Nick checking the shot while on the set of his '04 short film, The Pitch

Resume (.pdf)
Favorite Films
Film Blog

Filmmaking has been a part of Nick Carr's life since he was six years old, when his parents first allowed him to use the family video camera. This quickly became a favorite childhood activity, and he made countless short films starring friends and family members.

By age 12, Nick had reached the limits of what could be achieved with the simple video camera, and began taking courses and volunteering at the local cable access station, Salem Access Television in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts. SATV was equipped with a professional studio space, VHS linear editing suites, and top-of-the-line portable equipment. His first television program was a live variety show entitled NCTV, for which he assumed duties as writer, producer, and host. Guests were a regular part of the show, as were bands, quiz and dating games, and live phone calls. Each episode required a full production crew, which included three camera persons, a floor manager, a lighting manager, a sound manager, someone to patch phone calls through, a blue screen technician, and a director. The first episode aired when he was at the ripe age of 12, and he continued to produce more throughout high school.

In Fall ‘97, Nick began attending high school at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was first exposed to digital filmmaking technology through a Senior filmmaking elective course. Using the school's Canon XL1 Digital Video camera (which he frequently borrowed), he made several short films, including a four-minute action movie that won an award in the school's annual filmmaking competition. The film was also among the top five finalists for icast.com's short film competition in 2000.

Nick directing The Pitch in New York

Nick spent much of his time learning outside the gates of Columbia. For his Spring ’03 semester, he studied film abroad at the University of Bologna in Italy, where he took such courses as "Max Ophuls: European Director" and "New Italian Cinema." During his enrollment at Columbia, he has held internships with Miramax Films, United Artists, and Variety Magazine.

For summer '04, he taught a course in filmmaking at a local community center for underprivileged youths in Salem. Cameras and editing equipment were provided free of charge for the students (ages 11 – 13), who then wrote, directed, produced, edited, and starred in their own film under his instruction. He introduced many of them to the facilities available at Salem Access Television, and hopes that they choose to explore the world of film as he has.

Most recently, Nick was selected as one of ten finalists in the 2004 Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award contest, which is open to nine top film schools throughout the country. He was awarded a $5,000 production grant, along with 35mm film stock donated by Fuji, and over the course of January and February '04, directed his 50-second screenplay "The Pitch." He is the first undergraduate student ever to win at Columbia.

What does Nick have to say about the future? "My career goal is to direct films professionally, and I feel my level of ambition to achieve this is clearly exemplified by the history of my filmmaking. Film has been a major part of my life since I was six years old, and I have been one-upping myself consistently over the past fifteen years. There is no question that directing films is what I'll do for the rest of my life. If I'm paid to do it, that would be amazing. If not, I'll still be rounding up the gang to make another 3rd Rate Prduction when I'm 60!"