Dr. Caroline Sawyer
Lights, Camera, Opportunity
story by MICAH PEPPERS photos by SUSAN DELOACH
Thousands of collegiate students nationwide yearn for a chance to work in the film industry. Many believe their only opportunity is to attend a large, West Coast university; however, this opportunity is offered right in the Lowcountry for students at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
Award-winning TV producer Caroline Sawyer, PhD, is the director of the Sand Shark Center for Innovative Media and USCB Associate Professor in Communication Studies since 2016. Dr. Sawyer currently produces the Emmy-nominated, nationally distributed show, By The River, being rebranded as Books By The River this season. Books By The River is a collaboration between USCB and SCETV, which allows Communication Studies students focusing on media to acquire various skills in TV production, such as camera operation, assisting, and producing.
In 2020, when COVID affected the country, Dr. Sawyer realized it created a need in Beaufort County. “During COVID, many organizations, such as nonprofits, governmental agencies, and churches, realized the need to share their live content with their constituents via digital media due to the COVID-19 gathering restrictions. This need demonstrated that even the smallest organization can make its content accessible to all. What’s great for our media students is that this need and want continues to grow, which in turn creates employment opportunities for our graduates.”
Over the last eight years of Dr. Sawyer’s involvement with the media focus of the Communication Studies Program, many students have received their degrees and gone on to work for highly desired media companies. WSAV reporter Danielle Cobb (Class of 2024) stated how the media program has guided her in her current career path. “USCB truly shaped my success in the media industry by providing a solid foundation in both technical and practical aspects of communication. As a reporter, my work depends on clear and effective communication, whether interacting with individuals one-on-one or conveying a story to a broader audience. The media-based courses at USCB gave me hands-on experience with operating cameras, editing software, and producing content, ensuring I was industry-ready from day one. Without such courses, I would have come into the industry ten steps behind. The internships I participated in also allowed me to gain real-world experience, helping me build the skills I needed to succeed in the field.”
Broadcast Team Member at Savannah Bananas, Sophia Peach (Class of 2022), similarly credited the media program. “I have always been interested in media, but it wasn’t until the help and encouragement from a mentor, Dr. Sawyer, that I was able to learn all about what it takes to work in the media industry. I began working with USCB athletics as a camera operator for soccer, baseball, and softball games. During my senior year, I began directing and producing, which has provided a solid foundation for my career after college.” Additionally, Louis Brown, an executive assistant at Warner Brothers Entertainment (Class of 2018), stated, “USCB cultured an environment which was conducive for learning in a professional production setting.” The media focus of the Communication Studies Program at USCB is changing the lives of students, and Dr. Sawyer wanted to continue to expand on its success.
With USCB’s media part of the program thriving, Dr. Sawyer wanted to continue to enhance her students’ education. Part of her duties as the director of Sand Shark Center for Innovative Media is to collaborate on media projects. “I had been going to the Beaufort International Film Festival for years and our media students would volunteer. Over time, I got to know Ron Tucker (Co-Film Director of BIFF), and we continued to reconnect. We learned that we both wanted to grow the campus and film society. The production side was growing on campus, and we continued down that path, but we became committed to growing the film production with Ron. It really became a strategic partnership with both of us.”
Ron and Dr. Sawyer created a unique internship program geared to those aspiring to work in the media and film industry. Dr. Sawyer explains, “Both Ron and his wife, Rebecca, are always working to incorporate the USCB students into what we are doing in class. Even if we can’t make things work one year, we can always try it again the next year. They are committed to growing film in Beaufort, but they are also committed to growing our students in their desired industry. Our internship program allows two students annually who attend USCB to intern during the Beaufort Film Festival. The students should be at least a junior and have shown an interest in film and general media. In addition, they need to exhibit leadership skills.”
Each student selected will have the opportunity to not only attend the Film Festival in February, but they will also document various segments of it, produce a news story that will run on S.C. Educational Television (SCETV), and gain a myriad of experiences. “We’ve already had two students, who were a part of the Media Arts focus of the Studio Arts Program, go through the internship program, and both are currently working in the industry. This year, we selected one junior and one senior. Early in the school year, we begin to gauge interested students by watching their coursework submissions and keeping an eye on them. Once they become eligible, they complete an application, and we make sure they can commit to the opportunity. It’s an intense week. However, they do a lot of stuff on the backend, such as editing the footage that they shot and developing the news story.”
With the success of both the Beaufort Film Festival, as well as the media production side of the Communication Studies Program at USCB, the internship will only continue to grow. Dr. Sawyer discusses the future vision for the internship program. “Our goal is to give the students exposure to the film industry without leaving Beaufort. Not a lot of students can travel, and the Film Festival brings film here. They can network and meet filmmakers. They can see people doing what they want to strive to do one day. They can create priceless connections that could eventually lead to a mentorship. They can put their skills into action by learning to gather footage, interview, and tell their stories. I just want to connect — to bring recognition to — what Ron and Rebecca are doing here in Beaufort with the film industry and their commitment to not only grow that for our community, but also to grow that as an educational opportunity for our students.”
Since Dr. Sawyer began working at USCB, there has been a multitude of graduates who are currently working in the film industry. Below is a list of some featured highlights:
