Springfield, Ohio – Morgan Dameron is a shining example of why you should never give up on your dreams. The go-getter is currently a producer with Bad Robot Productions and dining with the likes of Harrison Ford, Chris Pine and her boss and mentor, J.J. Abrahms, director of such films as Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

After picking up a camera for the first time at the age of eight, Dameron knew what she wanted to do in life and made it happen for herself. As a high school student, she found the break that she was looking for by hunting down internships. Now not long after graduating from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in cinematic arts, film and TV production, she is hob-knobbing with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and working on the set of major films every day.

Dameron recently visited Wittenberg University to speak with film students about the 11 things she’s learned in Hollywood and how she landed her “dream job.” She encouraged students to pursue their dreams, no matter how big those dreams are. She emphasized the importance of internships, connections and how sometimes you have to create your own path in life and hope that somehow you end up being in the right place at the right time to secure that lucky break.

“I found my parents’ VHS camera at a very young age and haven’t put a camera down since then,” she said to a group of mostly cinema studies students at Founders Pub in the Benham-Pence Student Center on Friday, April 1. “I was lucky to have professors who actually worked on films and television shows while they were teaching. I started doing internships when I was in high school to try and find a way into the film industry. My favorite internship was with Bad Robot. I was also able to work on set for Star Trek Into Darkness – my first experience on a big-budget feature film – and that’s how I ended up with the job I have today.”

Dameron, a director, writer, filmmaker and current producer at Bad Robot Productions, is originally from Kansas City, Mo. She was awarded the Women in Film and Television in Kansas City's "Trailblazer Award" for Up and Coming Women in Film in 2007, and in college was the recipient of the Renaissance Prize, given to students exhibiting excellence in two divergent fields of study. As a director and writer, Dameron has seen her short films selected for viewing at film festivals worldwide. In 2011, she was awarded "Best Young Filmmaker" at AMC Theatre's Kansas City Film Festival for her short film It Was Like That. Most recently, she wrote and directed a trio of short romantic comedy stories that are currently in post-production.

“I’m thrilled to be visiting campus,” she said during her talk. Dameron's sister is a student here at Wittenberg. “I am excited to share my experiences, failures and accomplishments. My biggest advice is to get out there and do it. I took advantage of every opportunity I could. It’s all about making those connections and using them to your advantage. No one has an excuse not to make a movie in this day and age. We have come so far from the VHS plugin camera that I used when I was little.”

Her visit to Wittenberg University comes on the heels of the Witt Film Fest 2016 set to take place on April 16 at 1 p.m. at the Susan Hirt Hagen Center in collaboration with the Cinema Studies Department and Greater Springfield Career ConnectED. Witt Film Fest will feature student submissions of short film expressing a positive message about the city of Springfield.

Students from Wittenberg University and Clark County high schools have signed up to compete in the event. Upon completion, the students will be able to attend a Red Carpet event at Wittenberg with guest judges who will award the top three videos created.

All approved submissions will be shown with live judges at 1 p.m. on April 16 in Founders.

Dameron’s campus visit brought excitement to a group of mostly cinema studies students. She shared her Hollywood experience and the 11 things she has learned on that path to Hollywood:

1. Be ready to work hard.
2. Falling down is okay.
3. Always wear flats to a premiere – don’t let footwear get in the way of your work.
4. Act like you know what you’re doing, but don’t be afraid to ask questions.
5. Build a network of reliable people (collaborations are what it’s all about).
6. Take every opportunity – don’t let fear get in the way; keep your eyes open.
7. Remember the little things.
8. Stay grounded – it’s really easy to get caught up in everything – don’t get swept up into the drama and it’s important to call your mother.
9. Always carry a pen.
10. Make your own work – don’t let anything keep you from trying things.
11. Figure out what you like and go for it; figure out what makes you click, and don’t stop doing that.