A broad background, a broad portfolio of completed works, a broad choice for RTVF and extracurricular projects, and a broad goal with his degree: the term "broad" is sometimes given a negative connotation as it is often a substitute for the word "vague."
However, in the case of Alessio Summerfield, senior in radio, television and film, "broad" describes his openness to new possibilities, and ultimately great opportunities.
Being an assistant in the Media and Digital Resources Lab at the library and a videographer for the College of Liberal Arts, as well as the father of the AU New Media Club, which he will preside over for the next two semesters, Summerfield said he has made a broad variety of efforts to produce great media works while assisting others in their media endeavors as well.
Originally from England, the Summerfield family moved to his mother's home country, Sicily, where Alessio's sister was born.
They then lived in Virginia for a short time before making their way further south to various cities in Florida and then on to Auburn.
His past is where Summerfield claims to derive inspiration, particularly the excessive film watching with his father and the hobby of pirating those films on VHS.
The first feature film project that Summerfield said he was associated with took place when he was in eighth grade.
He said he helped his friend create a parody of the Matrix and that it was the first and last on-camera appearance.
Summerfield said he was interested in the field of radio, television and film for eight years and that he draws inspiration from an unusual source.
"You don't hear this very often, but I was actually inspired by mid-90's video games and graphics," Summerfield said.
"I got interested in telling stories visually and allowing others to come to their own conclusions."
He said this inspiration has led him to complete projects such as directing his debut feature film about zombies and a more recent feature film about the Ugliest Dog in America, which received a kickstarter fund of $50,000.
"I have a massive guilt issue where if I'm not productive and I'm just sitting around doing nothing, I feel really guilty about it," Summerfield said.
"I feel like that guilt/productivity complex sets me apart because I try to do as much as I can so that at the end of the day, I'm not left with nothing and I can move on knowing I left something behind."
Summerfield said he hopes that by starting the New Media Club he will be able to leave behind a legacy and teach others that they can accomplish their dreams.
"(I hope to) show kids that now in today's world with the internet, and with everybody having production tools, you can pretty much do whatever you want to do for the rest of your life, starting now," Summerfield said.
His wide range of future projects range from jumpstarting student interest in web presence through an ePortfolio project test group with the New Media Club to potentially pitching a feature film that highlights the lifestyle of a truck driver.
"With my degree being radio, television and film, its (possibilities are) pretty broad," he said. "Especially the work I do around campus is broad; it's usually audio, video or web stuff. So, I'm hoping that since my experience on my resume is pretty broad... I'm hoping that with a broad degree and with such a broad background that I can just do media work and not have to be limited."
Deron Overpeck, professor of film studies, said he was impressed by Summerfield's contributions to class.
"He's clearly seen a lot of films, yet is also eager to learn more, even in an introductory class," Overpeck said. "He also made an interesting documentary short film last year about illegal immigration in Italy, demonstrating that he thinks about economic and social issues in a global context."
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