“Thinking about my time at Swarthmore, one of the things that sticks out to me the most is a reading I did in Sunka Simon's Reality TV class. Before we could get to talking about the Kardashians and reality TV, we needed to figure out how "reality" was framed through TV - so we read Bill Nichols' Six Modes of Documentary. That class made me realize that these cinematic techniques are not just limited to the television screen but extend far beyond it and have a very real influence on the world around us.  

Now I am working as an assistant video editor (at the same company I interned at as a junior!) and I catch my mind wandering every now and then as I prepare footage. While watching a politician look directly to the camera, or an actor deliberately looking away, I think back to a cozy Kohlberg classroom where I sat with my friends and classmates and learned more about the media that shapes the world around us.”

- David Molina Cavazos ‘20, Assistant Video Editor at Alkemy X

“My time with Swarthmore's Film and Media Studies department enabled me to explore film through theoretical, cultural, social, and historical angles. I always knew that I wanted to pursue filmmaking as my career before, and I believed that knowing "what" to make a film about was just as important as the "how." Studying film at Swarthmore fulfilled that goal for me.”

- Rubing Zhang '22, NYU Film MFA candidate

"It might sound a little dramatic, but I truly believe that the Film and Media Studies department best embodies Swarthmore's liberal arts ethos. Film and media creation is, of course, a multi-disciplinary practice and FMST offers course offerings and vast faculty knowledge for all stages of the creative process. The program covers film, TV, and video game theory; their histories; screenwriting technique; technical production skills; critical analysis; and even fan culture studies. Perhaps what best illustrates FMST's interdisciplinary nature is the fact that I accidentally stumbled upon enough credits for a Minor simply by pursuing all sorts of different courses I was interested in. I'm so grateful to the incredible faculty and community for welcoming me with open arms."

- Fouad Dakwar '22, 1 Year Master's program candidate in Creative Media and Technology with a specialization in Writing and Design for Musical Theater at Berklee NYC

Fouad’s thesis is an upcoming autobiographical dramedy musical titled “Fouad of Nazareth.” The piece is based on his real-life experience at 14-years-old attending a summer camp in his birthplace of Nazareth (not the one in Pennsylvania, but the one Jesus is often associated with) despite having lived in New York for most of his life. Although the show is specifically about a kid in the Palestinian diaspora coming of age, it's also a more universal story of questioning one's identity and homeland.

"The Swarthmore FMST department totally opened my eyes to what's possible in the world of media production. I wouldn't be living the life I am now if it weren't for the guidance of these professors. I'm so thankful to have found my way to this department."

- Alex Kingsley '20, Game Designer and Director of the new media company Strong Branch Productions

“Studying Film And Media Studies at Swarthmore gave me a rich, deep and holistic exposure to the world and history of cinema. The critical theory coursework and the production classes helped me develop a point of view and skills that inform my work in production and development constantly.” 

- Pavan Kalidindi '19, Creative Executive at Heyday Films in LA 

“The Film & Media Studies department is where I grew to recognize my purpose at Swarthmore. At the start of my freshman year, I wasn't sure where to begin my search for a creative outlet. It wasn't until my first theory course with Bob Rehak in the Cinema Room tucked away on the first floor of LPAC that I was reassured that my love for film was valid, appropriate, and would be appreciated- especially in a room full of my peers. Every semester after, I made sure to take at least one FMST course- usually, it was a production course taught by Rodney Evans- a professor who became a pillar and mentor for me. Over the years, I learned how to sculpt the skills I was learning in all areas such as scriptwriting, editing, filming, and producing into my own bedazzled megaphone- speaking out loud about my social activism, as a historian on the Black experience across the African diasporic community, and as an orator of my own life experiences. As I continue to etch out my career ambitions, I realize how Swat's FMST department helped me create a tangible roadmap to becoming the filmmaker that I am today.”

- Shiko Njoroge ‘22

Shiko Njoroge was recently selected to participate in the augural NAACP Cinematic Shorts Competition in the Summer of 2022. She was made aware of the competition by professor Patricia White, for whom she can not express her gratitude enough. 

The competition was a 5-day event hosted in Atlantic City, NJ during the 112th NAACP National Convention organized by the NAACP Hollywood Bureau and sponsored by Coca-Cola. On the first day of arrival, she was paired with her pre-selected partners and given the assignment: to create a 4-6 minute short documentary that answered that year's NAACP theme: How does the Black community find empowerment? She and her partners: Timothy Richardson and Laniqua Collins had 3 and a half days to storyboard, film, conduct interviews, and edit. 

Somehow- perhaps in a meta-examination or commentary on what drove her to the art form of film in the first place- her film became a love letter to the medium itself. In her own words, the documentary examines the importance of photography for the Black liberation movement across history and how images have brought truth to power "by capturing the Black experience in all its glorious and breathtaking (an intentional word in this instance) detail."

The film #ThroughOurLens (2022) was one of the competition's winners. With that accolade came an all-expense paid trip to LA to attend the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, which took place February 25th at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. She was honored to be invited to walk the red carpet and share the film's synopsis with some of the interviewers present. She would like to thank the multi-hyphenate producer, writer, director Logan Coles, and Senior Vice President of the Hollywood Bureau Kyle Bowser for this opportunity. And a special thank you to Shantelle Cason for being the team's liaison and advocate during the entire experience. 

"It was inspiring to see so many talented and joyous people at the top of their game, who were all dedicated to telling stories that showcased the expansiveness of who we are, who we can become, and all the infinite possibilities in between." - Shiko Njoroge