2019 Highbridge Workshops

WILMORE, KY (April 19, 2019) – Friday, April 26 Asbury University’s 2019 Highbridge Film Festival features workshops presented by the festival judges. Asbury students will learn about a range of topics in the film and television entertainment industry. Past attendees note that the Highbridge workshop sessions and the opportunity to interact with leading Hollywood professionals have been transformative experiences in their career preparation. The sessions are held in Asbury University’s Miller Center for Communication Arts (unless noted). The 2019 workshop schedule includes the following:

9 a.m.
The Final Rewrite: The Art of Cutting from Script to Screen
Presented by Nicole Baer, Editor/Director
Geared toward writers and editors alike, this session starts with the script and walks through clips of a scene's progression as it makes its way through director, producer and studio cuts to the final version seen by the audience. The script is just the beginning of the editorial process.
[Gyertson Screening Room]

10 a.m.
Asbury University Chapel
Michael Swanson, Entertainment Executive - NBC Universal
Addressing the student body, Michael Swanson will share his testimony about his faith journey and creative calling to make a difference through his work in the film and television industry.
[Hughes Auditorium]

11 a.m.
Being a Christian in Hollywood
Presented by Dean Batali, TV Writer/Showrunner
Hollywood influences and defines our culture—which is why Christians need to be working there. Hear one TV writer’s experiences as part of Hollywood’s growing Christian community and discuss how to prepare for a career in entertainment and the arts.
[Gyertson Screening Room]

1 p.m.
Editing Techniques for Action, Suspense, & the Supernatural: Tips From an Experienced Eye
Presented by Nicole Baer, Editor/Director
While some editors are known for their work in specific genres, most pros are called upon to use an array of techniques. This session is geared toward expanding an editor’s range with practical tips drawn from the action, suspense, and supernatural story genres.
[Gyertson Screening Room]

2 p.m.
Leadership & Faith in Entertainment Media
Presented by Michael Swanson, Entertainment Executive - NBC Universal
Leadership in entertainment media means drawing upon hundreds of talented people to create the movies and television shows that shape culture. In this session, an experienced studio executive discusses his experiences in leading effectively from a faith-informed perspective in today’s fast-changing studio environment.
[Gyertson Screening Room]

3 - 5 p.m. Extended Workshop
TV Writing: Breaking Buffy
Presented by Dean Batali, TV Writer/Showrunner
Before the actual words of an episode are scripted, TV writers go about the work of “breaking a story”—deciding what plot points and narrative events should occur and in what order. This session walks through this critically important process in an engaging workshop format, using an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as an example.
[Gyertson Screening Room]

Download a PDF of the pocket guide

About Highbridge Film Festival
The Highbridge Film Festival began in 2005 as a vehicle for Asbury University’s School of Communication Arts to showcase student films and in the process, encourage visual storytelling. Each year the festival selects about a dozen student films and provides a venue for special presentations from Communication Arts and the panel of judges from the film and television industry. The film festival is entirely produced and promoted through the combined efforts of the School of Communication Arts’ Special Events class and student volunteers. 2019 marks the 15th anniversary of the festival, which has grown into a nationally recognized collegiate film festival delighting audiences and attracting wide-ranging interest from the film industry.