Creating Globally Informed Filmmakers

In the interconnected world of cinema, having globally informed experiences as a filmmaker is paramount. These experiences not only broaden one’s creative perspective but also foster a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, societies, and narratives, enriching the storytelling process with authenticity and resonance. In the Film & Electronic Arts Department we aim to provide opportunities for students to participate in these spaces by partnering with universities and film programs outside of the U.S., allowing for new collaborative experiences as well as shaping the world view of our student filmmakers.  

Since 2014 the Film & Electronic Arts Department and Hamburg University of Applied Sciences have collaborated during annual exchanges between the two campuses. Each year in the summer Film & Electronic Arts Department faculty travel to Hamburg to work with students in the Department of Media Technology. These workshops consist of overview of production practices, screenwriting, how to use your voice in telling a story, and most recently in 2023 expanded to include a master class in sound design. Some of our faculty who have gone to work with the undergrad and graduate students at HAW Hamburg include Professors Kevin O’Brien, Elyusha Vafaeisefat, Kent Hayward, Ben Huff and more. Following the workshops held at HAW Hamburg each summer, a similar exchange takes place typically in the fall semester where Hamburg professors come to the CSULB campus to host a week long workshop with students in the Film & Electronic Arts Department. In Fall 2023, Martina Hentig and Dr. Marco Grimm came to CSULB to talk about studying abroad and teach students all about VR and Virtual Production. The students enjoyed putting together a film using the Innovation Space in the CSULB Library and were encouraged to apply to study abroad for the upcoming year. Aside from our yearly collaborations on both campuses, each year students from CSULB and Hamburg continue to study abroad during the fall and spring semesters working on productions together and expanding their view of cinema by getting to know their counterparts from across the ocean. 

In addition to our ongoing and fruitful relationship with HAW Hamburg, in summer 2023 the Film & Electronic Arts Department presented a new travel class: Film & Festival & World Cinema taught by Professor Andrew Pearson. The class travels to Rome and Bologna, Italy to explore the history of cinema on an international level and traverse the intersections of film history and culture through festival screenings, lectures, tours and site visits. The travel course focuses on the Il Cinema Ritrovato film festival in Bologna, Italy to examine the impact of film restoration and preservation on cinema’s engagement (and re-engagement) in contemporary world issues. This experience gives film students at The Beach the opportunity to study abroad with their fellow filmmakers in the department all while exploring Europe and expanding their world view on film and media. International partnerships with the Film & Electronic Arts Department continue to be an important component to providing student filmmakers with an expanded global view of cinema, all while creating a memorable experience filled with comradery and a love of creating and learning about the art of media.