Maria Abreu, 18, is a creative soul with a passion for writing, drama, tap dancing and, most of all, film. She’d always dreamed of going to film school, but after rising through the ranks in NJROTC, she set her course for the . Apparently, fate has other plans for her because, shortly after learning that the academy had rejected her, Abreu was accepted into film school. Now she’s in the running for a scholarship to help her pay for it.
You came to our attention because you’re part of Do the Write Thing, a writing program for young people at the Hygienic Gallery. How long have you been with the group?
Two years. I was the first generation, me and some other classmates. We go to the art gallery, look at the art and write what we thought about it, and create our own pieces, which we then publish at the end of the year in a magazine. It’s developed my creative writing skills, definitely, and it helped me meet new people and find new interests.
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What other interests do you have outside of school?
I’m a tap dancer. I tap at the . [My mom signed me up for a class when] we moved here in 2000, to help me make new friends and to distract me from the weirdness of being in a new place. I ended up loving it and staying in for 11 years, with the same teacher too. She wanted to put me in competition but I never had time to do it--they were always out of state. We do have shows. We’re going to have show in June performing in front of the town.
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What is it that you like about tap?
I think I just love beats in general. It’s awesome being able to interpret things physically. It’s the same thing with ballet but with tap, you just use your feet. I was naturally good at it. I thought, ‘If I’m this good now, imagine later on.’ Now I’m here … same thinking.
What attracted you to filmmaking?
Four years ago, the summer before my freshman year, I was on YouTube and I saw people making movies and I saw [a musical montage] of Phantom of the Opera, and that’s my favorite film. I got a new computer from my uncle and started making musical montages of my favorite movies. I waste my life editing video and posting it on YouTube. I have 868 subscribers. I guess I have a lot of fans.
What prompted you to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (NJROTC)?
I was forced into the class. I was put it in by accident and I wasn’t keen at all, but after a couple of weeks, I really enjoyed it and stayed. I was third in command for three years, so I got pretty up there.
Is that when you started thinking about joining the military?
My old dream was to be on a submarine but [at the time] women weren’t allowed. Then film came into my life and I forgot the submarines. I applied [to the Coast Guard Academy] and I was rejected. I was thinking of enlisting in the Coast Guard but I knew that wasn’t what I really wanted deep down. Film school has always been the endgame for me.
You’ve been accepted at Fullsail University in Florida. What prompted you to apply there?
They came to our school one time and then I looked it up online. They’re an entertainment-based school, that’s all they do: music, film (obviously), gaming, animation. I’m really excited. It’s been in my head for two years but it’s so expensive--it’s $35,000 a year! So I’m going for the scholarship but if I don’t get it, I’m going to be in debt.
How did you find out about the scholarship?
A week or so after I was rejected from the Coast Guard Academy and I was talking to [Coast Guard] recruiters, [a teacher] chose me as one of three students for a scholarship. [He said] “I want you to apply.” I was like, “Why are we still talking? Get me the paperwork!” I’m finding out [whether I have the scholarship] May 13.
What kind of film would you like to make?
My favorite book is called “Phantom.” It’s obviously based on “Phantom of the Opera,” but it follows phantom’s whole life, from birth to death—and it still hasn’t been made [into a movie]. So that’s become my dream. That will be my first movie, or a movie I make before I die. I don’t care if I have to make it with a camcorder, I’ll do it!
