Faculty | B.A. in Cinema and Media Arts
Tom Halleen
- Dean, Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts
- M.A., Regent University
- B.A., Taylor University
Tom Halleen, former executive vice president of programming strategy, acquisitions and scheduling at AMC Networks, is the founding dean of Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Through his nearly 30 years as an entertainment industry executive, Halleen has experience in all divisions of programming national television networks including acquisitions, scheduling, development,...
Marcieanna Klaustermeyer
- Assistant Dean, Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts
Marcieanna began working professionally on both Broadway and in Hollywood over 15 years ago. It all began as an associate for the late Benjamin Mordecai and August Wilson. Her early Playbill production credits include King Hedley, Jitney and If It Was [sic] Easy (Off-Broadway). She earned an M.F.A. in Producing for TV/Film at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and...
Dean Yamada
- Professor, Cinema and Media Arts
- M.F.A., University of Southern California
- B.A., University of Southern California
“As an educator it is my job to challenge students to find their voices and then empower them to tell their stories.” Dean is an accomplished independent filmmaker, having directed two features and several short films in Tokyo, Berlin and Jakarta. His films have screened around the world at festivals such as the Venice Film Festival and Clermont-Ferrand and have won awards at the Rhode Island...
John Schmidt
- Associate Professor, Cinema and Media Arts
- M.A., Fuller Seminary
- B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
"I love my students! My greatest desire is to see them excel not only in their chosen field, but in life." John has worked on over 40 films as director, writer, producer or editor. His feature credits include The Climb, Trade of Innocents, and Bobby Jones. In television: A Vow to Cherish, Road to Redemption and Something to Sing About. His feature screenplay, Mountain of Fire, is in...
Michael Gonzales
- Professor, Cinema and Media Arts
- Ph.D., Biola University
- Master of Professional Writing (MFA Equivalency), University of Southern California
- M.A., Loyola Marymount
- B.A., Immaculate Heart College
“Filmmaking is a collaborative and creative process. Preparation includes developing a deep understanding of God's world, His mission for His people and their place in loving others.” Mike has sold three scripts and optioned two. He has directed national commercials, produced corporate videos and consulted with studio executives. He served as a cultural affairs delegate with the US State...