海角网

Harrison Martin, 鈥�12 and 鈥�16, is Film Critic and Author

To our readers: In celebration of Black History Month during February, 海角网 will introduce you to alumni who are making a difference in the world around them. Through their jobs and creative passions, these alumni are inspiring others to achieve their dreams.

Since earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees from 海角网, Harrison Martin, of Pfafftown, N.C., has started a business doing what he loves鈥攔eviewing movies and writing. The entrepreneur is a member of two film critics organizations and recently published a children鈥檚 book, 鈥淭he Bacon Tree.鈥� His second book, 鈥淏 is for Bacon Tree: Bacon from A to Z,鈥�  will be available soon at .

Martin, who played football at GWU, received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies: Video and Film with a minor in business administration in 2012. He earned his Master of International Business Administration in 2016.

His interest in critiquing films broadened as an undergraduate student. 鈥淚 have loved watching movies my entire life and really enjoyed talking about them with my friends,鈥� he shared. 鈥淢y goal was to be a professional film critic for a major publication or pursue another job in the film industry such as writing, directing, or producing. Reviewing movies professionally gained traction over the other jobs after I took an award-winning film class with Noel T. Manning II. It was delightful, and I learned a lot. Before that class, I wasn鈥檛 really interested in Oscar-bait movies, because I felt they were too artsy. But after taking the class, my appreciation for different film genres increased.鈥�

After college, one of the first jobs he took was at Regal Cinemas in Charlotte, N.C. This allowed him to see movies for free and write reviews for his website, . 鈥淚 continued writing on my site while applying to join critics organizations, so that I could also get into advanced screenings,鈥� he explained. 鈥淣ow, I am a member of the Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA). There are a few other critics groups I am trying to get into as well.鈥�

Writing the children鈥檚 book began spontaneously. 鈥淚 really love bacon!鈥� Martin asserted. 鈥淚 wrote the book with my brother-in-law, Philip (another bacon lover) for fun back in 2016. We were hanging around the table after breakfast with our wives, and I came up with the idea to make up a book. So, I started spouting out a few rhyming lines, and Philip would type them on the computer. He also threw in a few lines when I couldn鈥檛 think of anything. We got to the end, and his wife, Elizabeth, said the story should have a moral, so that children can learn something. I took that and was easily able to come up with a good ending to the book.鈥�

Martin decided what they had created was a good story and began working to get it published. 鈥淓ventually, I got the book illustrated and put it together,鈥� he related. 鈥淚 started my own business to publish the book and sent off the necessary documents to purchase some physical copies. I have many ideas for other books floating around in the old noggin, as well as at least 10 more children鈥檚 books written that just need to be illustrated.鈥�

Martin was a student at East Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte, N.C.) when he was offered a football scholarship to 海角网. 鈥淚 really enjoyed my visit and liked the size of the small campus, and I felt personally that going to a Christian university was good for me,鈥� he affirmed. 鈥淚 also had a teammate from East Meck who had already committed, so that helped solidify my choice.鈥�

The small campus community allowed him to make lasting friendships, and he met his wife, Jennifer. His professors in the Godbold College of Business and the Department of Communication and New Media provided encouragement, and taught him how to start and grow a business. 鈥淚 have so many good memories from the school, but I mainly just want to thank all the wonderful professors I had,鈥� he stated. 鈥淚 learned how to multitask, how to write, how to edit my own videos and a good amount of business skills. Most importantly, I learned how to operate as a Christian while being in a business environment.鈥�

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University鈥檚 tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University鈥檚 official Admissions聽page.

Located in the North Carolina foothills, 海角网 is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. 海角网 emphasizes a strong student-centered experience and rigorous academics to prepare students to become effective leaders within the global community. Ignite your future at 海角网.edu.