(June 26, 2023) Even before Anthony Salas crossed the commencement stage in May, the
East Tennessee native had earned experiences that seasoned industry experts could
envy.
That includes time with ESPN films and HGTV.
Now, he can add another line to his already impressive résumé.
A film he helped produce won Best Documentary Short at Tribeca, a prestigious annual
film festival in New York. The honor means the work automatically qualifies for an
Academy Award.
"Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games," an 18-minute film that emphasizes the
contribution to popular culture that young Black girls have had in upholding musical
traditions through hand games, was one of about 60 short films accepted – out of thousands
of submissions – at Tribeca.
“It is always a pleasure to not only learn things about my own culture, but to share
that information to educate the public is one of our highest honors in the documentary
space generally,” said Salas.
He credits his time at ETSU for laying a sturdy academic and professional foundation.
“ETSU helped prepare for my career with the opportunities available not just in the
classroom but with experience accessible outside of the usual curriculum,” he said.
Salas’s involvement in a variety of activities makes plain the opportunities open
to ETSU students.
He was president of Alpha Sigma Iota and worked as a member, as well as vice president,
of BucFilms. He also served as a writer and editor for the East Tennessean.
Students getting hands-on learning opportunities is at the core of ETSU’s approach to education. The Department of Media and Communication, where Salas spent four years, has made tremendous investments to ensure students
are prepped for the workforce. More than 40 industries have partnered with the university
and department to provide collaboration and training, and students have access to
$1.5 million worth of experiential media facilities.
All professors, including chair Dr. Andrew Dunn, have real-world career experience.
A few months ago, Salas made clear that he doesn’t want to be viewed as an outlier.
“This is an attainable goal for many people if you are willing to work hard. Our department
wants you to succeed, and the instructors will do all they can to help you,” he said.