JOSE PEREZ
Instructor

Jose Perez is known as something of a lighting guru. Whether it’s straight-ahead soft white light or all colors of the rainbow, Jose has just the angle and the gel to achieve the desired effect. Of course, his art has a technical end to it too, which is just one of the things students are taught at Specs Howard.

But Jose is more art teacher than science instructor. By the time students arrive in his fourth-quarter video class, they are meant to use the basic skills they’ve already learned to practice their craft.

As the lighting director for this particular Specs Howard photo shoot, Jose's expertise with lighting helped Photographer Jennifer Jeffery capture the magic and sizzle of the radio and television industry.

“You can impress me with your charm for about 15 seconds,” Jose warns students.“After that you'd better know something.”

"Warn" seems like too harsh a word for this kind and outgoing instructor, but students shouldn’t underestimate how seriously he takes his job. Jose will quickly point out that he hasn’t come by his expertise without paying attention to his environment and practicing every chance that he can.

Jose says the program has become far more comprehensive since he was a student at Specs Howard School. Since returning to the school to teach in 1996, Jose admits to learning more himself every day.

“I’m like a sponge,” he says. “I learn something from every person I meet, whether good or bad.”

Patience, kindness and sharing are the most important things he’s learned from teaching. Passion, responsibility, compassion and a hunger for as much knowledge as he can get are just a few of things he brings to the class. Whether the subject is lights, fitness, opera or television, Jose is never one to meet any challenge halfway.

“I’m a doer,” he says.

Education: Attended Macomb County Community College and Western Michigan University. Graduate of Specs Howard School.

Past experience: Owner, International Training Videos; Assistant Director, Michigan Opera Theatre Musical Production; Director/Producer, "The People's Court" (52nd and 54th District Courts) and Chyron Operator, "The 'Y' Generation," both for Birmingham Community Access. Member, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).