TYLER VINEZEANO, A senior cinema art + science major, has two passions: volleyball and film. When he isn’t editing clips of his latest project, he is practicing for his next volleyball game on the court at the Goodman Center, 501 S. Wabash Ave.

The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native originally attended Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne to study photography and play for the school’s Division I volleyball team. Unsatisfied with his program, he transferred to Columbia two years ago and became one of the captains of the volleyball team during his first semester.

The Chronicle spoke with Vinezeano about his transition from Division I volleyball to leading the Renegades’ co-ed club volleyball team and producing horror films in the cinema art + science program.

THE CHRONICLE: Do you think co-ed leagues are more or less competitive than Division I?

TYLER VINEZEANO: If you compare it to what I used to play, I would say it’s less competitive, but I would say it’s more fun because you don’t have the stress of being in a very competitive state. When I’m playing with five other guys on the court, I have to compete really hard and win—not that I don’t do that with co-ed, but for co-ed I feel a little less stressed about being perfect in the game. And I like playing with girls and whatnot. It’s a more friendly and fun environment.

CC: Is the Windy City Fieldhouse a competitive league?

TV: This past year, we started making two teams because of the amount of people that we get so that everyone gets playing time. One team is usually the more competitive people, the people who’ve played before and just still want to play at a competitive level even though they’re at an art school. The other team is usually beginners or people we feel could use a little more practice. What we usually do is put them in two different leagues, one more competitive than the other, so they are playing at what we believe is the right competitive level for them at the time. We do occasionally bring people up from the other team and bring people down so we have enough people during our games because sometimes not everyone can make it. We also keep it at the same location if we can. We try to do that so each team can come support the other.

CC: How has it been being able to practice at the Goodman Center?

TV: It is a lot better than what we used to do. We used to play at the sand courts over at Grant Park, and that was just a totally different feel going from that to court during our games. It’s great that we get to play indoors and practice on what we’re actually playing on.

CC: What are you looking forward to for the upcoming season?

TV: I know we’ll be getting a lot of new players. I’m looking forward to the two other captains I’m working with succeeding me, meeting new people and creating two new, successful teams.

CC: What’s your favorite aspect about film and video?

TV: I prefer to be the camera person and setting up the shot, so the director of photography. I know I can do other stuff like editing, but my main goal is to be the director of photography. Back when I was younger, I would always make films with my brothers, my family and friends on my off time. When I was at [Indiana University Fort Wayne] I was originally doing photography, and then because I didn’t feel like they had a strong program there, I transferred over to Columbia.

CC: Is volleyball part of your daily life, or do you find it to be more of a recreational activity?

TV: I would say volleyball is like my second life. If I’m not doing movie editing, filming and whatnot, volleyball is what I would rather be doing. Volleyball is a big part of my life, and I would like to continue playing it until my death.