Dodge College Starts Filmmaker in Residence Screenings

Hi! My name is Lauren Hertel and I work for the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts here at Chapman University. With our semester in full swing this week, I thought I would share one of my favorite classes/opportunities we offer every semester for our students.

Here at Dodge, we have two industry professionals that come and screen movies they have worked on for our students once-a-week. It is class our students can take as an elective, or just come in and watch each week.

On Tuesday night, our students had their first encounter with Tony Bill, one of our Filmmakers-In-Residence this Fall. Tony Bill is an an acclaimed writer, director, producer, actor (you name it, he has done it). This first film he chose to show was My Bodyguard, a film that he directed. It was a very interesting movie that gave a unique perspective of bodyguards and their relationship with the people they work to protect. The Q&A session after the screening was very insightful as to the challenges directors face on a daily basis working on a set.

These screenings also include a dinner that students can sign up to attend. This gives current students the chance to have a more intimate conversation with the filmmaker, and really get a chance to learn about the industry from someone that has been in it for years. Many times our filmmakers-in-residence will also bring a guest that also worked on the films.

Our Filmmakers-In-Residence (FIR) also mentor 20 students during the semester. Students are chosen based on an application process, and they meet with the FIR every other week about a current project. Often times this relationship extends past the semester, and many students form close ties to the professional they worked with (yes students have gotten jobs from this program!).

This is just one example of special opportunities our students have here at Dodge. It is really fun to watch our students actually get to meet people that they have admired for years, and it helps them to learn how the world of film works from the experts.

If you are local, you are welcome to come to these screenings! Check our website for specific times/dates. (ftv.chapman.edu).