Eleven years after her graduation, Maggie Langtry ’09 still remembers the moment that she knew she wanted to pursue a career in film. She was seated in Musselman Library, editing a short film for an assignment in her Ethnographic Film: Theory and Practice class. As she diligently cut and arranged music files for the piece, she found herself feeling strangely fulfilled—and excited about the prospect of working in the film industry.
As an English major and cinema and media studies minor, Langtry’s courses at Gettysburg empowered her to partner with the College’s admissions office, where she edited video content for prospective students.
“Looking back, this work was a critical stepping stone toward my first job in the industry, working as a logger for MTV’s The Real World in Los Angeles,” she said.
Today, Langtry serves as a freelancer in the production and post-production side of television for Truly Original Productions. She has helped to produce several scripted and unscripted television shows, including Summer House, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Killing Fields, and Don’t Be Tardy, among others.
Langtry’s natural curiosity was only strengthened by her time at Gettysburg College, which now allows her to be agile within a career that continues to challenge and motivate her.
“My work is stimulating and frustrating and thrilling and new, every day,” she reflected. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’d encourage Gettysburg students to utilize the College’s alumni network and explore their own passions. You never know what opportunities you may discover.”