Every semester, Dodge College hosts an expert filmmaker to meet with and counsel students directly, as part of our O.L. Hasell Scholar Filmmaker-in-Residence program.  While space is limited, and the selection highly competitive, motivated students are encouraged to apply for a space in the program, which includes regular, bi-weekly meetings with the filmmaker in a one-on-one setting. 

This year, we are pleased to announce that Randal Kleiser is our new Filmmaker-in-Residence.  A native of Philadelphia, Randal moved to California to study film at USC, where he launched his filmmaking career on the back of his student film, Peege.  Randal went on to write and direct numerous major Hollywood films, including Grease, Big Top Pee-Wee, The Blue Lagoon, White Fang, Honey, I Blew Up the Kids, and my personal favorite, Flight of the Navigator (which pioneered some cutting-edge special effects techniques), among many others.  He has worked as an actor, writer, director, producer, and editor, for a wide variety of styles and genres over the years, giving him the experience and expertise that all of our students will find useful, and continues to lecture and teach at a variety of institutions.  From his wikipedia page:

He has taught a graduate workshop at USC and Masters Directing Classes for European students at film festivals in Deuville and Sarlat, and Malaga. He serves as a judge on the Student Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and, as chairman of the Academic Subcommittee for the Directors Guild of America, he inaugurated a videoconferencing program to connect film classes with working directors. Working with the Graphics Lab at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, he has co-invented a digital Cinerama-like process called Vistarama HD.

The student and mentor have the opportunity to creatively brainstorm a specific project developed throughout the semester; interested applicants should have a concrete project already in mind before applying, whether a screeplay, spec script, episodic footage, or a developed concept, to focus the discussions and ensure the relationship is fruitful. 

The unique program, which consists of the Marion Knott Filmmaker-in-Residence and the Pankey Chair in Media Arts, spring semester programs, and the Hayde Filmmaker-in Residence, the O. L. Halsell Filmmaker-in-Residence, and the Tom and Joyce Tucker Filmmaker-in-Residence, all fall semester programs, is funded by endowment gifts from Chapman trustee emeritus Marion Knott, and Libby Pankey, widow of trustee Ed Pankey and a long-time Chapman supporter, as well as annual gifts from philanthropist Michael Hayde and his wife Lynette, who serves on the President’s Cabinet for Chapman University; the O.L. Halsell Foundation and philanthropists Tom and Joyce Tucker of Newport Beach. Previous guests have included Richard Benjamin, John Badham, Martha Coolidge, David Foster, Carl Franlkin, Bill Kroyer, David Ward, and many others. (via)

With the end of summer approaching and the new school year soon to begin, don't miss your chance to meet and be mentored by this amazing filmmaker; the application isn't long, but applicants must be able to enroll in FTV310, which meets Tuesday 7-10pm, provide a brief statement of intent (an argument for why you deserve the spot), and a resume.  Applications can be downloaded here and should be emailed to Julie Gorzik by August 23rd.  Space is reserved for both graduate and undergraduate students in limited numbers, and freshman schedules in particular may be unable to accomodate the meetings (please contact Professor Alex Rose if you're an incoming freshman with a project ready to be developed, and looking to join the program.)  Late applications will not be accepted, so get yourself a project, submit your application, and get excited for another productive semester at Dodge – we're loking forward to seeing you soon!