Alumni to Watch

Laura Aldridge (’09)

Senior Program Manager at Industrial Light & Magic

Laura’s current role is to manage and oversee improvements and training for a specialized tracking software that makes the movie-making process easy. Effectively, it’s a specialized film/TV spreadsheet with lots of bells and whistles. She supports all of their users and projects globally and helps find solutions across projects and locations to new ways of working. Her summer internship on How to Save a Life grew into a production office coordinator position. Credits include The Artist, Snow White and the Huntsman and Jurassic World.

“Every job I got for the first five years after leaving Biola came from a connection I made at Biola, often with people cold calling me to find out if I was looking for work. So you could say that Biola truly launched my career.”

Rebecca Baliko (’20)

First Assistant Camera

As a 1st AC, Rebecca works directly under the cinematographer and handles most of the technical responsibilities of the camera. This includes building the camera and accessorizing it during prep, pulling focus during each take, and also organizing and managing the rest of the camera department. Rebecca worked on the indie feature Space Waves, which began as a Biola student project, and has worked on a number of pilots and commercials.

“Most of my work in the industry now is still with my dear friends from Cinema & Media Arts, and even the jobs that aren't can be traced back to a connection I made at Biola. It was truly the community and mentorship I found there — along with our ability to film anything, anytime, as students — that has become the bedrock of my career. I would not be where I am today if not for those precious years as a Biola student.”

Anthony (’12) and Kaylah Cantu (’13)

Screenwriters and Co-Founders of Writers Spotlight

Anthony graduated with a Communication Studies degree and Kaylah graduated with a degree in Cinema and Media Arts with an emphasis in Screenwriting. Together they created Writers Spotlight, an online community for screenwriters to meet fellow writers, improve their scripts, and get connected with industry professionals. Most of their day involves reading scripts, giving feedback, and fostering community, all while writing and pitching their own scripts. They are currently writing a romantic comedy feature, which is going into production this year.

“Attending Biola was one of the most formative experiences of our lives. It grounded us in a Christ-centered worldview and helped us realize that the most important thing we can do is glorify God through our work and the stories we tell. Plus, we met each other and got married right after we graduated, so that was pretty cool too.”

Robert “Bobo” Chang (’08)

Actor, Writer, Filmmaker, Content Creator

Bobo works both in front of the camera and as a voice actor. Behind the scenes, he’s also a screenwriter and director. Recently, he created Bobo P.E., a kids’ workout YouTube channel starring his family that has accrued millions of views. Credits include Young Sheldon, La La Land, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jane the Virgin (recurring), and Silicon Valley.

“While the CMA program at Biola trained me technically and gave me invaluable practice in crafting stories for the camera in all aspects of production, the greatest takeaway was how it helped build and solidify integrity in Christ, devotion to God, knowledge of Scripture, and examples of putting Jesus before every worldly and career aspiration by the power of the Spirit.”

Courtney Coker (’14)

Creative Executive at Lucasfilm

Courtney works in the story development group for feature films. Her team starts with an in-house idea or filmmaker’s pitch and then builds that story into a script for production. Prior to that, she worked as an assistant on such projects as Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Top Gun: Maverick.

“Early on in my time at Biola, I was encouraged to see the convergence of what was once divided into sacred and secular — giving God glory can mean bringing your best as a person and an artist to a film project. Film is always an exploration of the human condition and is therefore often woven closely with spirituality, and Biola gave me a lens to see this in a truthful way.”

Hannah Serrano Diaz (’15)

Video Editor

Hannah organizes and edits all the footage that was shot and handed to her by clients to create a story out of everything. In 2020, she won a Bronze Telly for Best Cultural Programming in the Television-Cultural category for Brilla, a documentary shot in Nicaragua. The series came about when Juce TV was given the opportunity to go to Nicaragua with the One Nation, One Day ministry. When they came back from the shoot, Hannah had to shape the footage into a coherent storyline.

“My Biola education really shaped me for my work as an editor for nonfiction, docuseries type work because I get to be part of more than just the editing. Since most of my work is not scripted, it's usually a group of us who take part in finding story arches and writing a cohesive storyline together. Biola has given me an overview of production as a whole so I can tap into what I've learned in order to be a better collaborator and creative on the team.”

Ryan Frost (’07)

Independent Producer, Public House Films

Ryan does everything from developing stories from scratch to running production. He puts together financing, and works hard to keep things on schedule and on budget. Movies have a lot of moving parts that need to come together seamlessly to create the finished product that you see in theaters or stream at home. Credits include The Dark Divide and The United States of Insanity.

“Biola gave us access to a lot of hands-on experience. My directing class in particular was an eye-opening experience for me as I learned how to communicate with actors to generate performances that tell a visual story. I received some incredible internships while attending Biola: New Regency and Walden Media. Senior year, I got a day-play job on a TV pilot for NBC that led to my first full-time job in the industry with ABC Television.

Jadon Gauthier (’11)

Director/WriterProducer, Founder of WonderBox Entertainment

As a film and viral content writer, director, and producer, Jadon has helped create some of the internet's most memorable videos with millions of views globally. Recent work includes directing the short film First to the Gate, starring Zach King for Turkish Airlines, writing and producing the Caleb Natale WandaVision In Real Life TikTok for Disney+, and directing the Eliza Petersen Drastic World Changes TikTok for Universal Pictures featuring Jurassic World: Dominion stars Laura Dern and Bryce Dallas Howard.

“I loved the heart of Biola and the faculty and staff they surrounded us with. I think it was truly a school where the more you put into it, you really could get out of it. I am so grateful to have had faculty and staff that were fellow believers that I could genuinely approach often and discuss ideas and work out ways to grow in faith and career. It ultimately helped me to pursue excellence in my passion for filmmaking and storytelling but with a much deeper heart than when I started.”

David Greig (’17)

Production Manager, Visualization & VFX

David oversees and manages a team of visual effects artists as they work collaboratively with various film departments to visualize and map out script scenes before principal photography. Credits include Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian, Jungle Cruise, and Loki.

“Biola provided an environment to discover and grow in my career skills and faith in God. The encouragement from my Biola professors and community to dream big and aim high has helped motivate me to be a good leader and a positive influence in the film industry.”

Sam Halleen (’15)

Creative Content Manager for Concord Music

Sam directs, edits and commissions music videos for Concord Music (Fearless Records, Loma Vista, Craft, Fantasy, etc.). His videos for clients like Dance Gavin Dance, I Prevail, Mothica, August Burns Red have been viewed millions of times on YouTube. Outside of his day job, he’s a freelance director and editor of broadcast commercials for Stater Brothers, The Music Center, Melissa & Doug, Daily Harvest, Flying Embers, Miyokos, Nutpods and more.

“I had a great experience at Biola. I gained extensive gear knowledge, and met like-minded colleagues that I continue to work with to this day!”

Jade Herbert (’17)

Executive Assistant, Disney Branded Television

Jade moved to NYC after graduation and worked at HBO's Manhattan office in distribution for two-and-a-half years. She was an executive assistant in the business planning & strategy and partner marketing departments. After leaving HBO, she graduated with distinction in 2021 from the University of Exeter in partnership with the London Film School, receiving an M.A. in International Film Business. Currently, she's working as an executive assistant at Disney's L.A. office in development/production (original documentaries and original unscripted formats).

“Getting a degree can be shorthand for the type of experience you have when you interview for jobs. Many corporate positions in film/TV still ask for at least a bachelor's degree to apply (or equivalent experience) on their job listings, and it's nice to be able to say that you have a degree at a great school like Biola rather than trying to explain four+ years of relevant work experience in your application.”

Chris Herzberger (‘06)

SVP, Universal Theatrical Group

Chris oversees the live stage division at Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. He and his team are responsible for identifying key Universal and DreamWorks properties and assembling the greatest creative talent in the world to develop them for the Broadway stage. Credits include The Prince of Egypt (which played in London’s West End), Death Becomes Her starring Kristin Chenoweth, and Back to the Future: The Musical on Broadway.

“Biola taught me that working in the entertainment industry is a career choice, not a pipe dream. It’s a business, and like any business, success in Hollywood requires more than pure ambition. My incredible film professors showed me how to network, how to read the trades, how to review a contract, how to negotiate a deal, how to get a job, and taught me the importance of learning everything about everything. Most importantly, the greatest gift of my time at Biola — and the thing that prepared me most for the work I do — was finding a circle of Christ-centered friends who remain an enormous part of my life today.”

Breeana Humble (’16)

Producer for Samaritan's Purse

Breeana’s job is to lead and support teams of filmmakers in telling God-glorifying human stories around the world. Samaritan’s Purse does everything from disaster-relief news updates to long-form documentaries, and all in Jesus’ name!

“I learned so many filmmaking skills at Biola and I made life-long friends who continue to give me input on current projects. Most importantly, Biola gave me a firm foundation of biblical knowledge to work from, an appreciation for God's truth and its power to change lives.”

Kelly Kloster (’13)

Manager, Legal & Business Affairs, Hallmark Media

Hallmark produces over 100 movies a year, and it’s Kelly’s job to manage the influx of talent, producer, writer, and music deals. She helps with the structuring and execution of deals, liaisoning with unions, and managing clearances before the movies hit the air.

“As I started my journey in the industry, someone once told me, ‘It’s who you know that gets you there, but it’s what you know that keeps you there.’ Not only did Biola give me the knowledge to prepare me for success, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without the connections I made along the way.”

Rachel Malasig (’15)

Assistant Production Coordinator

As an APC, Rachel supports all departments making sure they have everything they need to do their jobs, often swooping in if there is a logistical task a department is unable to complete. Rachel is also a creative producer for Pranksters Ink, helping get short films off the ground, filmed, and submitted to festivals. Credits include Don’t Look Up and Ghosted.

“While at Biola I was a part of the Torrey Honors College. The relationships and philosophical concepts I gained there have really solidified my desire to bring stories into the world that push and stretch the way people think of Christ. I’m motivated by a desire to help tell the stories of marginalized people groups that don’t feel welcome in modern Christian circles.”

Joseph Olvera (’17)

Production Secretary

The production office team wears many hats to keep a production running, and Joseph’s role functions as a central hub of information for the various departments that come together and make a movie. Joseph helps the creatives keep up with the business side of on-set production filmmaking by managing the office, crew onboarding and gatekeeping of sensitive information. Credits include Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Forever Purge and The High Note.

“The film community at Biola fostered a mindset of creative and collaborative problem solving while maintaining positive and humble attitudes. These qualities have been essential for myself in working well with the variety of personalities one encounters all around Hollywood.”

Dan Parris (’09)

Director, Speak Up Studios

Dan is an independent filmmaker whose first feature-length documentary, What Matters?, screened at over 100 universities and played at numerous festivals. His fourth feature film, Show Me Democracy, premiered as a national broadcast on FUSE TV. In 2014, he founded Continuity, a 501c3 whose mission is to expand diversity in media production.

“Biola took my filmmaking knowledge to another level. It pushed me to make work of a much higher production quality but also to remember that who I was on set mattered just as much or more than what I created on set.”

Nick Patapoff (’10)

Production Supervisor

Nick is a freelance production supervisor who works with the producer and Unit Production Manager on a show to plan, budget, and hire crew to turn a high-budget TV script into what you see on screen. He frequently interacts with over 500 crew members, cast, studio executives, union representatives, and agents, and serves on the IATSE Local 871 Board of Directors. Credits include New Girl, Marvel’s Runaways, and Grown-ish.

“Biola gave me a love and appreciation for the arts, while encouraging me to seek out a production management role to bring creative visions to screen. My Biola community continues to impact my life personally and professionally — I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve received and given work from those Biola relationships.”

Sydney Patapoff (’09)

Director’s Guild Key 2nd Assistant Director

As the Key 2nd AD, Sydney brings a show’s creative vision to life by translating each department’s creative goals into action plans and call times. Sometimes this means coordinating with Transpo, Grip & Electric to do a mid-rush-hour company move for that perfect sunset beauty shot, and other days it means bribing actresses with an oat milk latte to get her to work on time. Credits include Reboot (Hulu), Hollywood Stargirl (Disney+) and Perfect Harmony (NBC).

“The faculty and staff at Biola helped me find my role as a logistical loving person in a creative field, and continually encouraged me both during and post-grad to go after my dreams. Most importantly, Biola gave me the community of friends and eventually colleagues that would support me in every step of my challenging Hollywood journey.”

Maggie Ryan (’19)

Video Editor at BangZoom! Studios

Maggie edits together storyboards in a cohesive episode, adding recorded dialogue, sound effects, and music. She jumps from project to project in the BangZoom! animation department, and assists with designing characters for shows and doing graphic design.

“At Biola, I actively talked to my professors and gained insight on how to improve my editing skills and it was extremely helpful to have experienced teachers to give me advice and tips on my work. Biola did a wonderful job about helping me get internships when I was in school. Experience is everything, and interning at studios really helped me figure out what I wanted to do and what I didn’t want to do in a career.”

Jed Saba (’12)

Campaign Manager, Prime Video & Amazon Studios

Jed is a Campaign Manager at Amazon Studios and MGM where he oversees the 360 marketing campaigns for theatrical and Prime Video films. He manages the full operations behind all creative material, including the trailer, TV spots, poster, outdoor billboards and bus wraps. Previously, Jed worked at NBCUniversal where he participated in the creative content campaigns for Halloween Kills, Sing 2, Jurassic World Dominion, The Black Phone, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Nope.

“The professors at Biola had real-world experience in the industry and taught not only from a creative standpoint, but from an industry and business perspective as well.”

Matt Schouten (’13)

Digital Imaging Technician

Matt’s primary responsibility is with the camera department. He works alongside the Director of Photography to help maintain color and exposure consistency. In addition, he is also in charge of the implementation of new technology, networking, camera control, data ingest, and the post-production pipeline. Credits include The Madalorian Seasons 2 and 3 and The Book of Boba Fett.

“One of the things that first attracted me to Biola was a hands-on experience, taught through the lens of a faith-based perspective. It was also pivotal to have professors that invested in their students to create a solid foundation. Many of the relationships I formed at Biola are still strong today.”

Rachel Shimko (’15)

1st Assistant Director

The 1st AD works alongside the director to understand the vision of a project in order to organize the shoot and schedule. An AD’s job is to manage the crew side of production to maximize efficiency on set. In short, if the director directs the cast, the assistant director directs the crew. Credits include The Fabelmans, The Book of Boba Fett, and Full Bloom (for which she won a DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs).

“I got my first jobs thanks to friends I made at Biola. Because of the community of collaboration the school creates, I was able to get enough experience on set to step into the working world after graduation.”

Brandon Spring (’16)

Video Storyteller

Brandon inhabits the world of storytelling and visual marketing, shooting content for small businesses and organizations along with freelance directing. Having worked as a videographer at organizations like TechMD and Fullerton Free Church, he is currently the videographer at Revive, a real-estate renovation startup. In addition to these roles, Brandon is developing his latest short film, Safety Driver, and recently wrapped post-production on Sorry, Steve, soon to enter the festival circuit.

“Biola prepared me by letting me play in a creative sandbox where I learned to hone my craft through teamwork, leadership, humility and using my ambition strategically.”

Sierra Stoltzfus (’19)

Pixar TikTok Content Strategist

Sierra leads the creative direction and production workflow for Pixar's TikTok account by concepting engaging video ideas, scripting videos, and managing Pixar's presence on TikTok. She managed the launch of Pixar's TikTok account to bring the charm of Pixar to a new audience. (Check out this Filmography Through Food piece.)

“My education at Biola was so valuable because CMA provided me with an abundance of opportunities to gain industry-standard experience as a student. By building a versatile set of skills in video production at Biola, I've been able to offer skills outside my scope of work for every position I've held so far. At the crossroads of all those skills is also a deep understanding of strong storytelling that I learned at Biola and continue to implement in all of my work.”

Anna Vogt (’04)

2nd Assistant Director

Anna assists in making sure all moving parts are prepped, notified and ready to complete a day of filming. She has a hand in every logistical element that goes into a shoot day from booking the extras, to giving the entire cast and crew their call times, to delegating tasks to the entire PA staff, to assisting the 1st AD running set, and much more. Credits include Station Eleven, Yellowjackets, The Morning Show, GLOW, Big Little Lies, and The Patient.

“I can say with confidence that the work ethic that Biola graduates have is incomparable to most other folks I’ve seen in a production role on set. We have a sense of integrity and honesty that is rare in the industry.”

Andrew Watkins (’09)

Producer, Virtual Production at Industrial Light & Magic

Andrew works with film and television shows that use the latest virtual production tools (like large LED walls and real-time rendering systems) to execute high-level immersive environments and digital tech to help elevate the final images created for movies and television. As a former Disney Imagineer, he produced Webslingers: A Spider-Man Adventure and Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure. He also served as associate producer, virtual production for The Book of Boba Fett.

“Biola prepared me to be successful by encouraging me to not be afraid to jump into new technologies and to explore new ways to create stories. But those technologies and tools need to be used in a way to continue to drive unique and fresh stories which was sparked by the questions I was forced to ask and analyze while at Biola.”

Cameron West (’15)

Production Coordinator at Princess Bento Studios

After Biola, Cameron worked in international film & TV distribution, attending the major film festivals and selling U.S. content to overseas distributors. Eventually, he transitioned to Netflix, where he worked both as a Rights Analyst and a Resource Manager for the Netflix Animation hub. He is currently in Melbourne, Australia, working at Princess Bento Studios as a Production Coordinator for an upcoming adult animation show for FOX that is set to air Summer 2024.

“Biola provided me with a community of people that I still surround myself with and that serve as a wonderful and necessary support system in navigating this wild and crazy industry, and for that I’ll always be grateful!”

Stephen Yao (’05)

Editor

Stephen is a documentary editor. During football season, he works for the NFL creating short documentaries, and in the offseason he edits a range of projects from feature documentaries to nonprofit PSAs and everything in between. In 2020, Stephen edited Howard, a Disney+ documentary that profiles Oscar-winning songwriter and lyricist Howard Ashman. His latest project is The Redeem Team, a Netflix documentary about the U.S. men’s basketball team, which won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Long Documentary.

“Biola prepared me by providing professors with real world experience and connections. I also learned the importance of working hard while collaborating and treating others well along the way.”