Nina Reyes Rosenberg, BHDS '01
Posted March 24, 2011
On March 12th, 2010, Nina Reyes Rosenberg sat next to family and friends in the Sundance Kabuki Cinema in San Francisco, and watched as “Organism”, the short film she wrote and directed, premiered at the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival (SFAAFF). Although “Organism” has now played in theaters all over the country and the world, this particular experience was special for Nina. “Premiering the short film I made at the San Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Festival this year was unreal,” she said. “To play my film in a movie theater was a dream come true, and to be with a sold-out audience of friends and family at the Kabuki made it really special.” Many of those surrounding her at this premiere were fellow alumni of Brandeis Hillel Day School.
Since graduating from Brandeis in 2001, Nina has actively followed her passion for the arts. It was in her sophomore year at Lowell High School that she first fell in love with film and video production as a participant in the Yerba Buena Center’s Young Artists at Work Program. In 2005, she moved to New York to pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film and Television Production at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. “NYU was my first choice because it is one of the best film schools in the world,” Nina said, “and New York is such a vibrant, exciting city to discover as a student.” While at NYU, Nina made “Organism,” the short film that premiered at SFAAFF. Since graduating from NYU in 2009, Nina—a self-proclaimed “renaissance girl”—has worked as a freelance producer in video, graphics, and web design. “Organism” has been touring at film festivals since March. Fortunately, Nina is able to travel to screenings and continue to develop independent creative projects. Right now, she is co-writing her first feature film, painting, and enjoying Brooklyn, where she currently lives.
Nina’s experiences at Brandeis Hillel Day School continue to affect her work and life today. “I think what makes Brandeis meaningful is the community,” Nina said. “So many of my fond Brandeis memories took place outside the classroom – at holiday celebrations, family nights, field trips. At Brandeis I learned how to be inclusive, how to collaborate with a group, and the importance of investing in our world through tzedakah. Today no matter what I'm working on, I always find a way incorporate community.” In addition, Nina gained much of the confidence that she applies to her work today during her time at Brandeis. “Everyone I knew at Brandeis is on really firm footing today,” she said. “Brandeis fostered the belief that we could do anything we set our minds to do, and I bring that mentality to everything I do.”
