John Paul the Great Catholic University is pleased to announce the addition of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The BFA in Visual Arts degree will be the new home for our existing emphases in Animation, Game Development, Graphic Design, and Illustration.

The Animation, Game Development, and Graphic Design emphases currently exist within the BS in Communications Media, while the Illustration emphasis exists within the BA in Humanities.

“The main idea for launching this new degree program is to consolidate these robust emphases under a more appropriate degree umbrella,” said Prof. Max Hulburt, Chair of Visual Arts. “Repositioning them in this new degree setting will foster their development, allow us to add more relevant visual arts courses, and accelerate their future growth.”

In this migration, much of the existing curriculum within these four emphases will remain intact, but the new structure provides the ability to offer a more relevant core set of classes specifically crafted for visual artists, and also enables a more intensive senior project experience and portfolio review process. It will also make it easier for students to pursue double emphases within these four programs.

“This BFA also creates a solid academic platform for the exploration of other art production areas in the future including concept art, painting, sculpting, production design, sequential art, and more,” said Hulburt.

The change will apply to students beginning at JPCatholic in Fall Quarter 2023 or later. However, students from the relevant emphases who enter JPCatholic between now and then will have the option to transfer to the BFA when it launches in 2023.

“Adding a BFA has been on JPCatholic’s academic roadmap for a number of years,” said President Derry Connolly. “I am thrilled with this compelling program that Prof. Hulburt has crafted. I expect it will be very well received by our students and will be a tentpole program for the University. Praise God.”

O, Brawling Love!, the first project in John Paul the Great Catholic University’s Feature Film Program, completed production in June. The film was shot primarily in Escondido, using locations such as Escondido Charter High School, Grape Day Park, various homes, and the university’s soundstage. Over fifty students of various majors, along with several alumni, were involved both on and off set.

Prof. George Simon, Chair of Communications Media, is spearheading our Feature Film Program. He announced the initiative last year as a way to integrate feature film productions into the curriculum, providing students the opportunity to collaborate with alumni and professors each year in bringing a new film to life. “This program is made possible by the talent, creativity, and passion of our students,” he said. “Every day on set, these filmmakers set a standard of excellence and professionalism that is truly remarkable. We all knew it was possible to pull off a feature film with our students, but they didn’t just pull it off, they knocked it out of the park.”

Director Maggie Mahrt (left) and 1st AD Katie Gerlach (right) review a shot on set

JPCatholic’s faculty selected O, Brawling Love! from a pool of nearly fifty student and alumni pitches. An original story by senior screenwriting student Bella Lake, the script is about two rival acting students who are forced to reconcile their differences and play lovers Romeo and Juliet in their final school play, vying for a $25k cash prize.

The film was directed by JPCatholic alumna Maggie Mahrt (‘10), whose resume includes work for Disney Digital, Paramount Studio, and NBC. In 2016 she was selected as one of eight women for the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women, through which she wrote and directed the award winning short film Unbound.

For several quarters, students and faculty advanced the film with courses on story development and pre-production applied directly to planning the project. Production spanned June 2nd–28th, taking place primarily during the break between Spring and Summer quarter.

Senior film student Katie Gerlach served as 1st Assistant Director on the film. She said, “Between creating schedules, location scouting, and making endless spreadsheets and documents in pre-production, to being one of the first people on set each morning and one of the last to leave at night, this set has been absolutely exhausting - but in the best way possible. O, Brawling Love! has not only reminded me why I want to be a filmmaker, but it has helped me to become better at my craft.”

Maggie Mahrt directs a scene in JPCatholic’s Soundstage

Several students also acted in the project, including senior acting student John Howard who was cast as the male lead. He participated in the blind audition process with Mahrt, and was selected from a pool of over 50 candidates from both inside and outside JPCatholic. “Starring in a feature film was a big step up from acting in short films,” he said. “The opportunity for deep character development as well as working with a top-notch director and crew really made me feel as if I could perform to the absolute maximum of my ability. It was a welcome and rewarding challenge.”

After production completed, Prof. Melinda Simon led a team of students in editing the project, and Prof. Jeff Deverett is now guiding the students through the distribution and marketing process for a hopeful 2023 release. Like previous stages of the film, these were classes students took for credit.

In the meantime, the 2023 feature film project is already in development. In October, we hosted our second annual Pitch Night to narrow down the selections for next year, and selection of next year’s project is anticipated by the end of November.

The crew celebrates wrapping the production

What Remains, a feature film written and directed by Prof. Nathan Scoggins, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in October. The murder mystery, set and shot in northern Texas, was produced by Ralph Winter (X-Men), with executive producers Korey Scott Pollard (Chicago Fire) and Sean Doherty, CEO of Sharpened Iron Studios which co-financed the project. As reported by Variety, the film stars Cress Williams (Black Lightning, Never Been Kissed) as a small town pastor “who is forced to contend with an act of forgiveness when the convict he forgave for murdering his wife returns to town five years later.” Meanwhile, the late Anne Heche (Six Days Seven Nights, Volcano) stars as a sheriff investigating another murder which may be related. After actress Heche’s tragic death in August, What Remains is one of her final films to premiere posthumously.

Production took place over five weeks last September and October in Amarillo, TX. A total of 17 JPCatholic alumni and four current students served in various roles on set, representing over a quarter of the film’s crew.

Scoggins has been a Professor of Film at JPCatholic since 2008, where he also served as Producer for the university produced feature film Red Line (2013). Scoggins’ previous credits for writing and directing include The Least of These (starring Isaiah Washington) and The Perfect Summer (starring Eric Roberts).

“I made What Remains from the heart,” said Scoggins. “Not just the writing but the shooting too. Being able to include students and alumni was an opportunity to make this movie the way I’ve dreamed—with focus, determination, kindness and commitment. I’m so proud of so many of the young filmmakers I’ve mentored over the years, grateful for the way they stepped up to the plate and delivered every day, and excited to celebrate this milestone.”

After the festival, the film sold domestic distribution rights to Gravitas Ventures, which will simultaneously release the film in theaters and streaming on December 2nd.

What Remains is now available to rent or purchase!

• iTunes
• Amazon
• Google Play
• Microsoft Xbox
• Vimeo
• VUDU
• YouTube

We are pleased to announce that construction will begin in early 2023 on the Creative Arts Academic Complex at 131 South Broadway in Escondido.

Previously the home of Johnson Furniture until its closure in 2007, the property was purchased by JPCatholic in 2016 using a generous $1.5M gift from the Caster Family Trust as well as some debt financing.

The structure will be divided into two separate buildings (Cinematic Arts and Visual Arts) connected by a courtyard, which will serve as a venue for community events, outdoor performances, and student life. This complex will expand our current academic capabilities and campus significantly, and equip our growing student body with the resources needed to create impactful art. These include a recording studio, virtual production lab, more soundstages, fine arts workshop, acting black box studio, and additional classrooms and computer labs.

Renovation on the Creative Arts Academic Complex is currently projected to finish by the end of 2023. We are sincerely grateful to all of our donors who made this possible.

Over the past year, Prof. Max Hulburt has added a sequence of three electives training students in cutting edge techniques for using motion capture and Unreal Game Engine in producing both CGI and live action films. Alumni have already taken positions at companies like AMGI Studios, which will use these techniques in producing a feature film for Netflix.

Intro to Virtual Production, Virtual Production II, and Visual Effects Production comprise a new sequence of electives designed for animation, film, or game development students interested in exploring this emerging industry.

“The whole concept is can we use real time rendering properties of a game engine to do real time visual effects work, or real time animation work, or real time broadcast television,” explained Hulburt. He shared how TV shows like The Mandalorian, various animated features, as well as BBC’s broadcast of the Olympics have all employed these techniques.

“Virtual production is so exciting to me, because it’s so synergistic,” said Hulburt. “I have these game students who understand how to create compelling environments, to create these beautiful worlds and make them interactive. But I also have film students who know how to shoot in these beautiful spaces and make them look compelling in films… It really pulls from so many areas of the university… and there aren’t a lot of places that are doing this to the level that we are.”

Hulburt created these courses to respond to a growing demand for these skill sets. “I actually have companies that have called saying ‘Do you have someone who can work on this?’ and so we’ve made some really strong connections in this space.”

One of those connections is AMGI Studios in Burbank, a company cofounded by Colin Brady, a visiting professor of JPCatholic. Brady’s career has included animation work at Pixar (Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2), as well as live action visual effects (The Hunger Games, Hugo, The Amazing Spider-Man). Now, as Chief Creative Officer at AMGI, he is a pioneer in the growing movement towards using motion capture for animated films. AMGI’s work includes the music video for “My Universe” by Coldplay and BTS. Their next big project is a feature film with Netflix, which is in development this year.

Shortly after graduation, Sebastian Romero (‘21) and Taylor Prudencio (‘21) were both hired full-time at AMGI, where they use the skill sets they acquired in their virtual production courses at JPCatholic.

“Virtual production is so exciting to me, because it’s so synergistic,” said Hulburt. “I have these game students who understand how to create compelling environments, to create these beautiful worlds and make them interactive. But I also have film students who know how to shoot in these beautiful spaces and make them look compelling in films… It really pulls from so many areas of the university… and there aren’t a lot of places that are doing this to the level that we are.”

Hulburt created these courses to respond to a growing demand for these skill sets. “I actually have companies that have called saying ‘Do you have someone who can work on this?’ and so we’ve made some really strong connections in this space.”

COULD YOU SHARE ABOUT YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS AN ACTRESS?

In preparing to study acting in college, I wanted to find a university that focused on telling stories that were true to the human experience while still being integrated in a Christian world-view. JPCatholic’s acting program pushed me as an actor and simultaneously as a human being; I grew to love my humanity, and it instilled the necessity to bring every emotion and experience to Christ. Since graduating, I have continued to grow in my love for storytelling, particularly in theatre, and the power of live art.

What do you think sets JPCatholic’s acting program apart?

One strength of our program is the size of the school. I was able to get individual mentorship very easily due to the small class sizes, and professors were easy to access. There’s a strong belief in collaboration, and actors are encouraged to pursue various passion projects, scenes, or shows with like-minded peers. Lee Eskey, who founded the program, also has a beautiful way of incorporating Theology of the Body into the curriculum which is life changing.

What is your vision for the program as you step into the role of Creative Director?

There are several answers for this. I want to encourage an atmosphere where actors can bring any idea to the table. Of course, ideas may have to be tweaked, but an environment that fosters and encourages their creativity is crucial. This collaborative storytelling is especially true in rehearsals for our mainstage productions. I also want to foster continued relationships between the filmmakers and actors on campus. There are so many projects happening, and dialogue between the various roles on set creates a fun yet disciplined environment. I hope that at JPCatholic students are also able to learn the techniques associated with professional acting and deepen their skillset, so that they can confidently work on projects after graduation.

What have been the most exciting developments this year for the Acting program?

One of the biggest developments this year was collaboration between the film and acting departments on the Feature Film Program. Many of our actors auditioned for roles on O, Brawling Love! and some were called back by the director and cast in leading roles. This is a huge opportunity for their resume and experience. Another development is the Animation department’s courses on motion capture. There is a lot of potential for acting students to collaborate with them by acting in virtual productions, and it’s a great skill for actors to be able to use their imaginations when acting in a virtual world. Thirdly, I’m excited to introduce our updated theatre season, which will reserve our spring slot each year for Student Directed Productions—the chance for students to spearhead a show that they’re passionate about (possibly JPII’s the The Jeweler’s Shop this year!).

Could you elaborate on your experience with the Feature Film Program?

I served in the role of casting director for O, Brawling Love! Acting students were encouraged to audition (even if they were not cast, there’s a great skill in simply practicing the audition process). With several of our acting students landing roles on the project, it was such an amazing experience to see their hard work and dedication on set. Film is such an incredible art form in which communication and respect is essential between the various departments. In addition to many students receiving a feature film credit on IMDB, the actors were able to practice various aspects that are required on a fast-paced set including preparation, flexibility, various acting techniques in their performances, and more.

“[JPCatholic] was a place where I did not have to pick between my call as an artist and the call to be a saint. I would get spiritual formation alongside creative education.”

The show is a collaboration between John Paul the Great Catholic University and JP2 Catholic Radio, a station which began in Imperial Valley in 2015 and expanded to San Diego county last year. Raul Caro, founder of the station, began exploring a relationship with JPCatholic as the network expanded to San Diego. “I saw that offering an opportunity for students to learn and create broadcast audio, realtime, could be a win-win for the University, for our network who needs talented and passionate creators, and for the Catholic community in our area,” he said. “It became apparent that this partnership was smart, holy, and could serve as the basis to get the younger population involved in community Catholic radio.”

Shortly after, junior communications student Bailey Garland was selected to host a weekly show for the station. Bailey studied Theatre and English at Illinois State University, where she graduated in 2021. She came to JPCatholic to pursue a second bachelor’s degree, supplementing her acting background with film production and other creative arts.

“I wanted to create in pretty much every way possible—acting, costume designing, directing, writing, music,” she said. “Yet, I loved ministry–teaching, retreats, bible studies, spiritual formation, one-on-one conversations.

The desire to entwine my faith and artistic abilities was great … [JPCatholic] was a place where I did not have to pick between my call as an artist and the call to be a saint. I would get spiritual formation alongside creative education.”

Starting in 2023, JPCatholic’s LaunchPad and Incubator programs will begin incorporating business pitch competitions, giving the chance for two rounds of funding for student and alumni ventures.

The LaunchPad program has been a long standing anchor of the University’s business program, and is required for students in the Creative Entrepreneurship emphasis. Throughout the three course sequence, students receive professional mentorship to conceive, nurture, and launch real companies.

Upon completion of the LaunchPad, students will now be eligible to participate in a new Seed Pitch. The progress made during the past nine months will be presented to a panel of judges, who will award University funds based on a venture’s merit and need. This funding will empower students to implement their ideas and launch the company. Success in the Seed Pitch is a prerequisite to enter the Incubator program, which is now a sequence of two courses. The Incubator provides a structured context for the student to nurture their business, receiving further guidance on refining and scaling their business model. Prof. Marc Burch, a veteran of Silicon Valley tech companies, will continue his role as mentor for students in the Incubator.

At the end of the Incubator courses, students (and even returning alumni) will once again present their ideas to a panel of faculty and other professionals. Successful pitches will be awarded even greater funding for their company.

Over the years, JPCatholic’s LaunchPad program has provided a springboard for a variety of companies, with ventures ranging from chocolate, dolls, film production, video game resales, to invoice factoring, and more. Yellow Line Digital, a marketing firm founded by students and faculty in 2012, began bringing in an annual revenue of $1 million dollars just four years later. They continue to employ alumni, and their clientele has included large diamond companies, religious liberty campaigns, and the Vatican.

“Our goal is to do everything we can to ensure student success,” said Prof. Joe Connolly, Chair of Business. “By expanding the support structure we have for entrepreneurial students and making cash available to them, we hope to have even more success stories from the LaunchPad.”

The first pitches are scheduled for September 2023 and February 2024.