(image information: personal picture taken by Roberta Luton)
Hello, I am Ben Luton and am looking forward to be working with all of you in this class. I am a sixth year undergraduate student and a senior this year. I am majoring in Broadcast and Electronic Media with emphasis in video production. I have discovered what I truly want to do over my six years in college though, acting.
I have loved movies all of my life and it has been a dream of mine to be a professional actor for camera. Currently, I have been taking classes with Daryl Cox at the Actor Factory and have loved them. My favorite actor is Denzel Washington. Denzel absolutely performed at his peak in his movie Training Day. He played a crooked cop that got what he had coming to him by a rookie that he intended to weed out that day. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. Outside of acting, I am doing what I have to so I can head to LA in May.
Currently, I work for the OU football team and am a student videographer. I film every single practice and game then edit all the footage together so it can be distributed to coaches and players. I love my job and it pays the bills. So, this allows me to hone my video production and acting skills simultaneously throughout the year. I have worked hard to get where I am today.
Before I came to OU I was first a freshmen at Friends University in Wichita, KS. I majored in Religion and Philosophy and decided after a while that it was not for me. Next, I transferred to OSU. I know that must be hard to believe, but trust me I was only doing what I thought I needed to! OSU has the number two school in the nation for marriage and family therapy school and that is what I thought I wanted to do. After two internships, I knew I did not want to do that the rest of my life. So, I finally found my college-resting place. I will graduate from the one and only University of Oklahoma.
Hey Ben, Im Ann-Marie! I think it is so cool that you want to be an actor, being able to play a character has always fascinated me! I have the absolute worst poker face, so I dont think I would be able to act very well! I love that you are trying to find what you really want to do with the rest of your life in college instead of just going with the first thing you tried, I can seriously respect that!
ReplyDeleteHi Ben, my name is Brie! I really enjoyed reading your introduction and getting to know a little bit more about you! You have been in many places but it sounds like you've found your place at OU! What's crazy is that Denzel Washington is my favorite actor too! My favorite movie in the whole world is Remember the Titans, so after that I have loved Denzel in any role he has played! I also work for OU football, but I am on a different side- the Athletic Training side rather than the videography. I think that is really awesome though! Best of luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHi Ben, my name is Brie! I really enjoyed reading your introduction and getting to know a little bit more about you! You have been in many places but it sounds like you've found your place at OU! What's crazy is that Denzel Washington is my favorite actor too! My favorite movie in the whole world is Remember the Titans, so after that I have loved Denzel in any role he has played! I also work for OU football, but I am on a different side- the Athletic Training side rather than the videography. I think that is really awesome though! Best of luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you have been doing classes with Daryl Cox: he is such a great guy! I met him years ago and when I was still teaching in the classroom, I thought about going to him for voice lessons — but now I teach online, so I don't have to worry about being professional in how I use my voice... I just need to learn to stop making so many typos when I type! That's great that you have found your calling, and also that you have a job which is teaching you about the technical/behind-the-camera side of film production too. Now everybody can just keep hoping that all the hard practice that the football team is putting in will lead to a great season!!!
ReplyDeleteHello Ben!
ReplyDeleteActing sounds fun, I do not think I could ever do it but I do love to watch a good actor. I am not sure I have seen Training Day, but I do think I have heard of it. Denzel Washington is a fantastic actor, I've seen many of his movies so I shall watch Training Day soon. Thats exciting getting to be the videographer for the football team, probably isn't as exciting as I think it is since you are the one who has to do it all the time. Football is my favorite sport to watch, but probably wouldnt be if I had to watch it all the time. At least you found your way to the best University that is all that matters! I hope you have a great semester!
Hey Ben, I have not seen training day but it sounds like it is definitely a good movie so I will have to see it some time. I am happy to see that you finally found what you want to do! It is also very interesting how many schools you’ve been to and how you finally ended up here at OU. I wish you good luck on your future plans and goals!
ReplyDeleteHi, Ben!
ReplyDeleteI have soooooooo much respect for you for finishing college even though it's taken longer than four years. I've practically run myself into the ground trying to graduate early because college, even with scholarships, is so expensive!
I also love watching movies! Training Day really is fantastic--I have a slightly weird fascination with Ethan Hawke. I think my favorite movie with Denzel is probably Man on Fire. I'm not sure what it is about the movie that I love, but I watch it every time it comes on.
It was really nice getting to know you, and I hope your dream of becoming an actor comes true!
Hi Ben!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you finally made your way here to OU! I think it is so awesome that you are going to follow your dreams and move to LA to achieve them! I definitely agree with you on Training Day being Denzel Washington's peak performance! I LOVE that movie. I think it's awesome that you work for football! It's awesome that you get to work on your filmography abilities and pay the bills! Have a great semester!
Hey Ben!!! Acting, that's an awesome career choice! I know I could never act even if I wanted to. I'm glad you finally settled in the best university around! It's nice that the university offers jobs like yours because it gives you a chance to see if that's what you really want. The amount of time it took to figure out what you want to do with your life doesn't matter. Making sure it is right is what matters! I wish you luck as you move to LA and start on your dreams!
ReplyDeleteYour change in major from religious studies to electronic media is very interesting! Glad you found your passion though! And your goal sounds really neat. My boyfriend is actually a senior Electronic Media and Broadcasting major too! His name is David Ransom, and I bet he's in one of your classes!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually also in Gaylord, but I'm on the other side of the majors. I'm majoring in Professional Writing!
From what my boyfriend's told me, you guys get to work with a lot of neat electronic equipment and such. So, sounds like an awesome major for sure!
Nice to meet you, Ben!
Hey Ben! I'll have to check out Training Day. I haven't seen it yet. That's so cool that you're heading to LA in May. It'll be an adventure for sure. It's impressive that not only do you act, but you also do video work. I'm sure that'll help you out a lot in the future. It was great to learn a little about you. Hope your semester is going well!
ReplyDeleteHello Ben,
ReplyDeleteIt is very cool that you can say with 100 percent certainty that you have found your true calling. When I was in high school I was in a videography class for three years, mainly because the teacher was my wrestling coach. However, throughout the time I was able to win a small competition with a friend so I know exactly how cool it can feel to share your finished work with someone and receive good feedback. I hope you find everything you could possibly be looking for in LA!
Hey, Ben,
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like you’ve been having a great collegiate career! Working with the OU football team must be fun. Though I don’t enjoy football too much, this is still a great opportunity for you. What sort of genre would you like to perform most in as an actor? I wish you all the best and I hope you get to continue doing what you love!
Hi Ben,
ReplyDeleteI am also majoring in Broadcast and Electronic Media. I am surprised that we have not had any classes together but i guess with your other schools ( glad you made it to OU) it might mahe made it so we were never in the same ones. its nice to see another BEM person in this class. I look forward to reading your work.
Nice to meet you.
Hi Ben, nice to meet you! First of all, let me just say what a cool job you have! I love football, so I am a little jealous watching and editing football videos is what you do. It's so cool that you are into acting, I hope you become an actor so I can say I had a class with him one year. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteHi Ben! I am glad that OU is your college resting place :) Although your introduction may seem short at a first glance, once you get to start reading it, it is jam packed with information about you! But I think it's great that you have come to that point in your college journey where you have found your calling and what you would like to do. I am surprised that you did not mention a favorite TV show of yours in your introduction and just Denzel Washington. Would you only do on screen acting vs. stage acting? Anyways, you are a very well spoken individual and I look forward to reading your work!
ReplyDeleteBen, nice to meet you! That is so cool that you work for the football team. That must be really fun. Also, it’s really cool you like to act. Good luck in L.A. with your acting. That’s the place you need to be. I am glad you finally found your home at OU! It must have been hard transferring that many times but you’re here now. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHi Ben,
ReplyDeleteIt's really nice that you finally figured out what you wanted to do with school. College is such a good time to explore all of your options to find something that makes you happy. It sounds like you've got a really nice gig going on with the football team. I'm sure there are hundreds of students who are quit jealous of you! I hope all works out for you with acting and making your dreams come true! It was nice to meet you and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the semester.
What's up Ben. Looks like you have had a very diverse Midwest college experience. But when you said Denzel Washington was your favorite actor I flipped! You instantly became a cool guy in my book. I think he is the best to do it. And training day is actually my favorite performance of his. I feel like Alonzo and Hoyte are my devil and angel on my shoulders. Where I don't mind being the villain like Alonzo and being just ruthless and doing what you have to do, but also I want to play by the rules (most of them) and save helpless girls in the alley against punks and etc. So dope on you sir for adding that piece about Training Day. Hope the LA thing goes well! Oh and this also made me think, I have never seen Denzel as a character in a comedy.. He is versatile in his skill tho. But hmm. Just made me think. Anyway, have a good rest of the semester bro.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is awesome that you have been able to explore many universities and your many interests. I am glad that you found your way to OU and that it is where you want to be. That is an awesome opportunity for you to move to LA. I plan on moving to California as well when I graduate. California is an expensive state so I understand about doing all that you can to make it possible. It is really cool that you have decided on acting for what you want to pursue. It can be a tough time but worth the adventure. Good luck to you in LA!
ReplyDeleteHi Ben!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool you want to be an actor! I worked with a guy in OKC who had the similar dreams and was taking classes around the metro…before I knew it, he had moved to NYC and he is now on tour with a Broadway show! Do not give up! It is completely possible! Good luck with everything!
Wow Ben! You have certainly made the rounds haven't you! My cousin did something similar, changing majors five times before landing in marketing. That has to be a blow to the wallet though!
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting that you've worked on such diverse majors over the years! Religion to therapy to video production are kind of at all ends of the spectrum! I wish you luck on your career in LA!
Hey Ben,
ReplyDeleteI'm an athletic trainer and I had no idea you were in this class! haha but so cool that you want to be an actor, I haven't been around you much but the few times I have I can really see your proselyte fitting to be an actor. I really hope that you are able to move out to LA and make it in your dream job! Sorry to hear that you had to go to that poo school in Stillwater for a little but at least now you're at the best school!
I can’t believe that I am just now commenting on this. It’s nice to meet you. Its cool that you want to do acting, it’s an awesome thing to want to be. Too bad this is your senior year or else I would suggest you join the OU speech and debate team. It isn’t all about debating; we do a lot of acting too. Just don’t loose sight of your target and you’ll hit it. its nice to meet you and I hope you finish your senior year strong.
ReplyDeleteHey Ben,
ReplyDeleteNice to see a fellow Gaylord student in this class! It also took me awhile to find exactly what I want to do, but I'm glad I took my time. I was also a transfer student from a small junior college back home. It's really cool that you want to go out to Cali! Good luck!
Hello, Ben. It was nice to meet you. I am a fourth year this year and should be graduating in May but decided to change my major for the third time and am now a Civil Engineering major. I hope this is the field I graduate from. It must be pretty cool to be able to fit the practices and work with the players and coaches. Good luck in LA.
ReplyDelete