Sue Rinker

All you're doing is having a conversation with the computer, and it doesn't know what you want until you tell it. Sue Rinker , Digital Filmmaking & Video Production Instructor , The Art Institute of Atlanta

Was there a defining moment when you knew you were destined to become a creative professional?

The first time I played with finger paints as a toddler and not only colored outside the lines, but outside the box, the page, playpen...

How do you weave your professional background into the classroom experience?

I share stories from my own experiences and explain how students can learn from my successes...and my mistakes.

What class assignment exemplifies your approach to teaching and mentoring?

I encourage students to work in groups as well as individually. They need to learn how to rely on themselves and their own skills but also be comfortable working with others’ perspectives and ideas.

How do you encourage students to push themselves to do something they didn’t know they could?

In my classes, I remind them that all you’re doing is having a conversation with the computer, and it doesn’t know what you want until you tell it.

What’s the most important thing you impart to students to help them succeed in class and the real world?

Show up on time, put your phone away, have a back-up plan, be completely focused on your objective, and leave your ego at the door. Also: No whining.

Anything else?
I am an Emmy-nominated producer whose research interests include interactive film, virtual reality, and augmented reality.