In the first installment of a limited feature series, UIndyAthletics.com's Jackson Janetski, spends time with student-athlete Ian Burr to learn about his journey as a collegiate football player and filmmaker.
It is the fourth quarter of the Panthers and Lions game, the kicker steps up to kick a 47-yard field goal attempt as time expires to win the game for the Panthers.
The ball is snapped.
The kick is up.
And it's good!
The Panthers defeat the Lions on the last kick of the game!
Is this a Thanksgiving Day game in the NFL? No it's not.
It is a scene from "Friday Night Lights", Ian Burr's favorite show growing up as a kid.
"I always loved watching movies and shows growing up, and was interested in visual storytelling but had never explored it seriously until college," Burr said.
Burr's love for storytelling started with watching "Friday Night Lights", but he could never find a way to tell those stories until he found those opportunities in college.
"I took a class at Kalamazoo College that helped push me to see the world through a camera lens, and once I bought my first camera, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue," Burr said.
Before coming to UIndy, Burr was not just a full-time student at Kalamazoo college, but also a three-year starting kicker for the football team, appearing in 30 games.
Outside of football, he also traveled to New York where he was a part of the New York Arts Program. There he interned as a production assistant for the Netflix production, "American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders".
"Experiences like this gave me a solid foundation for filmmaking, and helped me learn how to create short films on my own to develop stories which are close to me," Burr shared.
Burr took it upon himself to start making short films, including one film called "I Love You, Bro". The 15-minute feature focuses on how people cope with grief and the mental health struggles it causes for people, a topic focused on a lot in Burr's favorite childhood show, "Friday Night Lights".
"It's not a flashy, mainstream topic, but it's a topic that I believe more people need to see and understand," Burr explained.
He also works for a company called Caddy Creative, which focuses on storytelling that highlights the emotional and human aspects of athletes in sports.
His love for sports, football and storytelling eventually brought him to UIndy, where he is currently pursuing a master's degree in public relations, advertising and applied communications, and also kicking for the football team.
"I chose the University of Indianapolis for the opportunity to play football one last time and also be involved in a hands-on learning environment in the classroom," Burr shared. "I know how important sports can be in a person's life, and I'd like to help tell the stories of those student-athletes".
Burr hopes to start creating a feature-length documentary during his time at UIndy that centers on student-athletes who go out and share their faith with others.
"It's a side of athletics that isn't often highlighted, and I believe it could resonate with a lot of people who are balancing their personal beliefs with their professional ambitions," Burr said.
With clear eyes, a full heart, and his aspirations to grow as a storyteller, he can't lose.
