt an urge to find a way to engage his passions.
He did not originally have a plan to attend North Lake College until his uncle, who had recently taken classes, made the suggestion that North Lake would be a great place for him and his siblings to start their higher education.
During a trip to the Admissions Office for more information, Rich discovered the Video Technology program, which would allow him to develop his passions.
He always had a passion for film and the processes that go into it so, he figured North Lake was as good a place as any to start.
Prior to that moment, Rich hadn’t yet realized that there existed a pursuable path to his lifelong interest of storytelling.
The transition from high school to college was easy for him.
“Just a few adjustments were needed, otherwise I took to it like a fish in water,” said Rich.
The storyteller’s focus has been on animation and design. Last year one of his animated shorts was selected for the Video Technology’s Annual Video Showcase and was well-received by the audience.
Even though it was only 24 seconds long, in that short time viewers learned that Rich is capable of creating detailed environments and characters at a professional level.
“If Mike decides to pursue graphic design and animation, I really think that he’ll do very well,” said Dane Sigua, NLC Video Tech faculty.
For Rich it all starts with story. “I feel story is the most important part of any medium. A great story is the only thing that can save a crappy production,” he said.
He understands the importance of the mechanics of storytelling and has found different ways to express his ideas.
Two of his most recent short films are smaller adaptations taken from a novel he has been working on since his freshman year in high school, which he intends to convert into a script.
He explained that using multiple mediums allows him to hammer out all the details and create a more immersive experience for his audiences.
“With a novel, I can go more in-depth to a character’s motivations and really explore what’s going on inside their head, versus film where you have to relay all this visually.”
For Rich, each serves the other.
Many may not know the extreme difficulties when producing films.
It’s intense and the stakes are high. That’s what makes Rich’s work such an accomplishment. He has written, produced and directed all three of his films himself.
Jonathan Gutheinz, a fellow student in the Video Tech program, said Rich’s second film, Altersight, looked great and had the ability to draw him in.
“With a novel, I can go more in-depth to a character’s motivations and really explore what’s going on inside their head, versus film where you have to relay all this visually.”
When asked about what keeps him up at night, Rich showed no hesitation in answering.
“Trying to get it right, whatever it is,” he said.
Rich spoke of the stressful nature of being a perfectionist with time constraints.
“I personally can’t stand it when something doesn’t work out the way I imagined it.”
Although Rich’s story is still in progress, his perfectionistic mentality will ensure that no matter how the story ends, it will look good as a final product.