Filmmaking and flying are two things that Jake Hightower wishes he could do, but only one is possible.
“If I could possess any superpower, it’s simple, I would want to fly. That would be the most fun, I don’t see any downside to flying, and I’d be the highest paid player in NBA history,” he explained.
He is starting his flight now, in a sense, beginning his journey to learn about and make films as a senior at Florida State University. While he does not aspire to be a basketball player, he does want to make films that reach people.
“My happiest moment was directing my first short film when I first got to say ‘action’ and ‘cut’ after wanting to do that pretty much my entire life,’ explained Hightower.
“A Night Out” is the silent short film he is referring to. It is a horror thriller about a girl who leaves her apartment to go out for a night on the town. She accidentally drops her keys on her way to a bar, and a masked character appears to be after her but in the end it’s because he found her keys. The film was designed to build tension and suspense.
Hightower has his own YouTube channel where his work is posted.
Jake Hightower’s YouTube Channel
“I want to go into film, which is a version of being an artist. At this point in my life, I want to be a good friend and a good family member, one who worked hard and cared about others, and leave the world better than I found it.”
Hightower hopes he can leave his art as something he can be remembered by, but at this point he hasn’t achieved that goal yet.
“In an ideal world I would like to make films that would reach people and that is the goal – to make people feel something through what I make. I haven’t made that film yet, but I will.”
Hightower knows what it is like to be on the other side of the camera as well. In his senior year in high school, he tried something new, and he is glad that he did. He played William Clayton, the main antagonist in a production of “Tarzan” and participated in the district theater competition, something way out of his comfort zone.
“I would say my most proud moment was when I kind of got roped into doing theater. I decided I cared enough about my friends who cared about it, that I would care about it. I was able to get through the district theater competition and not screw it up for them. I was able to support people that I cared about and I really appreciated that feeling,” Hightower said.
The team finished with a superior rating in the competition.
Josh Kapke 