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Home › News & Events › News › UArizona School of Theatre, Film & Television Named a Top 50 Film School by The Wrap

UArizona School of Theatre, Film & Television Named a Top 50 Film School by The Wrap

October 16, 2020

For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Kerryn Negus
knegus@email.arizona.edu
Tel: 520-626-1405

Above: On the set of A Hunger, written, directed and produced by Anthony Cutrone. A Hunger premiered at I Dream in Widescreen in August 2020. From L-R: Emma Sinex (’20), actor Lance Guzman, Cutrone (’20), cinematographer Gilbert Rataezyk (’16).

October 16, 2020: The Wrap has published its annual ranking of the top 50 Film Schools in the U.S. and The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) again features prominently at #26. The Wrap is the leading digital news organization covering the business of entertainment and media. The rankings are determined by a poll of more than 2,000 entertainment industry leaders, educators, deans, filmmakers and film commentators, along with experts tasked with evaluating each school. 2020 marks the fourth year in which TFTV has been credited in the highly anticipated rankings.

“We are delighted to again be acknowledged in the latest rankings,” said TFTV Director Andrew Belser. “It means a lot particularly in this unprecedented year, when we have gathered around our students to sustain their learning and careers, including calling on film/tv industry leaders who are alumni to work with and support them. This recognition also affirms our growth in bringing advanced film technology into our school so we can teach toward the new industry standard creative processes. As the world of film and television are also telling more diverse stories, and promoting new layers of inclusion, we are also committed to preparing our students for an increasingly rich cultural world. We are thrilled to be recognized by The Wrap as a rising program amidst a powerful group of film/tv and media schools.”

In a year beset by a pandemic, The Wrap placed a focus on TFTV’s nurturing educators and industry-leading alumni and families. In response to the shutdown, the School’s tight knit community rallied to support the Class of 2020 filmmakers. UA faculty member and filmmaker Lisanne Skyler reached out to a collaborator and alum dad, Emmy-award winning sound mixer Scott Weber, C.A.S. (Westworld, Lost). Synthesizing Zoom and Source Connect, Weber created a virtual mixing platform, connecting UA filmmakers to his Burbank studio, allowing them to professionally complete their films in full 5.1 style for the School’s first online edition of its annual film showcase I Dream in Widescreen — normally a capacity event at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre, and a beloved rite of passage.

When it was announced that I Dream in Widescreen would have to migrate to the School’s YouTube channel, UA alumni luminaries rallied to help create a digital film festival to celebrate their alma mater’s next generation of filmmakers.  During the two-day event, organized by faculty Lisanne Skyler, Beverly Seckinger, the School’s new Advancement Director Kerryn Negus and marketing staff Jordan Lorsung, and kicked off by Netflix’s Head of Original Film Scott Stuber, online audiences listened to conversations with UA alumni about careers, craft and life in a COVID-shaken industry, such as Lindsay Utz, editor of the Academy Award Winning feature doc. American Factory, director Tyler Gillett (Scream 5), Sundance festival programmer Mike Plante, WME partner Brad Slater, casting director Eyde Belasco (Sorry to Bother You, Transparent) and YouTuber Darious Britt.

The School also earned accolades for its continued focus on storytelling. “The School of Theatre, Film, and Television has taught me a lot, mainly about what it really takes to make a good film,” says 2020 graduate Adrian Meyer. “We may not be the biggest school out there, but when you look at the films that have come out of this program in the last 10 years you realize that it doesn’t need to be. A good story and a little savvy go a long way.”

While creating their own films and learning the business, UA School of Theatre, Film & Television students get real-world experience interning on faculty productions and publications such as Skyler’s Brillo Box (3¢ Off) for HBO and Jacob Bricca’s upcoming How Documentaries Work (Oxford University Press), and developing original film and television pitches under the guidance of writer-producer Shane Riches. And UA alumni have led by example in the age of COVID: recently, show runner Sierra Ornelas (Superstore, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the new Rutherford Falls) created the #Donation4NavajoNationChallenge. Within weeks her campaign delivered over $250k for medical supplies, PPE and other lifesaving essentials to Navajo citizens.

About the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television
The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) nurtures and develops outstanding artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by internationally recognized faculty, high-level internship opportunities, industry-standard resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers comprehensive training programs that aim to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year through Arizona Repertory Theatre productions, the Studio Series, and Film & Television screenings, students of TFTV are able to showcase their talents, tell compelling stories, and provide clear results of what happens in their classrooms and studios. TFTV’s Film & Television program regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” and the School’s Theatre programs regularly rank in Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs” making UA one of the country’s top institutions to study theatre, film and television. More at https://tftv.arizona.edu/

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Congratulations to University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television student Brett Jones (BFA Film & Television, '23) whose film SOMETHING TO FEAR was an award winner at the recent Doc Sunback Film Festival. Brett's film, which he made as part of FTV 314a Documentary Production class, follows top college basketball recruit Kennedy Brown as she battles her detractors, and her own demons, as she makes her way to the top. The film premiered at the December 2021 edition of WHAT'S UP, DOCS at The Loft Cinema.

Brett recently spoke with his hometown newspaper about his filmmaking journey so far, and how he maintains focus on both his perspective as a filmmaker and the experience of the viewer. “I think one of the most valuable things I've learned is that you have to balance what you want and then what someone else is going to get out of it,” Jones said. “It gets to a point where you're like, ‘okay, this is the idea I want, this is the kind of unique take I want on it, but how do we build [the film] for an audience for them to understand that unique take?’ So it always starts with your passion, but then you have to construct and manipulate that passion for an audience.”

Read the full story at www.derbyinformer.com/news/derby_news/derby-filmmaker-s-work-featured-at-doc-sunback-film-festiva...
... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago
Congratulations to University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television student Brett Jones (BFA Film & Television, 23) whose film SOMETHING TO FEAR was an award winner at the recent Doc Sunback Film Festival. Bretts film, which he made as part of FTV 314a Documentary Production class, follows top college basketball recruit Kennedy Brown as she battles her detractors, and her own demons, as she makes her way to the top. The film premiered at the December 2021 edition of WHATS UP, DOCS at The Loft Cinema. 

Brett recently spoke with his hometown newspaper about his filmmaking journey so far, and how he maintains focus on both his perspective as a filmmaker and the experience of the viewer. “I think one of the most valuable things Ive learned is that you have to balance what you want and then what someone else is going to get out of it,” Jones said. “It gets to a point where youre like, ‘okay, this is the idea I want, this is the kind of unique take I want on it, but how do we build [the film] for an audience for them to understand that unique take?’ So it always starts with your passion, but then you have to construct and manipulate that passion for an audience.”

Read the full story at http://www.derbyinformer.com/news/derby_news/derby-filmmaker-s-work-featured-at-doc-sunback-film-festival/article_b8da7514-d39e-11ec-869c-f32a74060782.html
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Fantastic Brett!

During the commencement ceremonies at the University of Arizona last week multiple graduating BFA Musical Theatre seniors from the School of Theatre, Film & Television took to the stage to demonstrate their talents.

On May 13th, The University of Arizona's 158th Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2022 took place in the Arizona Stadium. As part of the opening ceremony graduating seniors Daniel Altamirano, Steven Enriquez, Michael Laverde, Taylor Maresca and Hannah Peyton sang the National Anthem, led by TFTV faculty member Assistant Professor of Practice Jamie Reed. Along with fellow graduate Vinney Pugliese, they also helped close the ceremony by leading the stadium in singing 'All Hail, Arizona' (Alma Mater).

During the College of Fine Arts graduation ceremony Maresca and Peyton performed 'I Will Never Leave You' from Side Show.

We are so proud of all our Wildcats and wish all Class of '22 graduates continued success. Bear Down!
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6 days ago
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So proud to have been a part of this wonderful school.

Very emotional. Love this performance 👏 ❤

Great to hear a version that I understand and the harmony is lovely!👍. Are they available for the next Super Bowl?😘

Monte would be so very proud.

This past weekend I Dream in Widescreen, one of our School's marquee events, returned to the historic Fox Tucson Theatre for the first time since 2019.

12 filmmakers from the Class of 2022 premiered their senior thesis films for a full house made up of community members, industry guests, sponsors, cast and crew, their families, TFTV faculty and students, and countless supporters. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, and to the community at large for coming together to help celebrate our filmmakers!

We'd also like to send a huge congratulations to all of our filmmakers and award winners on your immense accomplishment. We cannot wait to see where you go next!

Missed the in-person event but still want to watch the short films from the Class of 2022? Watch them all on our YouTube channel for a limited time and on the IDIWS website: idiw.tftv.arizona.edu. Check the IDIWS website for award winners, and more pictures from the event will be viewable online in the coming weeks!

Photos by Julius Schlosburg.
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
This past weekend I Dream in Widescreen, one of our Schools marquee events, returned to the historic Fox Tucson Theatre for the first time since 2019. 

12 filmmakers from the Class of 2022 premiered their senior thesis films for a full house made up of community members, industry guests, sponsors, cast and crew, their families, TFTV faculty and students, and countless supporters. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, and to the community at large for coming together to help celebrate our filmmakers! 

Wed also like to send a huge congratulations to all of our filmmakers and award winners on your immense accomplishment. We cannot wait to see where you go next!

Missed the in-person event but still want to watch the short films from the Class of 2022? Watch them all on our YouTube channel for a limited time and on the IDIWS website: idiw.tftv.arizona.edu. Check the IDIWS website for award winners, and more pictures from the event will be viewable online in the coming weeks!

Photos by Julius Schlosburg.Image attachmentImage attachment+7Image attachment
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Can't get enough of our student short films? You're in luck!

Join us tomorrow for the final screening event of the semester with the debut of 10 brand new student short films during Magic Hour at The Loft Cinema.

In these films, made during the FTV 315a Fiction Production Class, you'll see two wanna-be-spy siblings, an extreme commitment-phobe, condiments in love, a hung-over interviewee, the game LIFE, a bumbling pair of pranksters, a sore loser, a father facing his mortality, two bickering brothers, a tale of love, and ants in the Biosphere.

Joining the 10 TFTV films is an animated short made by students in the University of Arizona School of Art entitled WHO PUT THESE ANTS IN MY BIOSPHERE? This film is the result of a Research, Innovation, and Impact Grant titled “Science in Motion” and organized by Aaron Bugaj and Ellen McMahon with KeBiosphere 2 BiosArizona Institutes for Resiliencer Resilience. Each student contributed 10 seconds of animation focusing on either moss, coral, agrivoltaics, or resilience from the vantage point of an ant inhabiting Biosphere 2.

May 10 | 7pm | The Loft Cinema | FREE (first-come, first-served)
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2 weeks ago
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A struggling drag queen's evening takes an unexpected turn when she meets a persistent houseless man while en route to her show in TWIXXX, written and directed by Martin Olloren. "I love using film to give a voice to marginalized groups of people and TWIXXX tackles two extremely marginalized groups: the Black LGBTQ+ community and people without housing. I wrote TWIXXX not only to shed light on the adversity of these specific groups, but also to remind everyone that we are stronger together."

In PUNCHLINE, Nate finds newfound internet fame as the victim of several filmed assaults broadcasted on a rival’s social media account and learns the ultimate lesson through a knock-knock joke gone bad. Written and directed by James Valacich. "Observing certain online personalities made me wonder how far, morally and/or legally, an influencer could go to get recognition ... I wanted to make a found footage film with an online vlogger feel."

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022 ! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM. ARRIVE EARLY TO ENSURE YOUR SEAT!
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
A struggling drag queens evening takes an unexpected turn when she meets a persistent houseless man while en route to her show in TWIXXX, written and directed by Martin Olloren. I love using film to give a voice to marginalized groups of people and TWIXXX tackles two extremely marginalized groups: the Black LGBTQ+ community and people without housing. I wrote TWIXXX not only to shed light on the adversity of these specific groups, but also to remind everyone that we are stronger together.

In PUNCHLINE, Nate finds newfound internet fame as the victim of several filmed assaults broadcasted on a rival’s social media account and learns the ultimate lesson through a knock-knock joke gone bad. Written and directed by James Valacich. Observing certain online personalities made me wonder how far, morally and/or legally, an influencer could go to get recognition ... I wanted to make a found footage film with an online vlogger feel.

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022 ! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM. ARRIVE EARLY TO ENSURE YOUR SEAT!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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INTERIM is written and directed by Heath Bannard. "I wanted to really say something meaningful and be really, embarrassingly honest. As I looked around at lots of art, even art I love, I noticed more and more how things were sort of masked by poetic language or characters, mis en scene, etc. Though all of these things are beautiful parts of the medium, I wanted people to really walk away with what I had told them. I wanted what I had said to be so clear that you couldn't possibly miss it, it couldn't possibly go over your head."

Amid a global pandemic, an isolated nineteen-year-old boy would explore the world of rap music, but one fatal choice to try the drugs in his favorite song would end his life abruptly in 9TEEN, a documentary film written and directed by Desirée Bourret. "I was introduced to my subject's mother, and she told me about this young, vibrant soul, Dakota, who lost his life at 19 based on a single choice to take a pill. Dakota was trying to push through what was a difficult time in the world, by expressing himself through the creative outlet of music ... This project is for Dakota, his loved ones, victims of fentanyl poisoning, and the youth who might be able to see their experiences through Dakota's and remember how important their lives are."

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago
INTERIM is written and directed by Heath Bannard. I wanted to really say something meaningful and be really, embarrassingly honest. As I looked around at lots of art, even art I love, I noticed more and more how things were sort of masked by poetic language or characters, mis en scene, etc. Though all of these things are beautiful parts of the medium, I wanted people to really walk away with what I had told them. I wanted what I had said to be so clear that you couldnt possibly miss it, it couldnt possibly go over your head.

Amid a global pandemic, an isolated nineteen-year-old boy would explore the world of rap music, but one fatal choice to try the drugs in his favorite song would end his life abruptly in 9TEEN, a documentary film written and directed by Desirée Bourret. I was introduced to my subjects mother, and she told me about this young, vibrant soul, Dakota, who lost his life at 19 based on a single choice to take a pill. Dakota was trying to push through what was a difficult time in the world, by expressing himself through the creative outlet of music ... This project is for Dakota, his loved ones, victims of fentanyl poisoning, and the youth who might be able to see their experiences through Dakotas and remember how important their lives are.

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson TheatreImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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School Of Theatre, Film & Television

Theatre

P.O. BOX 210003
1025 N Olive Rd.
Drama Bldg, Rm 239
Tucson, AZ 85721-0003

Email: theatre@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-7008

Fax: (520) 621-2412

Film & Television

P.O. BOX 210158B
845 N Park Ave.
Marshall Bldg, Rm 220
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158b

Email: ftvinfo@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-7352

Fax: (520) 621-9662


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College of Fine Arts

P.O. BOX 210004
1017 N Olive Rd.
Music Bldg, Rm 111
Tucson, AZ 85721-0004

Email: finearts@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-1302

Fax: (520) 621-1307