Alumni Spotlight: Nathan Deming

Nathan Deming, left, directing a scene with actress Colleen Madden, right, and other crew members

Over the past 110 years, more than 200,000 individuals have graduated from Webster University around the world.

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Meet Nathan Deming, who earned a BA in English from Webster in 2011 and currently works for Nobody Pictures.

What enticed you to choose Webster for your degree?

I wanted to study at a film school in the Midwest but decided early on that I actually wanted to focus on my writing skills first. Luckily, Webster also had a fantastic English department. I made the switch and didn't look back!

What stood out about your studies at Webster?

Webster had a lot of fantastic professors who gave me solid grounding in creative writing, and I will always be nostalgic for Pearson House and the incubator for creativity and craft it represents in my mind.

How did your Webster degree help advance you in your career?

When I eventually went on to study film at the London Film School with my favorite filmmaker, Mike Leigh, I thought I had a bit of a leg up on some other students once I realized the grounding in fiction writing I came from. Many filmmakers don't think about writing but are forced to do it, and consider it last. Webster gave me the grounding for my creative voice I was eventually able to apply to the full craft of filmmaking.

What is your favorite part about your job?

I love working with actors and creating films that connect with audiences. 

What is something valuable you have learned during your career

In the film industry, things are always changing and there are always trends. It's most important for you to be true to your own voice and what you're passionate about rather than chasing them.

What advice would you give to others who are considering Webster for their degree?

Webster is a great university with a lot of resources for whatever you're hoping to do, in a quiet corner of a great city you can explore on your weekends. The Webster Film Series brings great films from all over the world, and I personally spent a lot of time in the Emerson Library either reading or pouring through the Criterion collection.

What is your favorite spot on your Webster campus?

Pearson House. Although I also have a lot of fond memories of watching movies in the Winifred Moore Auditorium.

What has your life journey looked like?

I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. Moving to St. Louis was the first time I left home. Eventually, I'd go on to live in London and Los Angeles, pursuing my dreams of filmmaking.

What was your first job, and what do you remember most about it?

I worked at a library in my hometown that also became my summer job once I was at Webster as a librarian – another opportunity to sneak a read and explore writing and find my storytelling voice (when I should've been putting books away).

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I'm extremely excited to come back to Webster and bring my film to the Webster Film Series, where I watched a lot of films as a college student – including the exciting opportunities to meet the filmmakers like Jason Reitman when he was filming "Up in the Air."