UNCSA School of Filmmaking pilots new ‘Story Art Studio’

“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the School of Filmmaking at UNCSA, we are looking to the future of the film industry,” said Deborah LaVine, dean of the School of Filmmaking. “At UNCSA we encourage our students to think beyond traditional filmmaking methods and explore new ways to tell stories that will both meet and lead the industry toward its future. Story Art Studio represents a significant step forward for the Film school, offering students the ability to work across a number of practices to create innovative work that elevates story in new and different ways.”

Story Art Studio is led by UNCSA School of Filmmaking faculty members Bob Keen (“The Empire Strikes Back,” “Hellraiser”); Eve Cauley (“Home Alone”); Burton Rencher (“The Stand”); Carol Wood; Mike Borowiec; and Stacy Payne, producing director of the Media and Emerging Technology Lab (METL). Nine students are piloting the program, aimed at becoming a three-year undergraduate concentration beginning in fall 2026.

"What I hear most from people in the industry is that they want new ideas. They want innovation,” said Keen. “The industry itself is changing and transforming on a daily basis, and it needs people who can think fast and have new ideas. So we're training those people."

Story Art Studio participants will explore projects representing the boldness of films such as Oscar-winning film “Poor Things”; Wes Anderson’s Oscar-winning short film, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”; “GRUFF,” a handmade, paper short film by Righteous Robot; and “Grand Theft Hamlet,” s staging of the Shakespeare play within the world of the video game Grand Theft Auto; along with installations and immersive experiences, and more. 

 “Story Art Studio is a cluster of experimental classes trying to give students opportunities,” Keen continued, “not so much that ‘I’m a director’ or ‘I’m a cinematographer’ — but more that they are creators, and they are using their imagination and multiple skills, working very closely together as a team to create things that are different.”

Story Art Studio will operate like a set of incubators, some of which will be themed labs ranging from children’s programming to contemporary approaches to the thriller genre. This year, students participating in Story Art Studio will also contribute to UNCSA’s new holiday tradition, “Holiday Suite,” an immersive experience where audiences participate in holiday rituals from around the world performed by dancers, puppets, mechanical dolls, and musicians performing and displayed in a variety of environments.

Story Art Studio joins UNCSA’s METL in expanding opportunities for students to work at the leading edge of industry trends and power the industry of tomorrow.

About the School of Filmmaking

Consistently recognized as among the nation’s best training programs for filmmakers, the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, has produced some of today’s most creative storytellers.

Led by working filmmaker Dean Deborah LaVine, the Film school is a collaborative community with personalized attention from its deep bench of award-winning directors, screenwriters, editors, cinematographers, production designers and animators, all committed professionals who continue to practice in the entertainment industry. With concentrations in animation, cinematography, directing, picture editing and sound design, producing, production design and visual effects, and screenwriting, UNCSA prepares filmmakers for all facets of the industry. Under the leadership of Dean LaVine, UNCSA has embraced a broad range of storytelling from traditional narrative films to episodic, documentary and immersive media and built international partnerships with film schools worldwide. Students learn the latest in filmmaking and technologies through the Media and Emerging Technology Lab (METL), dedicated to exploring the production of immersive and innovative storytelling. New program offerings such as the Story Art Studio are broadening the scope of the training and making students employable across a wide spectrum of work.

Notable alumni from the School of Filmmaking include Jeff Nichols (“The Bikeriders”); Vera Herbert (“This is Us,” “Don’t Make Me Go”); Craig Zobel (“Mare of Easttown,” “Penguin”); Danny McBride (“The Righteous Gemstones,” “Eastbound & Down”); David Gordon Green (“Nutcrackers,” the “Halloween” franchise); Zach Seivers (“Nomadland,” “Raymond & Ray,”“Will & Harper”); Brett Haley (“Hearts Beat Loud,” “The Hero”); Rebecca Green (“It Follows,” “I’ll See You in My Dreams”); Jody Hill (“The Righteous Gemstones,” “Vice Principals”); Martha Stephens (“To the Stars”); Aaron Katz (“Land Ho!” “Gemini”); Kaitlyn Ali (“Queen & Slim,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”); Tim Orr (“Raising Victor Vargas,” “Joe”); Will Files (“The Batman,” “Stranger Things”); Zoë White (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Westworld,” “Will & Harper”); Alex Bickel (“Beef”); and Michael Brake (“Barry”); among many others.

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