When I graduated from Chapman, I didn’t know very much about the world. I had no idea what it was going to take for me to break into the entertainment industry. I didn’t know representation was going to teach me everything I needed to know, and that I would be miserable doing it. I never
In most senses, filmmaking and tabletop game design are worlds apart. Ben Kepner graduated from Chapman with a degree in film production in 2013, and at the time didn’t know that tabletop game design was a viable career path. But six years later, after a few lucky encounters and a lot of hard work, landed
John Schnitzer (BFA/FTP ’01) is fascinated by things that might stop your heart—literally, or almost. Hence two of his recent projects have an otherworldly connection, one in VR and one a documentary that examines the extreme lengths people go to scare each other on Halloween. His VR experience, Flatline, has been showcased at VR/World New
Former students of Harry Ufland step up to emulate what the late professor gave them every semester; the chance to network with industry professionals. Elise Laplante’s ’13 reason for helping, “was to honor Harry’s memory. Harry was my first mentor in the business and I wanted to celebrate his spirit by helping current students connect
As a proud alumni of the Dodge Film School Creative Producing class of 2015, I have become a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy Foundation. I’ve sold feature films internationally and domestically, and my work online has reached over 80 million viewers. Through my work as a Producer, I began
I remember my very first film’s public show. It was in 2005 as part of the student thesis-festival at Cleveland State University. Together with my film school classmates – I organized a small film event, consisting of several thesis films from our final production class at CSU’s film program. Our goal was to get together
As a six-year-old sitting on a couch with cookies disguised as cereal, entranced by the adventures of a real American hero, I never would have dreamed the creator of the most seminal show of my childhood would one day become my mentor. Ron Friedman, the mastermind behind G.I Joe, A Real American Hero, not only
While I was on a shooting hiatus with my last film, In Football We Trust, I lived in Israel/Palestine for 7 months on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, which I had been awarded after graduating from Chapman University. While there, I taught film, mentored local filmmakers, assisted NGOs launch media advocacy projects, and continued my post-graduate
Melanie Duke (BFA/DA ’17) started a new role with 20th Century Fox as a Creative Content Coordinator. Erika Cohn’s (BFA/FP ’09) film will receive its LA theatrical release on April 20th at the Laemmle Monica Film Center. Erika will be around afterwards for a Q&A. JJ Englert (BFA/CRPR ’15) has started a company, Industry Jump,
Featured Image: Filming in Peruvian Andes for YouTube Red series, “Ultimate Expedition” Four years ago we caught up with Derek Helwig (BFA/FP ’05) and his experiences since graduating. Now we have the pleasure of welcoming him to the Chapman family as a professor for the newly created course, DOC 116, Introduction to Television Production: Location.
Every Friday is an opportunity to focus on an aspect of Dodge College. This Friday the focus is on alumni and the work they are doing. If there is something you’d like to have included please feel free to email Jon Hernandez, Alumni Relations Coordinator, at jonherna@chapman.edu or fill out the online form. Jillian Arnold (MFA/CR
Every so often, we’ll be spotlighting alumni and what they are up to these days. These Q&A sessions will give you a bit of insight into where the world has taken them since graduation. This week, the spotlight is on Ela Alyamac (MFA/FTP ’00) who co-directed her new feature film Lost Birds. Lost Birds is about an Armenian Village