‘some of the best formative years’
The school semester comes to an end next month, and the SWOSU faculty feature stories are nearly complete.
The new faculty member to be featured this week is Chad Gray, assistant professor for the art, communication and theatre department.
Gray spent his early childhood years moving around, but he settled in Weatherford during elementary. “I’m an army brat,” Gray said.
After getting established in Weatherford and graduating high school, Gray earned his bachelor’s degree from SWOSU.
He said his years on the hilltop were “probably some of the best formative years” of his life.
Gray said he learned skills he still uses today.
Some of his knowledge comes from his helping to establish The Bulldog Broadcasting Network or the BBN. “We were really just starting out with video, so it was developing.
We were doing wacky fun things,” he said. “I think that’s the best way to learn.”
His initial interest in communications and cinematography began as a child with the movies he would watch with friends and family.
“I was fascinated with that whole process. I love movies. It was such a huge part of my life growing up, and I just wanted to do it as a profession,” he said.
After working as a projectionist at a local theatre and then doing media production for local businesses, Gray decided to pursue a serious career in film-making. He moved to Maryland and earned his master’s degree from Boston University. After that, he went west to Los Angeles and worked for a picture production company.
“They afforded me a lot of opportunities to learn what the industry was like and also opportunities to grow my own skillset,” Gray said. “On the side, I would always work with my friends to make movies.”
Those experiences with filmmaking in L.A. are coming into play now at SWOSU.
Fellow SWOSU professor Dr. Jessica Salmans approached Gray about a special film project currently in the works. “In anticipation of the Route 66 centennial, she decided it would be a cool idea if we made a documentary highlighting Oklahoma communities that benefitted from and were affected by Route 66,” Gray said.
Along with producing media in correlation with SWOSU, Gray also has several media and journalistic classes he teaches. He said the subject matter is “pretty broad, but there is definitely a sharp focus on creating media for digital platforms.”
Gray said the one thing he wants students to learn from his classes is how to be effective communicators in the modern digital era. “It’s how to tell stories, and how to tell stories for modern audiences on digital platforms. That is probably my main goal.”
Gray said he also wants his students to have “media literacy”—to understand how and why content is produced, not simply take it at face value. “It’s easy to put something online; it’s hard to verify whether it is accurate or true.
The media landscape is constantly evolving and it’s driven by technology. You just need to be aware.”
He said when looking at online content, people need to ask,“Why am I consuming this? Should I trust it?”
Faculty fast facts
Go to coffee order? Caramel macchiato. “I’m a sweet guy, but I’ll drink anything.”
Favorite television show? “The last series I watched with my friends was Stranger Things.”
Dream vacation? A backpacking trip around the European hot spots Best Christmas gift you received as a child?
“Definitely a Nintendo 64.”
Favorite meal? Brisket with fried okra, collard greens, and French fries or mashed potatoes.
A book you could read again and again? The Foundation series by Asimov, or one of Ray Bradbury’s works A movie you could watch again and again?
Children of Men A day that’s not a holiday but should be? Gray said he’s not a fan of trivial holidays, but he loves Thanksgiving.