At about 10 years old, Hailey Odom began turning objects around her house into the subjects of short films.
With an old digital camera her mother let her use, she taught herself stop-motion animation, taking a photograph, moving an object, and repeating the process for hours to create a sequence.
Today, the Polk State College Digital Media Professor helps students discover that same excitement in bringing an idea to life. She teaches the program’s video courses, including Lighting for Cinematography, Digital Storytelling, and Advanced Video and Sound, drawing on her experience as an award-winning cinematographer.
“So not only am I teaching content and skills that I’m passionate about; I’m encouraging students to be creative every single day,” Odom said.
Her interest in filmmaking continued through high school, where a broadcast teacher encouraged her to pursue film school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Full Sail University in 2021 and her master’s degree in Film Production from Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts in 2024.
Before beginning her graduate studies, she already knew she wanted to teach.
“Professor Odom gives students room to develop their own ideas while holding them to the technical standards their work requires,” said Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas. “That combination of creativity, discipline, and collaboration prepares our students to contribute in a professional setting.”
Born and raised in Polk County, Odom returned home after graduate school to be near family. Her mother is a Polk State alumna, and the College was the first place she looked for a teaching opportunity.
Nearly a year and a half into her time at Polk State, Odom credits colleagues within and beyond her department, including Dr. Kim Thomas Manning, Dean of Academic Affairs, with supporting her ideas for the program.
“I want nothing but the best for our students and our department, so I am shooting for the stars,” she said.
Her own creative work has earned international recognition. As Director of Photography for the short film Suerte De Matar, Odom won Best Cinematography at the Paris Art & Movie Awards and the Short Way International Short Film Festival in Brazil. The film follows a young American bullfighter who moves to Brazil and falls in love with a flamenco dancer.
For Odom, preparing to photograph the film meant getting to know the people who would appear in front of her camera.
She attended every rehearsal and cast meeting, building relationships with the actors and studying their movements. She watched how they walked, stood, and raised their arms, using those observations to compose shots and move the camera in a way that felt natural to each performance.
“It’s very important for me to have a good relationship with the actors,” she said. “I like to do all of my camera work myself and I feel that it makes things easier when the actors can look at the person behind the camera and feel comfortable and safe.”
In her classes, Odom gives students space to develop their own creative approaches while learning the technical skills needed to carry them out.
One of her favorite assignments takes place in Advanced Video and Sound. Students learn to operate cinema cameras, understand crew roles and the flow of a film set, record audio, and light a scene. Working in groups of eight, they then create a three- to five-minute short film.
Footage must be in focus, audio must be clear, and editing must be well-paced. Within those requirements, students decide what story to tell.
“I give them specs and directions, sometimes a certain genre that they have to create, but I always give them space to develop and share their voices,” Odom said.
Watching students recognize their own growth remains one of her favorite parts of teaching. Alongside stronger technical skills, she hopes they leave with confidence in what they have to offer.
“Outside of skills and course material, I hope all of my students leave believing in themselves,” she said.
