From Digital Media to the Big Screen
UVU alumni Ashley Coles met with the Review to discuss how her degree has helped her make moves in her career and pursue her passions.
Ashley Coles graduated from Utah Valley University one year ago with her degree in Digital Cinema Production, a part of the Digital Media program (DGM). Only a year after graduation, Coles has already seen her degree aid her in many ways. “It’s come in handy in ways I didn’t expect it to,” she expressed. Coles has landed a job as a Communications Assistant and revealed that her degree has aided her in video production. Whether it’s on a film set or for social media, the DGM has taught Coles how to put content together in a way that tells a story, gets people’s attention and connects with them.
Aside from her career in communications, Coles’s passion is acting. “What’s great about DGM,” Coles explained, “is it gives you a taste for every single role on a film set. Even if you don’t use all of the information you learn in your role, you appreciate what’s going on around you.” Thanks to her education at UVU, Coles has developed significant patience and appreciation for everyone she works with when acting.
Coles decided to pursue acting after serving her a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The desire to tell stories through film was sparked as she made social media videos to teach about the Church. When asked about her favorite aspects of acting, Coles claimed, “I like that you can connect with people through your character in TV and film in a way that theatre cannot always offer.”
Coles took her experience teaching about the Church and applied it to the big screen. She was recently given the opportunity to participate in a movie currently in Cinemark theatres entitled “Six Days in August,” which follows the story of Joseph Smith’s death. Coles revealed it was the biggest set she had ever been on and was grateful for the opportunity to work in that environment. “Having been in the DGM program helped me to not feel so intimidated,” she stated. “I knew what every role needed to do so I didn’t feel in the way.”
Another exciting project Coles has coming up is an indie film called “I Be a Witch.” The film follows the true story of Ann Foster, an accused witch from Andover. Coles takes on a bigger and more interesting role than she has previously, playing the wild-child granddaughter of Foster who convicts her grandmother of witchcraft.
When asked what advice she has for an aspiring actor, Coles recommended taking classes and being willing to learn. “Be willing to hear ‘no’ a lot more than you hear ‘yes,’ and be willing to take it as a learning experience, rather than a failure,” Coles advised.
As can be seen in Coles’s case, a degree from UVU can benefit students with big dreams. For Coles, her participation in the Digital Media program has allowed her to obtain a career in Communications and pursue her passion for acting. She recommends other aspiring actors take the same educational path she has, stating, “My degree wasn’t in acting but learning what goes on behind the camera and on set was critical and I would not go back and change my major.”
To get more advice on acting and writing, and to keep up on Coles’s latest projects, follow @__ashleycoles__ on Instagram.
Braxtyn Birrell is a senior at Utah Valley University earning her Bachelor’s in Writing Studies. She is currently serving as a Beat Reporter for the Review. In previous semesters, she has served as Editor-in-Chief for Touchstones Literary Magazine and Lead Student Editor for the Journal of Student Leadership. Her areas of expertise include the arts and humanities, specifically literature.