David Amutah

Sound? Roll camera, action! Arriving on set in a pair of jeans, an Eagles sweatshirt, and a worn-in pair of black and white Converse shoes, David Amutah is ready to start his thirteen-hour day of shooting. He quietly regards the set and mentally prepares himself for the upcoming trials and tribulations that are inevitable. He has spent nineteen weeks preparing for this day and the moment he steps on the set, David relinquishes his introverted, keep-to-himself student demeanor in exchange for that of a confident and assertive film director. David Amutah is twenty-three years young and has more passion for screenwriting and filmmaking than most people will experience in a lifetime.
David’s passion started at the ripe age of twelve. “My creativity

He immediately pulls the actors into a private room to discuss the scenes of the day. He has them simply read through the scene while he elaborates on certain inflections for certain lines and discusses emotional queues. He makes an effort to give each person his personal attention to ensure that everyone is comfortable on set so that the day can run smoothly. David emphasizes that he wants every actor to feel comfortable with the scenes. It’s important to do this in private first, he says, so as not to put anyone on the spot. Once the actors are wired up with microphones and set in their places, David’s eyes instantly search for the ten-inch fold out monitor where they will remain focused throughout the shoot. Sound? Roll camera, action! The scene only takes about 90 seconds, though once filming starts everything becomes a blur and minutes turn into hours. Throughout the entire day, David remains incredibly positive and upbeat, even while facing several time-consuming setbacks. “No one will be as invested in this as you are,” he says, “so you have to love it. At no point can you not be loving it. Even during a really stressful day, shooting in a business or restaurant, I still have to stay upbeat because I am the quarterback and everyone is looking at me for how the shoot is going” (Personal

David’s film is one of six that premiere in one evening. When introducing his film, he specifically takes the time to thank every crew member who shared their talents, so well as his family for their support in helping him to realize his dream. After the twenty- minute film ends, the credits cut to “Directed By: David Amutah” and the crowd gives him a standing ovation. Not a single person remains sitting down, and the cheering floods the auditorium. David is absolutely glowing, overcoming all of his own self-doubts and criticisms, he has finally made it to the end of this particular film