2018-19 Academic Newsletter
A MESSAGE FROM THE
DEAN On behalf of the faculty and staff of Liberty University’s School of Visual & Performing Arts, I am pleased to share some of the work generated during this academic year. That stated, please note this reflection is not to bask in our individual and collective accomplishments. SVPA is made up of artists who share an identity in Jesus Christ, and we rejoice that all of the quality and resulting praise is only because of His presence in our lives, and we seek to use our creativity in thankful imitation of the Creator (James 1:17). We have much for which to be thankful. Our students bring their talents to Lynchburg from all over the world, and as alumni, they return to the world using their honed talents to bless and serve others. God has richly gifted SVPA with faculty and staff best characterized as highly talented servant-leaders, and we are thankful for the immense support we have received this year from countless Liberty administrators, alumni, and members of the community. Please accept this small booklet as a token of our gratitude.
Dean Scott M. Hayes
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ABOUT THE DEAN
Scott M. Hayes currently serves as dean and professor for the School of Visual & Performing Arts (SVPA) at Liberty University. He has worked for six universities in the United States and England and has served as artistic director for two professional theatre companies. He serves as chair for the Southeastern Theatre Conference Religion and Theatre committee and is a member of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans. He maintains his professional work as a director, actor, and playwright and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actors Equity Association. His short play Without Excuse has been published by the journal Christianity and Theatre, and his adaptation of the best-selling novel Redeeming Love has been produced all across the United States, as have his small-cast adaptations of Shakespeare. Hayes’ scholarly publications explore the nexus of communication theory and theatre history and practice. He serves on the editorial board for Southern Theatre magazine, published by the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and is the editor of two books about Arthur Sullivan: Arthur Sullivan: The California Connection and Your Affectionate A: Sir Arthur Sullivan's Letters to his Family, both published by the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Forest, Va.
C I N E M AT I C A RT S THE DEPARTMENT OF
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in bringing the arts into our community. Help us prepare students for their future in the creative arts by donating to Liberty.edu/CinematicArts.
Faculty Spotlight: Wonsung Novalis A M A N D A M E LT O N
Novalis was a film editor in 2012 when Liberty University Cinematic Arts Professor Scotty Curlee reached out to him about becoming the editorial department key for the department’s Spring 2012 film project. Liberty’s facilities, professional-grade equipment, and collaborative teaching environment impressed him: “It’s very rewarding to speak into the lives of students at a stage when they are looking to the future and clamoring for knowledge to see what’s possible and bring their ideas to life.” The admiration was mutual. Soon, Executive Director Stephan Schultze gave Novalis a full-time staff position as equipment manager in The Vault, and by Fall 2018, a promotion to a teaching faculty member. Schultze said, “Movies are told in
writing, in shooting, and in postproduction. All three offer the filmmaker an opportunity to retell the story. [Novalis] brings visual storytelling to the postproduction process. His spirited, can-do attitude helps students overcome fears of what their movie can be versus what they think it is.” Novalis has eight feature films under his belt and numerous commercial projects; he is also a partner in a private production company called Abandon Films. His vast experience enhances the postproduction curriculum of the cinematic arts program, teaching students to be more competitive in the film industry. And with Novalis’s eye on filmmaking, students won’t have to question the quality of their education at Liberty University.
Producer Spotlight: Bill Reeves CHAD ROGERS
In the past seven years, Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center has partnered with several producers to develop films, from 77 Chances to the most recent feature, The Trump Prophecy. These partners are talented, accomplished creators who give junior students professional experience on their film crews every spring semester. Executive Producer Bill Reeves (Unbroken: Path to Redemption, Priceless) teamed up with the department for two feature films: God’s Compass and Extraordinary. At Liberty, Reeves was immersed in the creative process of completing these films, offering craft and career wisdom to students. “I loved the interaction with the students. ... It was great to be a part of transferring experience from one generation of filmmaker to another.”
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Students benefited from his leadership, gaining knowledge and practice they could not have obtained from textbooks. Reeves benefited, too; one student impressed him enough to earn a paid position in his development office. Looking back on his projects at Liberty, Reeves said: “I came into the process hoping for the best and left the process knowing that Liberty’s cinematic arts program is one of the best in the country.”
Alumni Spotlight: Jordan Ream JENNA GREEN Jordan Ream found his life’s purpose on an adventurous trip to another country. The Great Commission Bible Institute in Sebring, Fla., sent Ream as a third camera shooter on a trip to Israel. Standing in the Holy Land, Ream realized he wanted to be a catalyst for change in the film industry. He entered Liberty University’s cinematic arts program and focused on his camera skills. Since graduation, Ream has told countless stories in TV and film while working with different ministries across the globe, including Asha Bhavan Centre, an orphanage in India, and Freeset, which helps victims of sex trafficking. “Being in the [film] industry can cause a lot of anxiety because there are a lot of unknowns” said Ream. “I have learned a lot about adaptability and finding affirmation from the right source.” To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, to draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.” The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Like movie character Walter Mitty, Ream’s journey has taught him to embrace life’s adventures and learn from each experience. Ream reminds future film students to “leave yourself open and let God provide. He will take you on these crazy adventures.” To read more of Ream’s story and see what other alumni are up to, check out our Alum of the Month blog at Liberty.edu/CinematicArts.
C I N E M A D E PA RT M E N T Y E A R L Y H I G H L I G H T S CHAD ROGERS
2018 was a busy year for Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center. In addition to its traditional major and minor programs, the department introduced a new program: a minor in production. Led by Professor Stuart Bennett, minor students produced a 40-minute documentary titled Bedford Remembers about local citizen casualties in World War II. Cinema seniors worked hard to complete thesis projects, resulting in over 50 films shown to the public in the annual Spring Showcase. Award winners of the showcase were also featured at the seventh annual Premiere Weekend last September. Guest speakers for that event were Dan Gordon (Zaki Gordon Center co-founder), Kirk Schroder (entertainment lawyer), and Rick Eldridge (ReelWorks Studios owner). Alumni were productive, too, working in big feature films like Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Jurassic World; TV
shows like Top Chef; and national commercial ads. Others found fulfillment in large ministries or cinema education for high school students. Twenty-five cinematic arts students and alumni received film awards across the United States. Senior Victoria Swart received a research award and a six-week trip to Seoul, South Korea, where she interned with KWEBFEST to help coordinate their annual film festival. The highlight of the year was the 2018 spring production, where cinematic arts students partnered with ReelWorks Studios to produce The Trump Prophecy, which released in 1,200 theaters across the nation in October. It is the second student film to have a theatrical release and the department’s fifth feature film. The department began another production in Spring 2019.
Cinematic Arts | School of Visual & Performing Arts
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STUDIO & D I G I TA L A RT S
THE DEPARTMENT OF
JOIN US in bringing the arts into our community. Help us prepare students for their future in the creative arts by donating to Liberty.edu/SADA.
A RT G A L L E R Y P E R M A N E N T C O L L E C T I O N TODD SMITH
Robert Harris’s generous gift of Alvar Sunol’s paintings to the Liberty University Art Gallery Permanent Collection has furthered the gallery’s vision to serve as one of the cultural hubs for the campus, community, region, and nation. Our goal from the beginning has been to feature the region’s and nation’s best and brightest art and artists. Since the permanent collection and gallery are a teaching extension of the Studio & Digital Arts Department and the School of Visual & Performing Arts, the addition of Sunol’s work gives students the unique opportunity to view excellent work firsthand. This artwork also extends Liberty’s mission into the sphere of visual art and culture. It further builds the reputation and recognition of the Liberty University Art Gallery as a repository for artwork in keeping with a Judeo-Christian worldview. Harris has been a major supporter of Liberty University and the collection, and we are blessed that these donated works are now part of our home.
We gladly accept donations. Your support of the art gallery helps our students, staff, community, and region gain a broader appreciation for the visual arts and the influence they have on our culture. As an integral part of the Department of Studio & Digital Arts, the Art Gallery’s ultimate goal is to reflect God’s creativity through artistic expression.
location-arrow Visit Liberty.edu/ArtGallery to give.
Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Dugan RACHEL DUGAN
There exists a sort of gravitas attached to a book that is printed and bound by hand that gets lost on the production line. If you were to hold a hand-printed, hand-bound codex next to a massproduced book, you would see and feel a visible and tactile difference between their form and content. This was understood in the Middle Ages but seems to have been neglected for more economical production techniques. The books of this era tell a story of a world ruled by numbers and efficiency as opposed to quality and beauty. They speak of a modern culture that values the speed of a machine dominating craft at the cost of true craft.
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My work seeks to dispel that ideology, to bring back the human element in book production, and to remind us that, while technology is wonderful, it cannot replicate the imperfections of handcrafted material on its own. By allowing craft and technology to merge and converse, a unified experience between content and form offers a scalable visual solution for edition bindings that reflects the technological advances of the modern era.
Department of Studio & Digital Arts Highlights C O L L A B O R AT I V E E F F O R T Our alumni are landing jobs in well-known businesses, working for the Academy Center of the Arts, Athletic Knit, Glow Social and Digital Agency, Hobby Lobby, Humana, Jesus Culture, Merrell Shoes, Shockoe Mobile Design, Stryker, and Snap Agency. Many of our graduates are entrepreneurs and are running their own freelance graphics and photography businesses. Our current students are also making an impact, with four students recognized as finalists in the Photographer’s Forum Best of High School and College Photography contest. In addition to our student and alumni success, our faculty
has been busy with professional development. Professor David Meyer traveled to London as a visiting professor at the International Visual Arts and Cultures’ (IVAC) Research Centre at Richmond University where he presented on visual stereotypes in southern culture. Several professors also traveled to the Adobe MAX Conference where they gained valuable insights regarding industry trends from Adobe experts. Recently, Professor Maloney even received an American Advertising Award for a catalogue she created for a professional client.
World-Renowned Illustrator VISITS MONIQUE MALONEY
Stefan Kunz is a letterer, designer, and illustrator who has worked with well-known brands like Asics, Adobe, CocaCola, Hallmark, Hillsong, Skillshare, and Microsoft. He is also the author of The Art of Lettering: Modern Calligraphy in Four Easy Steps. In Fall 2018, Kunz visited campus and delivered an inspiring talk to hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and local designers. He spoke of faith, growing up as a missionary kid, and how he broke into lettering through a 100-day challenge.
In the afternoon, Kunz conducted a lettering composition workshop with a group of designers from the Liberty University Marketing Department and a handful of students who were chosen from portfolio submissions. He taught attendees how to define hierarchy within a quote and how to arrange text in a visually dynamic and effective way. He charged the audience to create something every day, even if it’s not great, and encouraged them to push through perfectionism.
Studio & Digital Arts | School of Visual & Performing Arts
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T H E AT R E A RT S THE DEPARTMENT OF
JOIN US in bringing the arts into our community. Help us prepare students for their future in the creative arts by donating to Liberty.edu/Theatre.
The Women’s Writing Project L I N DA N E L L CO O P E R
This past academic year, the undergraduate women in the Department of Theatre Arts embarked on a yearlong collaborative journey with an original work. Sponsored by a grant awarded through Liberty University’s Center for Research & Scholarship, 25 female students spent an entire spring semester researching strong women in history who lived in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. After months of research, these same students were divided into writing teams, where they wrote a full-length original play based on the history of 20 women from Virginia’s past. Bloodroot: The Ballad Of Clinch Mountain covered the stories of such historical characters as June Carter and the Carter Sisters, Mary Draper Ingles, Rachel Findlay, Mollie and Mary Bell, and Orleana Puckett. The play included music woven through each story, carrying original lyrics put to an old Appalachian folk tune. The students then produced the work as part of the theatre department’s main production season — filling the positions of actors, assistant director, stage management, assistant costume designer, props, lights, and sound. Complete with a live band,
the production was performed in November for hundreds of audience members, some coming from Clinch Mountain itself. The play was recently recognized as an outstanding university production by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
TOWER THEATER Interested in our season subscription? Our subscriptions include five Liberty University Theatre Arts productions and two professional Alluvion productions. Purchase your subscription package by phone at 434-582-SEAT (7328), online at Liberty.edu/TheatreArts, or in person at the Williams Stadium Ticket Office.
Theatre Department Yearly Highlights L I N DA N E L L CO O P E R
This school year has been full of exciting new events, experiences, and achievements! In Fall 2018, we had 59 students debut in our productions — the largest student participation to date. We also welcomed 24 students to our BFA Class of 2020, with students focusing on either musical theatre or acting.
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This year, we partnered with the Academy Center of the Arts to help launch the Alluvion Stage Company’s production The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue at their newly restored Historic Academy of Musical Theatre in downtown Lynchburg. In Spring 2019, our students explored their talents further as we workshopped two student-written, student-directed, and student-designed full-length plays: Treason With a Cup of Tea and To Sail Away. Rounding out the Spring 2019 semester, our students traveled to North Africa and Spain (pictured left) for Spring Break to minister using the dramatic arts. This is the third international missions trip in which our department has participated.
The Encounter Radio Drama CHRIS NELSON
In 2018, our radio drama series, The Encounter, premiered its second season and garnered Best New Show at the Seneca Awards, as well as a Best of Festival award by the Broadcast Education Association at its annual conference in Las Vegas, Nev. The series is completely student-driven with student
writers, voice-actors, editors, and composers, all working together to produce each 15-episode season. This unique hands-on experience in the audio theatre industry gives students an opportunity to learn new skills and impact a podcast-friendly international audience. The Encounter focuses on philosophical questions and the existence of absolute truth within an imagined world. With such a focus, our students learn how to integrate a biblical worldview within their storytelling. Learn more about The Encounter by visiting us online at EncounterSeries.com.
NE W BFA P R O GR A M S A N DY G E F F K E N
Liberty University is proud to offer two new degree programs through the School of Visual & Performing Arts and the Department of Theatre Arts — the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Those interested in pursuing musical theatre will have a rigorous curriculum of dance, voice, and performance courses, while those in the acting program will go in depth exploring techniques in film acting, stage combat, and
a range of period acting styles. Expect a course of study centered on a Christian worldview while pursuing the standards of excellence seen in every major performance market. These pre-professional degrees are meant for students who are ready to see their talent and passion for performance sharpened while being equipped with the tools necessary for a long and productive career.
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