From Arkansas to Australia: Adrian Rogers’ College Journey

For Adrian Rogers, college has been more than just academics. It’s been a launching pad for discovery, creativity, and connection. Born in Miami but raised in Little Rock, Rogers also claims another place as home. 

 “I consider my second home to be San Salvador, where my mom and her family are from,” he said.

Rogers is majoring in film/studio production with a minor in studio art at UA Little Rock. Though initially drawn to engineering and robotics, he found his calling in the media.

 “After realizing a passion in film and post production, I really wanted to dive deep into media and film,” he said. 

His first entry into the field came while filming weddings, quinceañeras, and events for a Latin photography company in Little Rock. 

“My first event was a Charrería, a Mexican traditional rodeo. I was on my feet 12 hours filming this competition in the thick of July,” he recalled. 

Despite the physical toll, Rogers said it was an enriching experience that deepened his connection to the broader Latin community. Meanwhile, his resilience has carried him through numerous other opportunities.

“Adrian has operated a camera for ESPN+’s coverage of Trojan games, he’s shot videos for a real estate company, and worked as a wedding videographer,” said Dr. Simon Hawkins, director of UA Little Rock’s Donaghey Scholars Honors Program. “He’s been an intern for KATV News and for the NPR Art & Letters Podcast. It’s quite a list on its own, but it doesn’t show the background work he had to put in to get each of these positions.”

Last winter, for example, Hawkins said Rogers heard about a major film shooting in Little Rock and saw it as a chance to gain experience. He reached out to his professors and found that none had connections to the production. He kept asking around and eventually connected with someone on the set through a friend. He was able to wrangle an unpaid internship as a production assistant. 

“In this instance, as in so many others, Adrian showed the kind of tenacity and relentlessness that is necessary to be successful in such a competitive field,” Hawkins said. 

Rogers ended up interning on the set of the western film, “The Isolate Thief.” The cast included big names like Sean Bean from “The Lord of the Rings,” Odeya Rush from “Lady Bird,” Mackenzie Foy from “Interstellar,” and Joe Pantoliano from “Dexter.”

For Rogers, being on a feature film set had been a childhood dream.

“Terminologies were thrown around precariously, and learning the hierarchy of the film set was daunting,” he said. “As a production assistant, I would be responsible for setting up tents, refueling heating units, and cleaning up after shots. The hardest part was balancing my finals during the day and working on the film at night.”

Rogers said being a production assistant was a humbling experience that made him feel responsible for the overall environment on set. One memory stands out: being tasked with cleaning up after horses.

“The reactions from the crew were hilarious as they were in awe that I was able to catch everything in my shovel effortlessly,” he said.

His educational journey also took him to Brisbane, Australia, where he studied at the Griffith Film School through the University Studies Abroad Consortium. Without knowing anyone and without guidance on class selection, he improvised. He ended up accidentally enrolling in both first- and second-year courses, but the experience helped him form friendships and exposed him to cutting-edge film techniques and equipment.

At Griffith, Rogers worked on “Canary,” a documentary about an immigrant mother’s journey from Spain to Australia.

“It reminded me of my own mother and her adjustment from El Salvador to the United States,” he said. “The editing portion was pretty difficult as I had to organize interview footage, cooking footage, claymation, and archival family photos.”

“Canary” was later picked up by Australia’s SBS On Demand, a privilege for a university project, and screened at the El Dorado Film Festival in Arkansas.

On campus, Rogers has been active, serving as Film Club president, secretary of the League of United Latin American Citizens, and helping organize events like movie nights and student film showcases. His capstone documentary, “Mothball: Lost but Found,” explores hidden spots around the UA Little Rock campus like the observatory and planetarium.

Rogers credits much of his success to the university’s Donaghey Scholars Program.

 “They have been able to fund my education and support my passion for film,” he said.

Rogers said the biggest inspiration has been his mom.

 “She has constantly pushed me to find the best opportunity and to fight for what I want,’ he said. “Being raised in a Spanish-speaking household has opened a lot of doors around campus, and I am grateful that I have the ability to share stories both in English and Spanish.” 

Among his mentors are Dr. Christopher Robinson at UA Little Rock, who invited him to attend the Turner Classic Movies Festival in Los Angeles, and Judy Yeh, his editing tutor in Australia.

One fun project he started is Goo News, an Instagram account where he’s shared highlights of his college life since 2021. 

“From skits with friends to interviews at Arkansas Comic Con to highlighting my experiences in Australia, Goo News has been with me to serve as a creative avenue to share my film passion with others,” Rogers said, adding that Goo News is a “testimony of the various communities I am a part of, and I find myself humbled by each and everyone’s story.”

As he nears graduation, Rogers plans to take a year off to explore Arkansas’s film scene before potentially heading to graduate school. Reflecting on his college journey, he is filled with gratitude. 

“I have been part of many communities in my life, but I have never found a home like the University of Arkansas at Little Rock,” he said. “This campus has some real hidden gems, where world-class professors engage closely with their students. I am constantly so inspired by the classmates and friends I have met here, and I am the biggest proponent for anyone to study here at this university.”