From the Newsstands: This story appeared in The Eagle's April 2025 print edition. You can find the digital version here.
Breaking into the film industry is no easy feat, but at American University, professors are working to give students an edge.
Adjunct screenwriting professor John Weiskopf and Film & Media Arts professor Larry Engel offered insight for young filmmakers at American who want to succeed.
“While filmmaking in Hollywood is about the celebration of art, at the end of the day, it is a business,” Weiskopf said.
“Brace yourself for criticism… You have to be very reflective and not defensive,” Engel said.
With the cutthroat nature of the industry, both professors said film students not only need to dedicate themselves to their craft, but must understand it to the best of their abilities.
The School of Communication, and the Film & Media Arts program specifically, offers many unique opportunities for students. The alumni mentoring program gives students a way to bridge educational and professional gaps by connecting students with alumni. At the University, 86 percent of Film and Media Arts majors are employed, in graduate school or both within six months after graduation.
Another offering from the Film and Media Arts program is the Vision Awards, which recognize the best documentary, fiction, digital media, screenwriting and photography works from students. Cash prizes, mentorships and internships are offered to winners.
Engel said his roots in photography promoted the success of his filmmaking ideas. His accomplishments include documentaries featured on PBS, National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, including a Daytime Emmy Award for cinematography.
“I was fortunate that I started in photography because it taught me to train my eye to see the world as a camera sees it,” Engel said. “And that’s how I see the world. I see the world through a series of frames.”
The two know that consistency and innovation are key to success in the industry, which alumna Emily Eldridge Hall embodies. The 2019 FMA graduate, who was recognized in the 2025 SOC 30 under 30 cohort, works as a TV post-production supervisor in Los Angeles and has worked for Max, Apple TV, Netflix and Showtime.
While FMA grads are not new to success, it takes an immense amount of dedication and creativity to reach that point.
“Force yourself to write and each time you write, get better. Don’t just churn something out. Set a goal for your personal improvement and write something that's not already out there. Be original and new,” Weiskopf said.
Engel said that the power of opportunity is an essential aspect of success and advises students, “Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to say yes.”
“Film has the power to influence people. I think, honestly, that’s the goal of filmmaking in general. It’s something I’ve appreciated much more as I’ve gotten older, just being able to look at something stunning where the storytelling is immaculate and you’re completely enraptured in everything,” Wieskopf said.
This article was edited by Alia Messina and Marina Zaczkiewicz. Copy editing by Emma Brown, Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Hannah Langenfeld, Nicole Kariuki, Ariana Kavoossi,Charlie Mennuti and Jaden Anderson.
