Tag Archive for: Digital Cinema

Creative Industries will be consolidated at SOU Ashland

Creative Industries project gains legislative funding

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Southern Oregon University is celebrating a piece of its future by acknowledging the Oregon Legislature’s recent approval of $40 million in capital construction bonds to update and consolidate SOU’s facilities for creative industries – music, media and film. The cross-disciplinary project will transform the university’s programs and help secure Oregon’s future as a national leader in creative industries.

The legislative funding is a milestone in what is expected to be a lengthy process that includes the sale of bonds that were approved by the legislature, completion of architectural drawings, evaluation of bids for construction contracts and city building permits. It is likely to be at least a year before any construction activity begins.

Eventually, the project is expected to drive innovation at SOU and beyond, and serve as a regional and statewide economic boon. Renovations to the Music Building will increase accessibility and community enjoyment, and will serve students better by relocating complementary programs to take better advantage of opportunities for collaboration. SOU’s Digital Media Center, for instance, is currently located on the opposite side of campus and is a key component of the creative industries partnership.

The project will include the addition or renovation of a sound stage, screening room, computer labs for music production and spaces for teaching the business of music. It will fund the preservation and upgrading of the Recital Hall and adjacent practice rooms and classrooms; state-of-the-art electronics, acoustics and HVAC equipment; and expansion and support of a cinema and media program that is ranked among the best in the country.

Infrastructure improvements that are part of the project include LEED enhancements, HVAC efficiencies, and solar integration.

Creative industries in Oregon generated about $9.3 billion annually and support more than 62,000 jobs in the state. The renovated and expanded facilities at SOU will enhance what is already a vital arts hub that serves at least 30 organizations and hosts more than 200 events per year.

"Raising Aniya" by SOU Ashland's Chris Lucas

SOU professor presents “Raising Aniya” West Coast premiere at AIFF

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SOU assistant professor of Digital Cinema Christopher Lucas will present the West Coast premiere of his feature documentary “Raising Aniya” at this year’s Ashland Independent Film Festival.

“Raising Aniya” presents the story of Aniya Wingate, a young dance artist in Houston, Texas, who embarks on a journey to heal her spirit and find her voice after being displaced by a hurricane. With guidance from her mentor, Aniya investigates impacted communities on the Gulf Coast and develops a dance performance inspired by her experiences and the complex legacies of environmental injustice. Family, religion, sexuality and mental health collide as she strives to transform dark histories into beautiful expression and movement.

“Raising Aniya is a celebration of creativity and personal expression in the face of climate chaos,” Lucas said. “We wanted to celebrate resilience, especially among young people, but also acknowledge the strength of community and the importance of family in hard times.”

Lucas produced the 89-minute film, in addition to other production roles, with his longtime collaborator, director John Fiege, a professor at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. Together, the two have produced films that premiered at SXSW, Hot Docs, Big Sky Documentary Festival and around the world. “Raising Aniya” had its world premiere on March 29 at the DC Environmental Film Festival.

The film was supported in part by funding Lucas received as a fellow of SOU’s Institute for Applied Sustainability, along with funding from individuals and organizations such as The Redford Center, Austin Film Society, Walter Long, David Shapiro, Crosscurrents Foundation, Justin Wilkenfeld and the University at Buffalo, SUNY.

“Raising Aniya” will screen each day of the Ashland Independent Film Festival, which runs from April 24 to 27. Lucas and Aniya Wingate will be present for a filmmaker talkback after the April 25 screening. Schedule and tickets are available at the festival website, ashlandfilm.org.

For more information on the film: https://www.fiegefilms.com/raising-aniya

Crew Experience mentor Gary Lundgren at SOU Ashland

Acclaimed Ashland director and screenwriter leads SOU students’ “Crew Experience”

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Ashland-based writer-director Gary Lundgren will guide student filmmakers at Southern Oregon University in bringing “An Extraordinary Year” to life this spring, when he mentors those in the Digital Cinema Department’s innovative “Crew Experience” course.

“Crew Experience,” launched in 2022, has given SOU’s Digital Cinema students a chance each year to work on and complete a full-fledged film project. The course allows students to assume professional film crew positions under the guidance of professional mentors in the production of a short film.

They will be mentored this year by Lundgren, an Ashland-based director and screenwriter, while bringing his new short film project “An Extraordinary Year” to the big screen. The class is being guided by Megan Isser, an experienced producer and instructor in SOU’s Communication, Media and Cinema department. Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors Chris Butler and Barret O’Brien, past collaborators with Lundgren, have joined the film’s cast.

“I’m so excited to work with this impressive faculty to mentor film students,” Lundgren said. “I’d love to help demystify the filmmaking process. As an aspiring filmmaker in L.A., I learned the most from being on set or in edit bays watching filmmakers make decisions.

“The fact that SOU is allocating resources to give their students an opportunity like this while they’re still in school feels exciting and unprecedented. In 10 weeks, we will cover the entire process, from script to screen and complete a short film together.”

“I am beyond thrilled to be working side-by-side with Gary and I’m so excited for our students to learn from him and from each other,” Isser said. “I have worked with many directors in my filmmaking career, and it is rare to find someone who is not only as wildly talented as Gary, but who is also willing to take the time to mentor future professionals. And the cherry on top is that we’re all going to walk away with a fantastic film.”

The Digital Cinema program was recognized by MovieMaker Magazine in 2024 as a “Top 30 Film Program in North America,” in large part due to innovative course offerings like “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 such as Lundgren, students hone their craft and make meaningful contributions to the world of cinema.

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SOU Digital Cinema makes best film school list

SOU Digital Cinema named as a top film school

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(Ashland, Ore.) — It’s official: Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program makes SOU one of the best film schools in North America. The current edition of MovieMaker magazine, which bills itself as the world’s most widely read independent film magazine, includes SOU among its picks for the “30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. & Canada.”

“When we launched the Digital Cinema program in fall 2019, one of our big aspirations was to become a nationally-ranked film school,” said Andrew Gay, a professor of Digital Cinema and director of SOU’s School of Arts & Communication. “This is a huge achievement, especially for a program of this size, based outside of a major production center.”

The MovieMaker article – which lists the 30 top film schools alphabetically rather than in a ranked order – points out that SOU’s Digital Cinema program gives students opportunities to hear from accomplished speakers from the film industry and to network with professionals at organizations including Film Southern Oregon and the Ashland Independent Film Festival.

“The curriculum merges theory with practice, emphasizing hands-on learning through the moviemaking process, leading to a professional portfolio upon graduation, all supported by the Digital Media Center, an 8,500-square-foot teaching and production facility, as well as an equipment office loaded with state-of-the-art gear,” the magazine story says.

SOU is the only Oregon school to make the MovieMaker list, and one of just two from the Pacific Northwest – the other is the Vancouver Film School, in British Columbia. SOU and the University of Colorado at Denver are the only two four-year programs on the list that participate in the Western University Exchange – an initiative that makes tuition discounts available to students from 16 Western states and territories. The MovieMaker listing for SOU also includes a photo of students on location during a production for the program’s annual “Crew Experience” project – one of just nine photos from the listed schools.

“I’m excited to finally see the recognition of one of Oregon’s best kept (and now known) secrets: SOU’s film and media programs,” said Tim Williams, the executive director of Oregon Film. “I have been lucky enough to watch the amazing growth of this program in such a beautiful part of our state, and then work with the talent that has graduated from it and into our industry. We are grateful and lucky to have SOU in every way.”

SOU’s Digital Cinema program offers three bachelor’s degree options – including Oregon’s only bachelor of fine arts degree in film production – and nine stand-alone certificates that prepare graduates for careers in film and entertainment. Program highlights include its Credit for Prior Learning option, which offers many incoming students academic credit for the knowledge and skills they have gained through previous life experiences, and its groundbreaking, 12-credit annual immersion project called “The Crew Experience.” Student filmmakers in the Crew Experience spend an entire term learning on location and collaborating under the supervision of experienced professionals on the set of a significant film project.

Students can also pursue a dual-degree pathway beginning this fall – a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Film Business, and a bachelor of fine arts degree in Digital Cinema Production Arts with a concentration in Producing & Production Management.

The Digital Cinema program is rooted in the film school tradition, but is highly experiential and embraces entrepreneurship and innovation as it prepares students for dynamic careers in an expanding world of video arts and entertainment.

SOU is a member of the Green Film School Alliance – a collaboration of leading film schools that have committed to industry-level sustainable production practices in their programs.

MovieMaker magazine – which is geared toward the art and business of filmmaking – has named Ashland a “best place to live and work as a MovieMaker” since 2014, citing picturesque filming locations such as Lithia Park and Mt. Ashland, and an influx of moviemakers and actors to the area.

“Southern Oregon is home to a film community rich in expertise and love – it’s a haven for artists who don’t want the Hollywood life – and SOU exemplifies its commitment to real filmmaking,” said Tim Molloy, editor of MovieMaker magazine.

He called the area “a cinematographer’s dream,” with easy access to “some of the most lushly beautiful locations on the planet.”

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Film showcase "Your Fate is Booked" by Ariel Himanek

Digital Cinema students to showcase films

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Members of the SOU community are invited to enjoy the premieres of 20 short films when students of the Digital Cinema Production course (DCIN 203) present their class projects at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the Art Building’s Meese Auditorium. The Fall Digital Cinema Student Showcase is free and open to the public.

The three-minute films – the very first short films by first- and second-year Digital Cinema students in the class – will range from mystery to sci-fi to love stories, and just about everything in-between.

This term’s student films are: “Allergic to Clues” by Maggie Adrian; “Love in Bloom” Elena Barajas; “Slow Children” by Bella Bontrager; “Seeds of Discord” by Fiona Carrithers; “The Audition” by Justin Crawford; “Ten Years Under” by Charlotte Heintz; “Projects” by Aedan Higgins; “Your Fate is Booked” by Ariel Himanek; “Need A Light” by Zach Hudson; “The Vinyl” by Logan James; “Deadly Tracks” by Shenita Lawson; “Archetype 0” by Calído Marquez; “Beckett the Bandit” by Clover Neef; “When Art Breathes” by Maddy Peterson; “Wizard Walking” by Spencer Spicer; “Space Plant” by Kira V. Wegehenkel; “Petal Peddlers” by Tyler Whitson; “The Phantom Florist” by Jaycee Williams; “Surprise” by Rose Wood; and “Cursed!” by Jared Y.

SOU students, faculty and staff are encouraged to support the first-time filmmakers by packing the house for this week’s film showcase.

The students had 11 weeks to conceive, prepare, shoot, edit and deliver their films using available resources. Each has two speaking roles and a single location. The fall term students were asked to craft their scripts to align with this year’s SOU Campus Theme – “Flourishing.”

The four-credit class is intended to help students develop skills in project management, collaboration, creative problem-solving and effective leadership. They learn the stages of film production, how crews are organized, the scheduling process and how to work together in small groups to prepare and produce short films.

SOU’s Digital Cinema program is considered to be more than a “film school,” as it prepares students to innovate as storytellers and entrepreneurs across a range of popular and emerging media formats – including motion pictures, documentary, television, social video and virtual reality. It is rooted in the film school tradition, but is highly experiential and embraces entrepreneurship and innovation as it prepares students for dynamic careers in an expanding world of video arts and entertainment.

SOU Digital Cinema launches crowdfunding campaign

SOU Digital Cinema taps crowdfunding for support

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program has taken a creative turn in seeking financial support for its work, launching an $18,000 crowdfunding campaign to help pay for two signature projects. The campaign has been extended through Dec. 15.

Money raised in the Indiegogo campaign will be split between the annual Crew Experience project, a 12-credit immersion course for student filmmakers, and individual Capstone Production Grants for Digital Cinema students.

“Crowdfunding is a double-win for our students because it both develops a valuable skill for careers in the creative industries and also helps raise awareness and funds for the Digital Cinema program,” said Andrew Gay, a professor of Digital Cinema and incoming director of SOU’s School of Arts & Communication.

“Almost all entrepreneurial producers will find themselves crowdfunding at some point, and these students are learning that process through hands-on, real-world application,” Gay said.

The crowdfunding campaign is live and open for contributions – extended for two weeks beyond its original end date of Nov. 30. Each donation made – minus fees to the crowdfunding website – is split evenly between Crew Experience and individual Capstone Production Grants, unless donors select the “Adopt a Capstone Filmmaker Package,” which triggers recognition and other perks. The crowdfunding campaign is facilitated by the SOU Foundation, and all pledges are tax-deductible.

Contributions to the campaign help fund this year’s Digital Cinema projects, and also invest in student filmmakers who are part of the entertainment industry’s future. Supporters are also asked to share the crowdfunding campaign page with others who may wish to help students with their film education.

“Donations that end up going to my capstone will help pay for shooting locations, costumes, special effects makeup, and food for the cast and crew,” said Lilah Keebler, a senior Digital Cinema major. “The money given will also go toward creating the costume of the monster that taunts the main character, Chloe, for the majority of the film. This could potentially get costly, meaning funding is a necessity to bring the monster to life.

“Horror has always been my favorite genre and I’m so excited about the opportunity to make this film.”

The individual Capstone Production Grants will benefit Digital Cinema seniors – in both leadership and support roles – as they begin their thesis projects. Each thesis project is tied to a capstone director, and other capstone students may participate in a variety of positions that include photography, production, editing and more. Capstone projects also provide a valuable proving ground for underclassmen to develop their skills while crewing under the mentorship of more experienced seniors. Projects must pass a rigorous vetting process to qualify for a Capstone Production Grant.

The Crew Experience takes junior Digital Cinema students out of the classroom to learn on location with industry mentors, operating as a single production unit for an entire term. The $9,000 raised through the Digital Cinema Production Fund will help to build sets, procure props and costumes, cover location fees and provide other essentials to cast and crew.

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Digital Cinema students on location

Digital Cinema at SOU offers options for all

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Southern Oregon University’s hands-on Digital Cinema program now offers aspiring filmmakers three bachelor’s degree options and nine stand-alone certificates that prepare graduates for careers in film and entertainment.

Students can choose to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in Digital Cinema Production Arts or a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in Digital Cinema. Certificate options include Directing for the Screen, Documentary Production, Screenwriting & Story Development, Producing & Production Management, Cinematography & Production Technology, Scenic & Environmental Design, Animation & Motion Design, Media Post Production, and Sound Design.

Program highlights include its Credit for Prior Learning option, which offers many incoming students academic credit for the knowledge and skills they have gained through previous life experiences, and its groundbreaking, 12-credit immersion program called “The Crew Experience.” Student filmmakers in that program spend an entire term learning on location and collaborating under the supervision of experienced professionals on the set of a significant film project.

“Our students are preparing for their careers from day one,” said Professor Andrew Gay, chair of SOU’s Communication, Media & Cinema Department. “We’re teaching storytelling and technical production crafts but also networking skills, how to handle yourself in a job interview, and how to show up on set as a professional and then get hired again. That’s why our graduates enter the job market with such confidence and repeatedly succeed.”

Recent graduates of SOU’s Digital Cinema program have worked in union crew positions on such major motion pictures as 65, starring Adam Driver, and the upcoming Wolfs, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, and have been accepted into top graduate film programs at Chapman University, USC and Loyola Marymount.

Southern Oregon University is a proud member of the Green Film School Alliance – a collaboration of leading film schools that have committed to industry-level sustainable production practices in their programs. It is located in beautiful Ashland, Oregon – a town MovieMaker Magazine has named a “best place to live and work as a MovieMaker” since 2014.

Green Film School Alliance membership for SOU Digital Cinema

SOU Digital Cinema accepted as Green Film School Alliance member

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s Communication, Media & Cinema program is one of 16 higher education programs accepted for new membership in the Green Film School Alliance – a collaboration of leading film schools that have committed to industry-level sustainable production practices in their programs.

The GFSA announced its new member institutions on Wednesday, more than doubling its membership to 27 sustainability-minded schools. The organization’s membership now includes colleges and universities in seven states, four countries and three continents – with 10 of them also appearing on the Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Film School list for 2022.

“It’s an honor for our young program to be recognized among the most prestigious film schools in the U.S., and beyond,” said Andrew Gay, an associate professor of digital cinema at SOU and chair of the university’s Communication, Media & Cinema program. “This alliance is an outstanding example of  SOU’s commitment to sustainability, our Digital Cinema program’s focus on state-of-the-art production, and SOU’s top-tier opportunities for students.”

SOU’s Digital Cinema bachelor’s degree program launched in 2019 and drew acclaim earlier this year for its innovative, 12-credit spring immersion course called “The Crew Experience.” Student filmmakers in the course spend an entire term learning from faculty and experienced mentors on location for a significant film project.

This year’s Crew Experience cohort produced the short film “Eight & Sand” – which last week became the 25th student project anywhere in the world to be awarded the Environmental Media Association Green Seal. SOU is the sixth university to earn an EMA Green Seal, and the first undergraduate program on the West Coast to do so. The seal is presented to student productions that achieve sustainable production goals identified in the GFSA’s Production Environmental Actions Checklist (PEACHy) for young filmmakers.

Vincent Smith, Ph.D., the director of SOU’s Division of Business, Communication and Environmental Science, said the university’s Digital Cinema Program is a perfect example of hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences that have become a hallmark of the institution.

“I am regularly asked to explain why Business, Communication and Environmental Science are in one division,” Smith said. “This is just one of many good reasons why thinking across traditional disciplinary boundaries makes good sense for our future.”

The Green Film School Alliance and its member colleges and universities commit to common sustainability language, standards and tools to reduce waste and lower the carbon footprint of film productions. The organization is supported by the Sustainable Production Alliance and the Producers Guild of America Green.

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Crew Experience is underway

SOU Digital Cinema program launches unique “Crew Experience”

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(Ashland, Ore.) — After a two-year pandemic delay, Southern Oregon University has launched its innovative, new, 12-credit spring immersion course called “The Crew Experience.” Student filmmakers spend an entire term learning on location, collaborating under the supervision of faculty and experienced industry mentors on the set of a significant film project designed to emulate the professional working environment.

Students had to apply and interview for their crew positions and were placed based on the experience, skill levels and portfolios of work they have accumulated in preceding classes. No other film or media program in the Pacific Northwest offers such an experiential approach to professional production training.

“This is truly ‘higher’ education, what college ought to be,” said Andrew Gay, associate professor and chair of Communication, Media & Cinema at SOU, and the principal architect of the Crew Experience.

“Today’s film student is savvy,” he said. “They know they can learn the buttons of a camera or editing software on YouTube, so why spend the tuition on film school? What we’re offering is professional immersion — hands-on training, working side-by-side, on-set with both faculty and industry veterans. It’s about learning the set culture, the lingo and procedures that mark professionals from amateurs. You can’t get that from a YouTube video.”

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Canon USA, SOU students are working with a higher caliber of camera equipment than ever before. The company has loaned SOU two full C500 Mark II camera packages with cinema lens kits, providing students the opportunity to work with professional-grade gear as they develop their skills. Students who successfully complete the Crew Experience are eligible to receive SOU’s new micro-credential in Set Skills for Cinema Production, in recognition of their achievements.

Ashland-based producer and founder of Film Southern Oregon Gary Kout is one of the industry mentors working with Digital Cinema students in their final week of production. Kout also kicked off the term with an inspiration keynote address encouraging students to make the most of this unique opportunity.

“Filmmaking is as much a craft as it is an art, and the inner workings of a film set is an understandable mystery to those who’ve never been on one,” Kout said. “So to get a real education in film production, one has to get their hands on the gear and their bodies on a set. The Crew Experience provides this invaluable opportunity to SOU film school students that will benefit them greatly as they move into careers in the industry.”

Courtney Williams, another local writer-producer, 1st assistant director, and board member for the Oregon Media Production Association (OMPA) is another set mentor this term.

“Hands-on experience is one of the most valuable ways to learn filmmaking,” Williams said. “The Crew Experience is just that. Students experience rigorous planning, on-their-feet decision-making, creative-problem solving, and unexpected inspiration — what it really takes to make a movie!”

The Crew Experience has been shooting throughout the Rogue Valley this term and will continue production through Sunday, May 29. Gay said the project chosen for the Crew Experience was created specifically to pose significant production challenges for the students to overcome as a crew – such as working with a large crowd of extras during COVID and having to shoot in remote, rugged locations. The filming locations have included the Medford Railroad Park, downtown Medford, Porters Restaurant in Medford, Rogue Valley Roasting Co. coffee shop in Ashland, the Mill Creek and Barr Creek Falls trails in Prospect, and a private residence in Medford.

Rick Bailey, president of Southern Oregon University, commented on the unique program. “We are very proud of the students, faculty and staff who make The Crew Experience possible,” he said. “It is a great example of interdisciplinary collaborations leading to powerful experiential opportunities for our students. Opportunities like this make Southern Oregon University a truly one-of-a-kind institution.”

Media members may contact SOU to schedule a set visit for photography and/or video interviews on Saturday, May 28, while the student crew are filming at the Medford Railroad Park.

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