Variety Magazine published it’s Entertainment Education Report of top film schools in 2018. These filmmaking programs scored high marks in both showbiz and academic circles. Biola University’s School of Cinema and Media Arts was selected as one of the top filmmaking schools in the world. Besides Biola Film School and other film schools in the United States, the list included schools in China, Mexico, Germany, and Czech Republic. Click here for the complete list.
Biola University will launch the School of Cinema and Media Arts this summer. When Biola was launched in 1908, the visionary founders of the university had no idea that within the next decade all the major film studios would be located in Los Angeles turning their community into the entertainment capital of the world.
Today, Biola is located 24 miles from the heart of the entertainment industry, which is making greater influences in American and global culture than ever before. The new school will accommodate growing student interest in cinema and digital media and create opportunities for new academic programs — all aligned to increase career opportunities in the industry.
The Variety article mentioned the Biola Film School program gives students 24-hour access to a 10,000-sq.-ft. production center complete with soundstage, recording room, and video and audio editing facilities. The school has nearly $3 million worth of film equipment.
In September 2017, Biola’s board of trustees approved that the university will contribute up to $16 million of institutional investment, sourced internally from endowment or from external sources, toward the final funds necessary to renovate the existing production center and construct a new building to be completed in late 2021. The new 50,000+ square-foot facility will house a screening room capable of seating 220, several sound stages, a Foley stage, recording and editing rooms, five classrooms and 23 faculty and staff offices.
Cinema and Media Arts alumni have found success as directors, writers, producers, executives and VFX supervisors in Hollywood and around the world. Here is a just a sample of some of our more than 1,000 alumni who are creating impact in the industry.
Scott Derrickson ’90
Director
Doctor Strange, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Sinister, Exorcism of Emily Rose
Rob Bredow ’94
Chief Technology Officer
Lucasfilm, Sony Imageworks
Chris Herzberger
Vice President Universal Theatrical Group
Universal Pictures
Trenton Waterson ’05
Creative Executive
Marvel Entertainment
Rick Rekedal ‘91
Chief Creative, Global Franchise
Dreamworks Animation
Henry Riady ‘09
Director
Beritasatu (Indonesia)
John Mabry
Co-Producer
Blue Bloods (CBS)
Evan Arnold ’12
Associate Producer
Elvis and Nixon
Nick Patapoff ’10
Production Coordinator
New Girl (FOX)
Zach King ‘12
Vine star, filmmaker and YouTube personality
Laura Aldridge ’09
Digital Production Manager
Captain America: Civil War, Spider-man: Homecoming, Jurassic World
Production Coordinator
The Artist
Garrett Wycoff ’11
VFX Artist
Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool
Becky Boss ’09
Writer
Being Mary Jane (BET)
Chris Masi ’09
Writer
Being Mary Jane (BET), Graceland (USA, White Collar (USA)
Joey Kennedy ’11
Set Lighting Technician
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC)
Sydney Patapoff ’09
Second Assistant Director
How to Get Away With Murder (ABC)
Bryce Vankooten ’07
Writer
The Ranch (Netflix)
Source: Variety | Biola University