While the average 19-year-old college student is juggling school, a part- or full-time job, significant other and a social life, Robert Young is writing and directing his own original film.

Why would a good-looking guy want to spend his free time doing more work than that already demanded from school?

“Cuz eets e-z er thun reeding,” Young said. “Just kidding. I love how film incorporates every aspect of art: writing, visuals and music.”

Young is a Sacramento State english major who is also pursuing a film minor. Currently, Sac State offers only a minor in film. According to the course catalog, the program emphasizes course work and independent study in the areas of film appreciation, theory and criticism, history and writing within the context of a liberal arts tradition.

Right now Young is working on an original film called, Deus Ex Machina, which means, “God from a Machine.” The film involves magical turntables and three guys, who discover an ability to desegregate society with “scratch” music.

Sound unconventional? Well, the concept is in good intention. Young said the film revolves around “Turntablism” (that is, scratch DJing) and his experiences within racial and social segregation. Note: Young does have DJ experience – he practices every day to prepare for a competition this month.

“It mirrors how I perceive myself in relation to my Mexican background … culture is a part of you no matter what anyone says. You don’t have to prove that to anyone. I mean, seriously, my last name is ‘Young.'”

Moreover, the moral of the story is to keep an open mind and look further than the stereotype. Not a bad principle to keep in mind.

Film Theory and Criticism professor Dr. Roberto Pomo regarded Young as an “outstanding” film major. That’s high acclaim, considering that Young is one of the few sophomores enrolled in the upper-division class.

According to Young, he and Dr. Pomo share the notion that Sacramento is an untapped resource for a talent program in film. That would mean aspiring Sacramento filmmakers would be able to stay close to home – Los Angeles or San Francisco would become last resorts.

Young discovered a love of directing in the sixth grade. One day he got grounded for running a skateboard on his dad’s treadmill, short-circuiting the electricity in the entire house. After losing all TV privileges, Young said he found a way to lurk down the stairs and sneak a peek while his parents watched “Pulp Fiction.”

“It just happened that the night I was grounded, my parents rented the movie. My folks had the surround sound on and I crept down the stairs to get a better picture.”

Although Young couldn’t see the TV screen from the staircase, he remained seated for nearly two hours just listening to the film, not caring if he got busted.

“I’d never seen a film so radically filmed before. The cinematography was excellent and to have these amazing visuals go with the amazing characters was great. The structure of the film was the first of its kind I’d ever seen.”

And a few years later, Young is directing a film of his own with the help of a cast and crew made up of fellow peers. In spite of the fact that Young is the man in charge, he emphasizes a great deal of respect towards them.

“I praise them. These are a group of the most die-hard filmmakers I’ve ever seen. No one (including myself), is getting paid; we are all doing it because of our love of film, and belief in each other.”

The end to this story just might lead Young humbly down the red carpet at the Oscars.