Visiting Artists

Russell Willams

The Academy Member Engagement program facilitates practical educational opportunities for learning institutions, festivals, conferences, and other film-related events. Students and faculty are provided direct contact with the Academy’s working filmmakers, creating a meaningful connection between the worlds of academia and practice at the industry’s highest levels.

How to Apply

To be considered, a written proposal must be submitted no less than two (2) months prior to your event with the following information:

  • The history and scope of the applying institution’s film department
  • A breakdown of how the artist’s time would be utilized, including any classes, workshops and screenings in which the artist might participate
  • Anticipated impact such a visit would have on the audience involved, and to what extent that audience is knowledgeable about film and filmmaking
  • Which branch of the Academy the artist should represent: Actors, Art Directors, Casting Directors, Cinematographers, Directors, Documentary, Executives, Film Editors, Makeup, Music, Producers, Public Relations, Short Films and Feature Animation, Sound, Visual Effects or Writers
  • The proposed dates for the artist’s visit

Submit proposals to:

Bettina Fisher
Director of Education Initiatives
8949 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
[email protected]

The Academy carefully considers all written proposals and evaluates them on a basis of merit and need.  You will be contacted after your poposal has been received and reviewed. 

Past acaDemy member participants:

Trevor Albert
Producer
FAMU Prague

Michael Barnathan
Producer
Students from Belfast, Ireland

Mitchell Block and Robert Shapiro
Producers
CINEMAGIC

J.J. Blumenkranz
Visual Effects
Rochester Institute of Technology

George Chakiris
Actor  
Cross Middle School, WI
Longmont High School, CO

Roger Corman
Producer and Director
Indiana University

Giancarlo Esposito
Actor
Florida Film Festival

David Friendly and Scott Kroopf
Producers
Santa Clara University

Michael Giacchino
Composer
Emory University

Eric Goldberg
Animator 
BYCTWD

William Goldstein
Composer
Vilnius International Film Festival

Saginaw Grant and DeLanna Studi
Actors
Pitzer’s Native American Summer Pipeline

Grant Heslov
Writer
13th Annual Campus MovieFest Hollywood

Michael Hoffman
Director
Prodigy Camp

Jeffrey Kurland
Costume Designer
Santa Clara University

John Landis
Director
Inner City Filmmakers
CINEMAGIC

John Muto
Production Designer
Hofstra University
University of Kansas
University of Leicester, England

Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine
Directors
Nantucket Film Festival

Mark Pogachefsky
PR Executive
APEX Academy

Edward “Judge” Reinhold
Actor
Durango Film Festival

Ben Shedd
Producer and Director
Fresno State University

Becky Sullivan
Sound Editor
Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy

Chris Tashima
Actor and Director
Minnesota State University

Russell Williams II
Sound Engineer
George Washington University

Bradford Young
Cinematographer
Morgan State University

Jessica Yu
Documentary filmmaker
American University