“Stephen and Jeremiah, you’re good people. I sensed it right from the start, and every encounter I’ve had with you over the past year has confirmed it. And because of that, you attract good people to work with you. I’ve never had any doubt about your genuine desire to share your knowledge and experience with your students, not only through your own interactions with them, but also by finding and hiring instructors who do the same. Even when they were working twelve-hour days, their enthusiasm and support never flagged. And you don’t just hire people who are exactly like yourselves. There are such a variety of personalities and styles here, just as there is in the “real world” for which you’re preparing us. I like that.

When you auditioned potential instructors, you didn’t just interview them and look at their reels. You had them spend a couple of days working one-on-one with the students, and you asked for our feedback before making your decision. You’ve also brought in guest lecturers to supplement the curriculum with their specialized expertise so we could learn from the best. They, too, provided hands-on experience and individual coaching.”

You taught us how to direct actors by putting us in their shoes. There was the traditional acting class with Celik, and then there was the day we all carpooled down to the Presque Isle location to shoot a few practice scenes with Rob Nilsson, who directed us the way he directs his actors. What an unexpected experience, and what a great way to prepare us for crewing on the feature film. I felt as if I understood what this director is about, so when I watched him work during filming I had a certain insight into his process that I would never have had otherwise.

When I told Jeremiah that I wanted to focus on editing as my career path, he created a new crew position for me on Presque Isle as Assistant Editor/P2 Capture Tech so I could learn the latest technology through hands-on experience on a feature film set.

Regarding the Presque Isle production in general, I was impressed not only with the way Jeremiah and James handled this very ambitious project, but also with their generosity in letting students take complete ownership of certain crew positions, and giving them the credit they earned. Also, it wasn’t just a location shoot; the lack of contact with the outside world made it a total immersion experience –intense, challenging, exhausting, and I loved it.

At San Francisco digital filmmaking school, you’ve created and equipped a place that nurtures people’s dreams. You’re never content with “good enough” — you’re always looking to improve the physical space, the equipment, the quality of instruction, and the opportunities for students to gain the experience and skills that will allow them to walk onto any film set and fit right in. Many of us have already worked on paid gigs, even before graduating. And finally, you’ve given us valuable guidance about how to take what we’ve learned here and make the real-world transition into our chosen careers. Thank you!”

Estelle Gow

Digital Filmmaking Program, Graduate ’06