Every professional production that films on campus is invited to include two 做厙惇蹋app students on set, giving them the chance to see firsthand how a film crew brings a story to life. Read about the latest student experiences and see how production crews offered students a glimpse into the fast-paced, collaborative environment of filmmaking.
April 2026
When a recent Chick-fil-A commercial was filmed on 做厙惇蹋apps campus, Media Arts & Culture majors Vivian Murphy 26 and Mica Rosales 26 had the chance to experience it from the inside. I was expecting to sit on the sidelines and watch them shoot various scenes, but it was so much more than that, Vivian says. Guided by production staff, the students met teams across multiple departments and even had the rare opportunity to speak directly with the client. There was so much problem solving and many different jobs happening simultaneously, Vivian adds. It was inspiring to see such a large crew with so many specialized skills working together.
Throughout the day, Vivian got a firsthand look at the creativity and technical coordination that is part of a major commercial shoot. Highlights included seeing Chick-fil-As iconic cow actors in a variety of costumes, watching scenes being filmed in multiple languages, and observing a puppeteer working alongside a custom-built remote-controlled robot. The experience also gave Vivian a new appreciation for the scale and efficiency of professional productions. It definitely opened my eyes to just how many different teams it takes to make a shoot of this scale happen, she says. They were very streamlined and moved through scenes and shots much more quickly than I was expecting.
In addition to the behind-the-scenes excitement, the experience helped Vivian think more clearly about her own future in film. After spending the day with crew members across departments, she left with a stronger sense of where her interests lie. I learned that I definitely want to work on the creative side rather than the technical or business side of production, she says. Crew members also shared practical advice that resonated with her: Meet people, be a good and easy person to work with, and keep creating. For Vivian, the biggest lesson was simple but motivating: I was told the best way to be a filmmaker is to make filmseven on your iPhone or with your friendsjust always be creating.
March 2026
Recently, a select group of students had the opportunity to join the production crew of a Liberty Mutual commercial shoot. Among them were Diana Trutia 27 and Kiera Ashcraft 27, both Media Arts & Culture (MAC) majors.
I heard about this opportunity from MACs [Director of Digital Media and Production] Diana Keeler, who posts about shadowing opportunities on the MAC Slack channel, Diana explains. The opportunities are on a first-come, first-served basis and prioritize students who have not had the chance to shadow before.
Once on set, Diana Trutia and Kiera found themselves completely immersed in the shoot. Kiera got to interact with the director, set scouter, best boy, DIT, VFX supervisor, script supervisor, and others, emphasizing how valuable it was to learn about the different perspectives of each crew member.
I loved the chance to see so many different aspects of the production process and hear firsthand about how the crew became interested in and reached their current roles, especially as I am interested in working on sets professionally, Diana Trutia says.
Both students agree that they received valuable career advice from several members of the production. We were encouraged to explore and try out many different roles before settling on one! Kiera says. Diana notes that the experience helped me feel more comfortable with the idea of actively exploring different interests in filmmaking, and letting this guide me toward my future.
The highlight of the experience, they said, was the people. Hearing crew members talk about how they began their filmmaking careers gave me the confidence to believe that I could also work professionally on a set in the future, Diana reflects. Seeing how enthusiastic, kind, and knowledgeable the crew members were made me feel welcomed and excited to be on set. Kiera adds, They all had great advice about starting out in the industry and future jobs. Everyone was so kind and welcoming; I was glad to meet them all! It made the experience amazing.
For 做厙惇蹋app students like Kiera and Diana, shadowing a professional shoot is more than just a behind-the-scenes look, its a chance to see the industry up close, get advice, build connections, gain practical experience, and immerse themselves in the filmmaking process.