During her secondary school studies in Great Britain, Izzy Dudlyke’s interest in mechanical engineering followed a natural path of progression as she completed her A-levels in math, physics, chemistry and biology. While fascinated with physics, she was also intrigued with creative problem-solving. Engineering felt like the perfect fit.
At Duke, she was torn between majors in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering but landed with the latter because of its versatility and wide range of career options. “What excites me most about mechanical engineering is its ability to solve real-world problems through innovative and practical solutions,” she shares.
The senior also has a passion for film and filmmaking — a major reason she chose a university in the United States.
“I wanted a comprehensive education that allowed me to pursue both STEM and the arts, something that universities in the United Kingdom don't typically offer,” she explains. “I always knew I wanted to at least minor in Cinematic Arts, but after my first practical film class at Duke, I was hooked and decided to double major.”
Captivated by the behind-the-scenes aspects filmmaking affords, Dudlyke derives the most joy from making horror films. “There’s something incredibly satisfying about building suspense and eliciting genuine fear through visual and audio elements that engage the audience’s emotions and imagination,” she admits.
Dudlyke is part of the videography team at Pitch Story Lab, and has worked on several films with Duke Freewater Productions, frequently working as sound or camera operator. Her short film "Inner Demons," was featured in the 2023 Duke Cinematic Arts Student Film Festival.
On the engineering side, she joined Theta Tau, as well as Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honor societies. And with her work with the Franklin Lab, she creates graphics and visuals for research papers. “It allows me to merge my technical skills with my creative abilities, providing a comprehensive representation of complex research.”
We had the opportunity to sit down with Dudlyke to learn about recent opportunities, discuss the advantages of her STEAM education and hear the senior plans as she readies for graduation in May.
What did your summer look like?
Summer was busy. I gained experience in pre-production and development through the Arts+ program and an internship at Di Bonaventura Pictures in Los Angeles. With Arts+, I participated in the Verbatim Theatre workshop. Collaborating with Duke alum Daniel G. Karlsake and choreographer Javier De Frutos, I was part of a team who helped develop a verbatim theatre screenplay from documentary source material.
During my internship at Di Bonaventura, I worked on the Paramount lot and provided coverage on screenplays, novels and other intellectual property sources. I also offered feedback on the potential for film adaptations.
Have you found that mechanical engineering benefits your world of cinematic arts, and vice versa?
The simple answer is yes. Cinematic arts and filmmaking are fundamental parts of my life and my studies. My arts courses help tremendously with STEM subjects, particularly engineering. Because it [engineering] is fundamentally about using knowledge to solve problems, one needs to have a creative mind to find innovative solutions. Exercising the creative side of my brain in my arts classes helps me to think outside the box and approach problems from different angles. I find that invaluable in engineering.
And STEM has benefitted my cinema studies. The more organized and strategic side of me helps when I’m thinking about the more organizational and technical aspects of film productions. By frequently being exposed to new software and programs in engineering, I’ve become a fast learner and very adaptable. Editing comes more naturally because I’m able to pick up the different software programs quickly, and I’m able to problem-solve issues that arise on or off set.
What are your plans after graduation?
I don’t exactly know where I’m going to be post-graduation, but I think that provides me some freedom. I’d love to work in the film industry, and I’m looking into engineering-related jobs in special effects and prop building. The film industry has a less linear career trajectory than most STEM fields, so I’m not worried about not having a set plan. Although my summer 2024 internships were very development-focused, I’m interested in roles geared more towards production and post-production. But I want to remain open to opportunities and see where they lead.
Interested in learning more about STEAM students at Duke? Read their stories.
