Even at age nine, Tyson Kroneing knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

“I found my parents’ camera in their closet,” he said. “I kept playing with the camera and am still doing it today.”

Kroneing, a senior communications studies major, said he began filming before he even hit the double-digits, and he continued to do so throughout grade school and high school.

He started out filming spoofs of movies, starring his friends and his brother. Fast-forward to today, Kroneing said he is concentrating in electronic media production simply because he excels at it.

“There was never anything else I was really good at or interested in,” he said. “This was the only thing that jumped out at me.”

Kroneing said he attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale for his first semester of college, but decided to transfer to Eastern to get a more hands-on learning experience with film.

“They weren’t going to let me touch a camera, so I came to Eastern because they let me jump right in.”

Kroneing said while he loves filming, he is not particularly interested in broadcast and is instead taking as many video production courses as he can while here.

“I’m all about the production aspects. Filming, writing, planning, post-production, the whole process is what I’m really into,” he said.

Tyson said he uses the skills he has learned in his classes to create different side projects for others, as well as making his own productions.

Even then, he said he’s not creating for monetary gain. “I’m not really into commercials, and I’ve never done anything to make money,” he said. “It’s kind of what I do as a hobby.”

Even though this semester will be Kroneing’s last, he said he’s more excited for the next step in his life.

Once he graduates in May, Kroneing said he will be moving to Los Angeles to intern with Paramount Pictures.

After making a connection with an employee originally from Mattoon, Kroneing said the company offered him an internship, something he said is going to be key for him in the future.

Kroneing said no matter what tasks are thrown at him, he is more than game to take them on.

“I’ve got a general idea of the internship things (that I’ll be doing), just the kind of things you’d expect to do in an internship,” he said. “I don’t care what I do, though. I’m just glad to be at out there and just be a step closer to doing what I want to do.”

He said he is excited to be involved in the same industry as his role model, Stephen Spielberg.

He said he grew up watching his films, such as Jurassic Park, and although it’s tough to top his movies, it motivates him to become better.

“I was terrified of (them), and I loved it at the same time. It draws you to it,” he said. “It’s like movie magic.”

Kroneing said he gets inspiration for his works from other sources as well. He sites an exercise one of his teachers made him do.

He was forced to pick a word out of hat, and when he chose the word “vigor,” he was forced to create a film based around that word. Kroneing said he had good results.

“It’s probably the best thing I’ve done,” he said.

Still, Kroneing said he finds creativity at the most random times. “Whatever comes to my head, I’ll write it down in my phone,” he said.

Kroneing said it wasn’t until last semester until he started meeting people that enjoy film, too.

He said he has since gotten involved in a teamwork process with his colleagues, something that’s helpful in bettering his works.

“It’s a collaboration,” he said. “It’s tough to do it on your own.” Kroneing said he completes all of his work with an ultimate career goal in mind.

“It’s so cliché to say I’ll be a director one day,” he said. “But there’s nothing more fun than grabbing a camera and setting it up and getting people to do what you want to see.”

Even if he doesn’t become a director, Kroneing said he just wants to be involved in creating films.

“I want to just be in the process, I’d like to be director and producer, hold a camera or hold a wire, I don’t care. I just want to be there and be able to do it.”

Those interested in viewing Tyson’s work can visit his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/TKmoviemaker.

Sara Hall can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].