Page 12 - Demo

12 February 2025 | BeaufortLifestyle.combecame committed to growing the film production with Ron. It really became a strategic partnership with both of us.%u201d Ron and Dr. Sawyer created a unique internship program geared to those aspiring to work in the media and film industry. Dr. Sawyer explains, %u201cBoth Ron and his wife, Rebecca, are always working to incorporate the USCB students into what we are doing in class. Even if we can%u2019t 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.%u201d 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. %u201cWe%u2019ve 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%u2019s 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.%u201d 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. %u201cOur 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 %u2014 to bring recognition to %u2014 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.%u201d 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: Graduate Brackin LambertPoppy Miller Craig CapanoLouis Brown Cassandra Headden Danielle Galella Jeremy Smalls PJ WilliamsHannah Merchant Sophia Peach Danielle CobbClass201420172018201820202021 2022 202220222022 2024ProfessionDirector of Athletics Communication at USCBHost/Anchor at CBS SportsFreelance at CBS SportsExecutive Assistant at Warner Brothers EntertainmentBeaufort County ChannelFreelance ProducerEditor for Stride, Inc.Digital Content Producer at WCSCAssociate Producer of National Programming at SCETVBroadcast Team Member at Savannah BananasMultimedia Journalist/Reporterat WSAVLouis BrownDanielle CobbSophia Peach