Student Profiles: Timmerie Millington

Name: Timmerie Millington

Age: 17

Year: Freshman

From: Lake Arrowhead, California

Major: Entertainment Media

What’s your favorite class? Poetics and Grammer with Professor Riley because I really enjoy writing. The class gives me a whole new perspective on how speak to my audience in a much more clear and concise way.  Right now we are reading, “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis.

Do you have any hobbies? I absolutely love to dance! I’ve been dancing for about 16 years and enjoy many different kinds of dance –ballet, tap, dance , hip hop, modern, ballroom, and west coast swing. I’m actually going to be starting a hip hop club for any of the students who are interested.

Do you participate in any Student Life? Definitely! I began a pro-life club for students who really want to take action weekly and participate in local pro-life events such as praying at abortion clinics and participating in the  March for life in San Fransisco.

What is your favorite thing about JP Catholic? The spiritual life! I really enjoy being around other people who have a great passion to be closer to God, whether that may be through daily Mass, Adoration, or  praying the Rosary together. We all hold each other accountable and push each other forward in developing a stronger spiritual life. Also, I love the hands on aspect of the school.  Right now, I’m on the marketing team for a webisode series and have been learning all the ways you can utilize Twitter for your business. I also have been involved on quite a few student film projects.

Plans after graduation? Well, I’m still bouncing around some ideas…I may potentially stay here an extra year to do the Masters in Theology Program. One thing I do know for sure, when I graduate I want to do pro-life work by promoting the culture of life through the media.

Taking a stroll down Sunset Blvd.

A group of students and myself recently attended a fairly prestigious film festival at the Director’s Guild on Sunset Blvd. in L.A. It was exhilarating to be in the lush film screening room sitting on plush red chairs beneath sparkling chandlers, and mulling over thoughts of what famous director probably sat in my very seat. Sadly, as the winning films were screened and the awards distributed, the elegant ambiance did not carry over into the stories we saw on the screen. Some were cliche and other were just bizarre, with a couple being just satisfactory. The production value was great for all of them, nevertheless, one crucial element was missing: a fresh and compelling story. One of the animation films was so “artsy” that I, even as a student film maker, failed to recognize the “deeper meaning” amidst the twisted characters and jumbled thematic elements. Most people are not philosophical film critics, and usually attend a movie to be entertained, amused, and emotionally moved. Even stories told in non-linear fashion with metaphors, subtext, and quirky characters can still encompass universal human qualities that the mainstream audience can relate to and understand. Instead, what I saw on screen in this student film festival were not what I would call  golden eggs for investors. I took away from this experience 2 things:  First, hope — that with much effort and perseverance I can definitely compete with other film students from UCLA and other elite film schools, because as of right now, the choices are limited and the stories are trite and stale; and second, appreciation for the education I’m now getting at JP Catholic. Not only are we learning how to tell a great story and create realistic dialogue and compelling characters, but we also are reading great literature and studying philosophy. I often wonder if the lack of great and new stories on screen has to do with a decline in reading. Here at JP Catholic we believe that one must have a working knowledge of authors such as C.S. Lewis, Flannery O’Conner, Dante and beyond, who have truly mastered the craft of story and transcended into the realm of universal human qualities.  As our fall quarter begins next week, I look forward to continuing  my portfolio of film projects and perfecting my craft for the big screen. With determination, patience, and effort,  entering into these film festivals with other film students is a goal just in reach on the horizon.

Student Profile: Tyler Pearson

Name: Tyler Pearson
Age: 20
Year: Sophomore
From: Reno, NV
Major: Entrepreneurial Business

What’s your favorite class? Intro to Products and Markets was a pretty awesome class taught by Dr. Jerry Jackson. The class was divided into groups with a specific market (i.e car, airplanes, stock market, etc). Our textbook for the class was the Wall Street Journal. So, for each class we had to read the WSJ and present a powerpoint with out group on the latest happenings concerning our particular market for that week. There was a lot of team spirit going on by the middle the quarter…

Do you play any sports? I’m an avid snowboarder, and am learning to surf too — here in Southern Cali you can surf and snowboard in the same day! Playing guitar and the drums are also a passion of mine.
Do you participate in any Student Life or music related activities? I’m actually a senator in Student Government and am beginning a music club. Being a big fan of music, I and some of my roommates put on a pretty epic, Battle of the Bands, during spring quarter. The entire student body showed up! We have a ton of talented musicians in our school, and this was a great way for them to showcase their talent.

What is your favorite thing about JP Catholic? Definitely the location! Also, practically using the skills we learn in class. Right now, I’m on the marketing team for a webisode series and have been helping out on lots of student film projects.

Plans after graduation?Hopefully working for myself. I’m in the brainstorming stage right now.  I hope to stay in San Diego– this is the best place to live and work! …As an entrepreneurial business student, I have an idea called, “The Chill Box” — seeing my passion as a snowboarder, I’d like to  create a business that will thrive in ski villages and ski resorts that will provide a relaxing environment for snow sport enthusiasts.

Safeguard your story…

Your creativity is a gift, and can easily be stolen. As we have completed finalizing our stories with beet sheets and treatments, we’ve learned its absolutely pivotal to safeguard your story ideas with the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Therefore, all of us 30+  media sophomores will be registering our stories with WGA this week before finals. Ahhh, with a sigh of relief, we can all enjoy break more soundly with our ideas safely guarded. Now, the fun part of writing begins next quarter as we breathe life and personality into our characters during the development of our first draft screenplays…

Sophomores prepare to write their first feature film!

This quarter with Professor Chris Riley, myself and another 30+ media sophomores have been preparing to write our very own feature script. We started with brainstorming for story ideas and writing down log lines. Second, we sectioned into writing groups, each week giving and receiving input on ideas. Lots of writing, thinking, reworking, and more writing. The creativity process is never more dynamic then in the beginning stages while the story unfolds on computer screens, post-it-notes, on the margins of notebooks, in Adoration, and even in in dreams while dozing during 5 min class breaks. We’ve now come close to the finish line of this quarter, and many of us have an entire feature-length story written up as a beat sheet and completed treatments. Our characters become more and more alive with each new week, as we place conflict in their way and watch them grow, either for better or for worse. Next quarter the actual writing of the feature script begins…but for now, the most important part of script writing, the pre-planning process, is creatively working its course.

Finding the light in Hollywood?

Recently, on the way to L.A, I stopped at a truck stop for gas, when this huge, white semi pulled up in front of me with a rather bold statement. On the trailer, the word “Hollywood”  was painted in huge, black letters, and encircling it was a red circle with a slash through the middle. Crosses, Jesus pictures, and Christian fish symbols dotted the outside of the  shiny, red cab. My initial thought upon reading this bold, anti-Hollywood advertisement was, “Wow, that is one heck of a conversation starter.” I could just imagine the comments those guys received on the road. When the semi pulled out and I continued towards L.A– that ‘dreaded’ and ‘fearful land’ so many Christians perceive as “Hollywood”– I started thinking about two things: first, there are numerous, good and talented Christian people working right in the heart of Hollywood (actually, I was on my way to Catholic Underground with some fellow JP Catholic Student to watch a night of talented musicians), and second, how did St. Paul evangelize to the Gentles? Take, for example, Act One, a Christian organization of talented writers, producers, actors, and directors from all across the U.S., who’s mission is similar to that of JP Catholic University. Their building lies directly below the Hollywood sign. Christopher Riley, a professor of screenwriting at John Paul the Great Catholic University, was originally the executive director of the writing program there. He also is an award winning screenwriter living in L.A. with his family and woked for Warner Bros. Studios as head of the script departmentfor many years. Certainly, Hollywood can’t be totally detrimental to society, since we do have these examples of strong Christian artists perfecting the filmmaking craft in successful and Godly ways. Far too easy is it to preach a positive message on screen. Much more challenging, however, is to deliver that message in an artistic and realistic way. Clearly, that takes skill and bravery. Just as St. Paul adopted a strategic way to evangelize to the Gentiles, so also we must find common ground with the mainstream secular audience. It’s not enough that we preach to the choir, for we are called to go into the darkness and bring the light. How can we achieve such a goal if we are avoiding the darkness and bashing the other side (who actually need our help most)? There is indeed hope in Hollywood, and being among aspiring filmmakers such as those at JP Catholic, we hope to be ambassadors of hope and bring light to the heart of the entertainment industry. Man is fallen, but beauty still appeals to his weak nature. Thus, we must perfect our craft both professionally and morally or else we will never be able to truly Impact the Culture for Christ.

What’s happening with the Senior Film Majors?

So…graduation is just a few months away, and the senior film students are buckeling down on their final thesis film projects. This is a huge undertaking –Some are full-feature length projects and still others are bringing on professional SAG actors who have been on major budget films. I’ve been fortunate to have the great experience of producing one of the senior film project’s and am looking forward to our first day of shooting this weekend. Now, 3 months later since undertaking this task, it’s been a lot of work, from making phone calls to caterers, to scheduling actors, scouting out locations, and filling out paper work with SAG. Pre-production is certainly key for a smooth shoot–but, whew, exhausting! Stay posted to hear how this weekend turns out…I’ll be posting pictures on our facebook page. Lights, Camera, Action!

Prof. Barber’s Video Reflection for 8-16-2009

Check out Prof. Michael Barber’s video reflection on this Sunday’s Mass readings.  For more information on JP Catholic’s Masters in Biblical Theology or our fully online distance education, contact mharold@jpcatholic.com.

Surf, Sand, and S’mores!

So, JP Catholic Student Government kicked off the summer quarter with a fabulous and fun all student Lua at the lovely La Jolla Shores! Students hit the warm waves with boogey and surf boards while others went at it in an competitive sand castle contest… Being the artistic school that we are, a few Michaelangelos of the group created a full sized sand creation of  the crocodile from Peter Pan…

Other highlights of the evening was an intense game of beach volleyball, frisbee (with some pretty epic dives into the sand), and a delicious feast of hot dogs and hamburgers roasted over the bonfire pit.

After a scintillating sunset and some sticky s’mores loaded with Hershey’s (Mmmm!), everyone gathered close to the ocean near the ebbing water to pray the Rosary. The stars dazzled over us as we concluded a fantastic evening at the beach. San Diego is such a gem!

Video Reflection

Check out Professor Barber’s video reflection on the Mass readings for August 9th: http://bit.ly/194ryS