Celine Duong is one of the busiest creatives at The Association, and it’s clear that she’s dedicated to the work and her students. We sat down with the 23-year-old production junkie and talked with her about how she got her start, and what she loves most about the Canon Boot Camp.
Where are you from?
Well, I was born in Paris, France and spent the first ten years of my life there, then I moved to Los Angeles.
What do you do here at The Association?
I’m a Canon Boot Camp Instructor specializing in the 7D, I work in the creative division helping develop scripts and concepts for the film projects we do, and I’m a part of the marketing and promotion division for The Association’s Canon camera classes.
When did you get interested in cameras and film production?
During college when I studied abroad and they wouldn’t let us take the production classes, but I realized that was what I was interested in. You know what they say, you always want what you can’t have. That whole year, I was itching to get my hands on some gear, get some guidance and shoot. So, during my senior year of college I completely focused on production.
I took all the production classes, got an internship, and my life became 100% involved in that field because I wanted to mock-up what it would be to be in that career full-time. It proved to me that it was something I loved to do and was pretty good at, so after college I kept pursuing it in LA. Now, here I am!
What’s your favorite camera?
That’s a hard one! I love DSLRs, especially the 60D, the Canon 5D, and 7D. My favorite camera would be a hybrid/unborn child of a 5D, 7D, and 60D. I love the look of the 5D so I want its huge sensor so that I could get the shallow depth of field, the 7D for its slo-mo capabilities, and the 60D for its flip-out monitor. So technically my perfect camera doesn’t exist… [laughs].
What’s the most exciting project you’ve ever worked on?
I worked on a documentary as a camera operator with my 7D, where I filmed at a camp for underprivileged student-athletes. The camp provided them with activities and education that taught them that they were more than just their athletic ability. By the end they had turned into well rounded young men and had such confidence. I was only filming them, but I really felt like I had become a part of their transformation. That was really special for me.
What is the best part about The Association’s Canon Boot Camp?
Our caliber of students is evidence that no matter how experienced you are, you can always learn something new. For example, the DP for Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a past student. We get to teach pretty knowledgeable people a new skill, which I think is really cool.
On the other hand, and just as exciting, are the students who have absolutely no experience. There was a past student who took his camera out of the box and literally did not know how to turn it on. By the end, he know exactly how to operate his camera, all the ins and outs. We have many students from both categories and the pace of the class seems to be right for everyone.
If you have any questions about The Association or want to register for an upcoming Canon Boot Camp workshop, please call us at 818.841.9660, or visit our website. The updated dates and times of the next boot camp are on the right side of the page.