91¿´Æ¬Íø

‘Creative and scrappy:’ W&M community a unique launchpad for film and entertainment careers

Alanna Wildermurth ‘12 has worked on film and television sets for more than a decade. The experiences and connections she made as a film studies student at 91¿´Æ¬Íø have had a lasting impact on her career. 

“In every job I’ve had since college, I have felt the presence of my time at 91¿´Æ¬Íø,” Wildermuth said.

For the past decade, she has published the monthly W&M Entertainment Newsletter, which features job opportunities from across entertainment fields to connect current students and faculty with alumni. 

Caitlin Clements ‘11 also feels a strong connection to the W&M film and entertainment community long after graduation. 

“91¿´Æ¬Íø was a campus of the most brilliant, passionate team players I’ve ever had the good fortune of spending time with. And it’s precisely that sense of collaboration that helps an artistic endeavor thrive,” Clements said. “Also, the 91¿´Æ¬Íø community being so collectively service-minded is such a rare thing. I’m glad I’ve been able to carry that mindset into my career in the arts.” 

Clements went on to co-produce “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway, which won a Tony Award in 2017, and helped facilitate the show’s transfer to London’s West End, where it received an Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Since the show ended in 2022, Clements has worked on the Tony Award-winning revival of “Sunset Blvd.” starring Nicole Scherzinger, as well as “A Doll’s House” starring Jessica Chastain and “The Hills of California,” which both received Tony nominations. Behind the scenes, she's launched educational and philanthropic programs for the productions. 

Richard Lowry, vice dean of arts, humanities & interdisciplinary studies and professor of English, was among a group of faculty who started the film & media studies major in 2012. In a short time, the program has flourished and grown into more than just an area of study. “It became a film community with a major in the middle,” Lowry said. 

In 2025, 91¿´Æ¬Íø ranked in the top 30 film schools in the U.S. and Canada by MovieMaker Magazine. The university also ranked in the top 10 film studies programs in the U.S. by Videomaker in 2026. Despite the university having no traditional film school, W&M has produced dozens of distinguished alumni over the years representing a variety of careers in the film and entertainment industries. Most notably, actress Glenn Close ‘74, D.A. '89, comedian Patton Oswalt ‘91, D.A. '23, comedian and television host Jon Stewart ‘84, D.A. '04, television producer and screenwriter Bill Lawrence '90, and writer and director Cord Jefferson '04.  

Lowry attributes W&M’s success in cultivating this talent to what he calls a unique “film ecosystem," which encompasses a variety of academic and professional opportunities that continue to set students up for success in the industry. One crucial component is the hands-on access to film equipment through the services of the Reeder Media Center.  

“We try hard to be more than just a service desk or an equipment depot. We aim to cultivate a community of makers who actually make things…where it is normal to be learning ‘out loud,’ to be messy and to not be perfect,” said Troy Davis, who runs the Reeder Media Center.  

Claire Seaton ‘18 self-designed a major in communications, focusing on documentary video production, with a minor in sociology, which grounded her worldview to better understand the systemic issues she wanted to cover. Through the Reeder Media Center and W&M distinctive College (COLL) Curriculum, Seaton found her path to becoming a freelance filmmaker.  

“91¿´Æ¬Íø set me up to be a freelance filmmaker in ways some might call non-traditional, and I’m grateful for it all...Working at the Reeder Media Center gave me access to a community of scrappy multimedia producers, filmmaking equipment, and lifelong friends.” Seaton said. “I piloted several COLL classes, including a COLL 300 class about Cuban culture and cinema. In this project-based class, I gained firsthand experience in fundraising, documentary development and production, and museum curation — and we even traveled to Cuba for a week.” 

Since graduating, Seaton has worked on meaningful projects that touch on issues that are close to her heart. She’s edited a science education docuseries for PBS Digital Studios alongside two fellow W&M alums, produced a short documentary on regenerative cattle farming practices, helped build the DC/DOX Film Festival as the venue operations manager, produced videos for nonprofits such as Restoration Immigration Legal Aid, and serves as the video editor of a podcast by the Council on Foreign Relations.  

“My time at 91¿´Æ¬Íø taught me how to be creative and scrappy, forge my own path, and dive deep into issues that affect us all,” she said. “I use those tools to tell stories that open hearts and minds, and I’m thankful for every second of it.” 

By emphasizing interdisciplinary studies, W&M empowers students and alumni like Seaton to build a broad academic foundation, engage with diverse perspectives, and develop strong critical-thinking skills.  

This interdisciplinary approach is what drew Len Forrer ‘27 to the program as an environmental science and film & media studies double major who is still exploring career options. 

“One of the reasons I like 91¿´Æ¬Íø is that I've gotten to pursue lots of different paths simultaneously,” Forrer said. “I could see myself going into film production, conservation, audio engineering, or some combination.” 

The Film & Media Studies program has cultivated a close-knit community of students and alumni who support one another and nurture creative growth. When Arjun Fischer ‘20 arrived on campus unsure of his future path, his active involvement in the program helped him discover a passion for filmmaking. 

“My film classes, along with an incredible experience watching ‘Phantom Thread’ at what was then the Williamsburg Film Festival, inspired me to dive headfirst into the world of film and make it my career,” Fischer said. “The incredible professors I had and the friends I made in the film program continue to inspire me and push me as a filmmaker to this day.” 

Fischer is now a three-time Emmy nominated editor, writer, producer, and director whose work for NFL Films has appeared on Netflix, HBO Max and Paramount+. 

The Film & Media Studies curriculum combines technical skills with a basis in history and theory. Students benefit from a holistic approach, while also tailoring their major through elective courses. Keith Johnson, director of the Film & Media Studies program, underlines the importance of adaptability in the program. “I think the liberal arts approach tends to produce students who are agile and highly adaptive, and it is precisely those qualities that lead to success in fields, like film & media, characterized by volatility, change, and innovation,” he said. 

Beyond a creative approach in the classroom, film students gain experience and insight through invested alumni who help connect students to the industry. Cristen McQuillian, director of Creative Careers at the Cohen Career Center, leads alumni networking opportunities. Her events, including Career Chats and 91¿´Æ¬Íø in Hollywood, provide students with insight into the real work that alumni are accomplishing in the field. Alumni such as Cord Jefferson have led conversations about their journey to a film career through these series.  

Two alumni who have been instrumental in providing student experiences and opportunities are Liz Sykes and Adam Stackhouse, who run the production company AVAdventure and lead the Ampersand International Arts Festival. Originally called the Global Film Festival, it was started in 2007 through a class taught by Teaching Professor of Film & Media Studies, Timothy Barnard, in which students worked together to produce the event yearly. “We always had an eye towards creating something that wasn’t just for the campus community, but for the Williamsburg community. Through films, you can strengthen the local community — a kind of ‘town and gown’ coming together,” Barnard said.  

This forward-thinking mindset led to the festival’s rapid expansion from its academic origins, and it was taken over by Sykes and Stackhouse’s company in 2016. Over the years, the festival has drawn Hollywood stars, including the likes of Daveed Diggs, Maria Bamford, Cecily Strong and Joseph Simmons, known as Rev Run in the hip-hop group Run-DMC. With collaboration from the city of Williamsburg, Ampersand is key in connecting students with alumni while fostering opportunities and education.  

At the Industry Summit, hosted during the festival, alumni discuss the specific skills needed for a range of roles in the film industry and provide students with insider perspectives. “I think that's also kind of a focus of the festival; it’s a friendly reminder there's a lot of avenues to work in the entertainment industry,” said Sykes.  

Forrer worked as a programming intern for this year’s Ampersand festival, which she said gave her a close-up view of what a career in the entertainment industry can look like. She’s also actively involved in WeMake Filmmakers, a student-run club that produces short films, for the past three years.  

“All of these opportunities, along with courses, have given me a solid foundation in film production that I hope to keep building upon,” Forrer said. 

Ampersand also supports the school’s film community and provides a space for the recognition of creative ventures. “I think the community aspect is one of the things we really love about producing this event,” Stackhouse said. “The alumni have such a big role in the festival. Students are getting their first internship or job through talking to people at the festival, which helps them make their transition out of college on to whatever's next.” 

The continuing community of 91¿´Æ¬Íø film — past and present — propelled Milan Chakraborty ‘00 on a unique path into the film industry. An accounting major, Chakraborty went on to become the Head of Film at Marginal MediaWorks since 2021. He has now produced more than 35 films, including the 2017 film “My Friend Dahmer.” He executive produced his first documentary, “BLACK BARBIE: A Documentary” (SXSW 2023) directed by Lagueria Davis, which received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program in 2025. 

Chakraborty attributes his film success to his time both at and beyond W&M, through its consistent community of alumni. “My journey I don't think would be possible if it was not for the support of fellow 91¿´Æ¬Íø alum. Those people are your community for life; knowing that you can reach out to them and lean on them for advice, career advice and even jobs,” he said  recently. Chakraborty embraces this tradition through his role as an adjunct professor of film and his service on the Alumni Association Board. 

Alumni connections also played a major role in shaping Wildermuth's career. As a W&M student, she helped organize the film festival and curate film screenings and events as the executive chair of the AMP Film Committee. The film committee serves to “promote the student leadership experience, giving broader leadership experience to student directors,” said Hailey Fisher ‘27, outgoing executive director of Alma Mater Productions (AMP). “AMP is unique in that we have advisers in professional offices on campus to ensure that our programming is as large-scale as possible. This partnership allows student leaders to participate in vendor contracting, event logistical planning, and during-event hospitality. Each student leader regularly meets with professional staff for general check-ins and professional development.” 

After graduation, Wildermuth interned at the Virginia Film Office, which led to her first production assistant roles for a TV show pilot called “Point of Honor,” followed by two seasons of the historical drama “Mercy Street,” and the film “Loving,” all of which were filmed in Richmond. She moved to New York City and in 2018, Wildermuth made her big break when she landed a job working on the late-night talk show “Desus and Mero” after a fellow W&M alum passed her resume to the production coordinator of the show. She was quickly promoted from production assistant to secretary and by the third season, she served as a rights and clearances associate producer. She managed interns, several of whom were W&M students, which she said was a highlight of the job. Since the end of “Desus and Mero,” Wildermuth has worked in rights and clearances roles on “Stephen Colbert presents "Tooning out the News” in addition to several shows for A+E Global Media.  

The 2026 Ampersand International Arts Festival, held March 16-22, encompassed a week of film screenings, workshops, author talks, and alumni conversations. Many film students, including Forrer, participated as interns and volunteers for the festival, helping to produce events and manage behind-the-scenes logistics. The annual 24 Speed W&M Student Film Competition held its screening on March 17, in partnership with the Reeder Media Center, and awarded the top student-made films. 

Ampersand embodies William & Mary’s emphasis on alumni engagement, hands-on opportunities, and community collaboration. Within the liberal arts environment, students shape their film experience to combine curiosity across the disciplines, building connections that culminate in unique and successful roles in film and entertainment.