SOU Digital Cinema alum directs “Crew Experience”
(Ashland, Ore.) — Los Angeles-based filmmaker Moriah Doepken, a 2020 graduate of Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program, has returned to Ashland this spring to be guest director for the Digital Cinema program’s innovative “Crew Experience” course.
“I’m super excited to return to SOU and help make a film back in Ashland,” Doepken said. “Having been in the first graduating class of the Digital Cinema major and missing the first iteration of Crew Experience, which was canceled because of COVID, it’s a very full-circle moment for me.”
Doepken received a master of fine arts degree in Film Production in 2024 from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University in Orange, California. For this year’s Crew Experience, she will direct a script written by Charlie McCabe, a junior screenwriting student at SOU.
The production-intensive Crew Experience course is taught by Nora Zubizarreta, an assistant professor in SOU’s Digital Cinema program, a filmmaker with professional experience in Los Angeles and New York City, and producer of the film “Umama,” which won gold at the Student Academy Awards.
“I’m delighted to collaborate with Moriah and the Crew Experience students to make this film,” Zubizarreta said. “This kind of project and collaboration adds so much to the learning process. It’s wonderful to see our students really get rolling on Charlie’s script.”
The “Crew Experience” course, launched in 2022, gives SOU’s Digital Cinema students a chance to work on and complete a full-fledged short film project. Students assume professional film crew positions under the guidance of professional mentors.
The Digital Cinema program was recognized by MovieMaker Magazine in 2024 and 2025 as a “Top 30 Film Program in North America,” in large part due to innovative course offerings such as “The Crew Experience.”
The SOU Digital Cinema program sets itself apart as a hub for creative innovation and experiential learning. With the guidance of industry professionals, students hone their craft and make meaningful contributions to the world of cinema.
Moriah Doepken
Doepken is an Alaska native, who made the trek down the West Coast to attend SOU, where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree. She later attended graduate school at Chapman University. As a filmmaker, she is dedicated to creative collaboration and diving into the depths of the human condition.
Nora Zubizarreta
Zubizarreta is an assistant professor in SOU’s Digital Cinema program. She received her master of fine arts degree in Experimental and Documentary Arts at Duke University and her bachelor of fine arts degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She produced “Umama” while at Tisch, and has since worked professionally in film and television production management in New York and Los Angeles.
About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.
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