Staying open to surprises: Rowan Braning’s approach to learning and life

What was your journey leading up to BUas? 

Rowan: ‘I am from Arizona, USA, and my family has always loved travelling to Europe. When I was a teenager, we started visiting regularly, and studying abroad became a real option for me. My older sister went to France for her studies, which made me more comfortable with the idea of leaving the U.S. Seeing her experience gave me the confidence to do the same.’ 

‘I knew I wanted to study at an applied sciences university, and language was an important factor. Since the Dutch are known for their excellent English skills, the Netherlands stood out. My parents and I did a lot of research, and my mother actually discovered BUas. We were specifically looking for an applied sciences school with a strong focus on creativity, and BUas fit that perfectly.’ 

‘I have always been interested in music and film, something related to the creative industry but not too specialised. I took a photography class in high school, which sparked my interest in cinematography, but I also wanted to explore the business side of the industry rather than just filmmaking. That’s why BUas was the ideal choice for me.’ 

Can you describe a project you worked on? 

Rowan: ‘One of the projects I really enjoyed was a short documentary we created in the first semester of the second year. We worked in groups of four to five people, each taking on roles such as director, audio, producer, editor, and director of photography.’ 

What was your role in the project, and what did the process look like? 

Rowan: ‘I was the editor, but in a project like this, you end up contributing to everything.’ 

‘First, we brainstormed topics we were interested in, also ensuring it was something that could be marketed. Our team agreed on focusing on a personal story. One of our teammates had a connection, her mother worked at a shelter for Ukrainian refugees. Through her, we got in touch with a Ukrainian mother who volunteered to share her story.’ 

'We weren’t sure how to approach it at first, so we contacted her to find out what she was comfortable sharing and how to plan the documentary. She was very passionate about being a mother to her daughter, and while she didn’t want her face on camera, we still found a way to tell her story.’ 

‘A lot of the process was last-minute, and we had to stay flexible. We visited the location, met with her, and structured the documentary around her experiences. We wanted everything to feel authentic and not rehearsed. It was a bit stressful since none of us had done a project like this before.’ 

‘On the filming day, things worked out in the end. We conducted the interview in a library café, filmed outside at the shelter, and shot scenes in a park with her daughter. We even captured a drone shot of the castle where the shelter was located. The key focus was making sure the woman felt comfortable on camera. Some moments were very emotional, and we had to balance being empathetic while ensuring she felt comfortable sharing her story.’ 

‘As the editor, I planned the type of scenes we wanted and worked with DaVinci Resolve for the editing process. It took me about two weeks to complete, as I really need to get into a creative mindset to focus. I aimed for an impactful layout and ending.’ 

'We received great feedback from both our peers and lecturers, which was really rewarding.’ 

Can you share some memorable experiences from your project? 

Rowan: ‘One of the biggest lessons I learned was to trust my intuition. At first, I was unsure about which scenes to film and whether they would work, but once I trusted my gut, everything flowed more smoothly.’ 

‘I also realised that you won’t always work seamlessly with every team member. Sometimes there is conflict, and you have to learn to compromise and adapt. That is one of the main reasons I appreciate applied sciences universities, you get real hands-on experience working in teams.’ 

What are your plans for the future? 

Rowan: ‘I am considering doing a master’s degree, but I am not sure yet. Next year, I will be taking a minor in sustainability, and I am also looking into doing an internship abroad to gain more experience in a different environment. As for a career, I am still figuring things out.’ 

‘The most important thing I have learned is to avoid setting expectations. Moving abroad and working on various projects has taught me to stay open to surprises. That is how I want to live, embracing new experiences and figuring things out along the way.’ 

Connect with Rowan on LinkedIn to follow her journey in the media industry.