Student Networking With Professionals

In the fields of theatre and media arts, it is extremely important that studens foster strong relationships with professionals who are working in their fields. The following projects, internships, and conferences were funded by the Fulton Chair and helped students to form connections with professionals in their field.

BFA Senior Showcase
New Line Cinema and Studio City
Theatre Production Design Trip to New York
United States Insititute for Theatre Technology
Utah Shakespearean Festival
WGBH Boston: American Experience

BFA Senior Showcase

Directed by Tim Threlfall
Awarded February 2005
For further information, contact: tim_threlfall@byu.edu

The BFA Senior Showcase is an annual production. It is a 50-minute music, dance, theatre revue which showcases the talents of seniors graduating from the Theatre and Media Arts Department's two BFA performance programs. Industry professionals in both Utah and New York City markets are invited to attend the Showcase. These professionals include casting directors for live theatre and film/TV venues, talent agents and managers as well as producers and directors. The objective of the BFA Showcase is to create a bridge for students between the academic and professional entertainment community.

The following comments were made by some of the 2005 participants:

How can anyone on this trip ever repay the people who made it possible? The thought and energy put into the success of this show has been tremendous! What a joy it has been for me to be a part of it.

--Lisanne Christensen

I was nervous about showcase because I was the only Acting Program girl and I wasn't sure what a showcase was meant to be. But wow! I can't tell you how proud I was in New York and how professional I felt performing our because of all the things we've learned. People have often said that BYU doesn't prepare actors for the real world, and I agreed until April. I learned more from the Showcase trip than I'd learned in four years!

--Ashley Ogzewalla

Wow, what a trip this has been! I feel as though the Showcase has given me the groundwork I need to work in the profession.

--Kelly Gautreau

New Line Cinema and Studio City

Internship for Matt Sweat
Awarded April 2005
For further information, contact: msweat@byu.edu

Matt Sweat was awarded funds to help him pay for an internship with New Line Cinema and Studio City in Los Angeles over the summer in 2005. He worked for the post-production department at New Line Cinema. At Studio City, which is one of the nation's most successful television show promotion houses, he was given the responsibility to write promos and edit on an Avid system.

On September 9, 2005, Matt Sweat wrote:

Thank you for the funds that you made available to the Theatre and Media Arts program. Because of it, my internship this summer was made possible. These internships provided me with great practical experience and the opportunity to meet great people, establishing contacts for the future. I accomplished more than I expected. It was a very positive experience. Having opportunities like I had this summer was unforgettable, but it would have been nearly impossible without financial help. I am very grateful for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Matt Sweat

Theatre Production Design Trip to New York

Sponsored by Doug Ellis
Awarded February 2005
For further information, contact: doug_ellis@byu.edu

In April 2005, Doug Ellis took four theatre design students to New York: Susan Jaussi, Sarah Lock, Jennifer Mortensen and Melissa Webb. The students met several professionals in the entertainment design world. The trip was specifically customized to the areas of interest of the four students: set design, costumes, make-up, and production design. The students visited designers in their studios, shops, and also in their behind-the-scene job locations.

On May 5, 2005, Doug Ellis wrote:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Fulton,

While on our trip to New York, we visited over thirty different designers and productions. The students were imporessed with the high caliber of things they saw and also with the kindness of the people we met. Those we met were open and generous with their time, answering questions and telling their histories. Many were so supportive--telling the students to call them any time, especially if they come to the city in the future.

The trip was a busy once-in-a-lifetime experience for these students. I have done a similar trip twice before and these students were the most prepared group I have ever taken. Your generosity helped their eyes to be opened to the top level of design in this nation. Thank you again and again.

Sincerely,

Doug Ellis

United States Insititute for Theatre Technology

Conference attended by Sarah Lock
Awarded February 2005
For further information, contact: ?

Fulton funding was used for travel to the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) in Toronto, Canada to allow Sarah Lock to accept an international makeup award and to attend the theatre conference. While there, she was able to attend several workshops for theatre. She was also able to present her portfolio to several professionals and interviewed for professional teaching positions at various universities.

On April 4, 2005, Sarah Lock wrote:

Dear Ira and Mary Lou,

I want to thank you very much for the generous amount of money I received from the Mary Lou Fulton student support grant. I had a wonderful time there and was able to accept an international makeup award as well as attend different technical theatre sesions. Thank you so much for the money and for your continued support of the Theatre and Media Arts program at BYU.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Lock

Utah Shakespearean Festival

Internship for Emily McVey
Awarded April 2005
For further information, contact: emcvey1@juno.com

Thanks to Fulton funding, Emily McVey was able to have an internship with the Utah Shakespearean Festival. One of her responsibilities was to work as a stitcher on the production of Camelot. Stitchers are the people who sew the costumes together after receiving instructions from the cutter, draper, or designer. For the second part of her internship, she worked as assistant costume designer for the production of Pippin.

In September 2005, Emily McVee wrote:

Dear Sister Fulton,

I am so grateful for the contribution you have given to my education. Due to funds I received through your grant, I was able to have some exciting as well as educational opportunities this summer. In May I traveled with the Young Ambassadors to China and Korea. We performed in many different venues as well as do some missionary work. I also spent time at the Utah Shakespearean festival working as the costume design assistant on Pippin. Other funding given to my friend Billy Gunn for the production of Elizabeth Bam gave me the opportunity to design costumes for what I feel was a successful production. So, let's just say that because of you, I was able to have an amazing summer.

Thanks,

Emily McVey

WGBH Boston: American Experience

Internship for Adam Sanders
Awarded November 2004
For further information, contact: ?

Adam Sanders received a Fulton grant to help him pay for an internship at WGBH in Boston where he aided the production of the Emmy-award winning series American Experience. He had responsibilities during all phases of its production. He was involved with research, web design, camera work, archiving, and DVD authoring.

In May 2005, Adam Sanders wrote:

Dear Fultons,

I am truly very grateful for the contributions you have provided me through the Mary Lou Fulton Student Support Grant. Through this internship I gained valuable experience and a network of contacts that immediately helped me transition into a professional career working with the Media Arts Library and Archives at WGBH. As the source of one-third of the national programming for PBS, WGBH is the ideal place for me to start a career of quality filmmaking, and it really would not have been possible without your support.

Receiving this grant has been truly humbling for my wife and I. We have done our best to get involved in our local ward and community in an effort to worthily represent Brigham Young University and all that it stands for. Your contribution has been a blessing to us in many ways. Thank you so very much.

Sincerely,

Adam Sanders