Nick Aquilino, a 22-year-old Pace graduate majored in digital cinema and filmmaking. Currently, he lives for film: teaching, writing, and preaching, about the big screen to those with the same interest.

Aquilino’s filmic experience at Pace, from 2014 to 2018, have placed him at the Jacob Burns Film Center as an adjunct faculty member.

The former film student teaches fifth to eighth graders about film studies through rather artistic means. He’s the instructor of “DreamWorks,” a course where students observe a painting and pick out mood and setting for their productions.

Aquilino’s learners come up with stories for movies, develop videos, and even podcasts. Seemingly, his enjoyment of teaching and creating content reflects on his students, as well.

“Something I like to do when I’m making something is making it fun for everyone, because people will want to make more stuff if they’re having a good time,” Aquilino said. “When you’re messing around and still come up with something good, you’re doing film right.”

In addition to instructing, Aquilino is currently writing screenplays for short films he’s developing, while also desiring to have a feature film in the works. He is fascinated the most by a film’s story.

“A movie like E.T. is about a boy and his pet alien, but there’s so many other character layers and good storytelling around it that makes it good,” Aquilino said. “It’s not the way it’s told, it’s how it’s told and that is very important.”

Aquilino recognizes the Film Appreciation Club, a club in which he was president, and his Directing class as his tools for understanding film and story. The Pace graduate and his friends developed movies such as The Confrontation, Paper Cut, and Midnight Vigil.

While Aquilino didn’t direct Midnight Vigil, he claims it was his favorite just for its fight scenes that felt purposeful, because of the story. The current instructor explained that knowing and appreciating your vision can produce success.

Aquilino’s movie vision seems to lean towards horror and comedy. He claimed that fear and laughter are what excites him about film, because they’re such raw emotions from the audience.

The screenwriter-in-progress believes that leaving an impression on your viewers is just as important as it is to being attentive to your goals. According to Aquilino, your desires will keep your camera rolling in the end.

“Make your own mark,” Aquilino said. “If you have a phone, you have a camera; if you have a camera, you can make a movie; which means you have no excuse not to make a movie. You have to be consistent and not give up on your ideas.”