The college's Department of Theatre Arts is now the Department of Theatre and Film.
Stacy Barton, associate professor and director of the film program, helped craft the new filmmaking degree.
"We also take classes from theatre in our electives. So, for exmaple, acting, right?," Barton said. "So to be able to direct, it's really beneficial to know how actors work, so that you can craft a better way to talk to them and to elicite the performance that you want. For example, lighting and sound design over in theatre. So, there's a lot of crossover between theatre, which is the reason that Augustana thought that was the perfect place for the new film major."
The college also installed new production facilities, including an iMac flex lab space and studio rooms.
Student filmmaker, Matt Chezum is a junior at Augustana College, majoring in Chemistry and Film.
"Film is expensive. Budgets for the A-list ones range millions and millions of dollars, and I don't know any film student that has that money," Chezum said. "Or any student in general. So, the fact that Augustana is providing this space— the macs, the editing softwares, and the studio itself— so we can create just like they do on big sets, that allows us to get experience and allows us to take skills directly into the industry."
Chezum's short film, S'mores, was featured at Augustana's Student Film Showcase last fall and was awarded best narrative fiction and audience choice award.
The next student film showcase will take place in May at Davenport's The Last Picture House.
