IMPACT A P U B LICAT IO N O F R EGE N T UN I V E R SI T Y
VOL. 5 ISSUE 6 JUNE 2014
REGENT TEAMS WITH VETERAN HOLLYWOOD ACTOR CORBIN BERNSEN ON FEATURE FILM PROJECTS
S tar Power egent University’s School of Communication & the Arts (SCA) has a big vision—one that puts Hollywood and the entire entertainment industry clearly in its sights. “We want to be in a place of making feature films, possibly every year,” says SCA dean, Dr. Mitch Land. “Regent is now committed to using films as major learning opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students who wish to be involved at every level of visual storytelling: from writing the story, to directing and producing, and to acting in major and minor roles.”
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While that vision may appear a bit lofty for a university located in Virginia Beach, Va., Regent has won more than 350 national and international film awards, including two Student Academy Awards, since its founding in 1978. Land says SCA has moved to the next level and is ready to dive into feature filmmaking:
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“Last year, we launched the Hollywood Experience, (a two-week, total-immersion screenwriting study program in Los Angeles), and this year, we completed the soundproofing of our film stage and made a short mini-series on the set. Even today, that set is being used to broadcast Christian programming into the developing world.” For help to fulfill this vision, Regent went looking for a partner with decades of Hollywood experience. They found one in Emmy- and Golden Globenominated actor Corbin Bernsen. Best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnie Becker on L.A. Law and prima
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donna third baseman Roger Dorn in Major League, Bernsen is also a writer, director, producer and president of Home Theater Films. “I am there because I want young Christian filmmakers to make good movies,” he says. “I am not there because I am on some evangelical mission. We can’t glorify God and Christ unless we make good films.”
Land adds, “Launching our first feature film with a talented Hollywood veteran like
“I want young Christian filmmakers to make great movies about the human struggle and then their faith can seep into it and can be part of the story.”
Bernsen told Impact that he sees faith-based films as a significant tool to honor Christ: “I think it’s very important that the Christian worldview is at least presented professionally in the world. To date, it’s pretty poor—the filmmaking quality and style. … I think the world’s ready for better movies with Christian themes that anyone can go see.”
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Corbin Bernsen builds on our strategy to provide the best undergraduate and graduate education in visual storytelling available within a Christian university.” This promising movie partnership began taking shape late last year through an appearance on The 700 Club. “I told CBN that I wanted to take Corbin out to dinner when he arrived,” Land explains. “The next morning, he was interviewed on The 700 Club by Dr. Pat Robertson (Regent founder, chancellor and CEO). Later that day, I was given
REGENT UNIVERSITY
The SCA filmstage will be a focal point of Regent's feature filmmaking.
a message from Dr. Robertson ‘to pursue Corbin Bernsen and consider partnering with his company to produce a feature film.’ Of course, this was exactly our dream! So we began the process.”
professional-in-residence Sean Gaffney. Scheduled to shoot over three weeks this November, Jesse & Naomi is expected to be completed in December 2015.
While Bernsen is looking forWhile Land has the full ward to interacting with students backing of Regent leaderand being fully involved in the ship, he knows it will take production, he insists that it’s additional support from not a “come to Jesus” movie: university alumni and “It’s got some faith elements to friends to make this dream a Dr. Mitch Land & Corbin Bernsen it, but … it’s just a good movie reality. “When I spoke with with good moral values in it.” Dr. Robertson in April, he told us to go for it “My goal is not to make Bible-thumping —to make the film and trust God to provide movies,” Bernsen adds. “I want young Christhe resources. Our film budget is quite low tian filmmakers to make great movies about by industry standards, but we will not comthe human struggle, and then their faith can promise quality. And we hope to cast known seep into it and can be part of the story.” actors in the top three roles,” says Land. SCA’s first feature film, Jesse & Naomi, is a romantic comedy about a woman who is naïve and unfamiliar with Christianity. The movie will “explore the question of whether the church and our faith have value in the real world,” says screenwriter and Regent
For more information about Regent’s School of Communication & the Arts, call 888.777.7729 or visit regent.edu/communication.
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A NIGHT TO SHINE ON
THE BIG SCREEN ANNUAL SPRING EVENT SHOWCASES REGENT’S BEST STUDENT FILMS Each spring, as the academic year draws to Dr. Lorene Wales, chair of the Cinemaa close, the annual Regent Film Showcase Television Department (who attended as gives students an opportunity—and Audrey Hepburn) said, “We hope to continue an audience—to share their work and this tradition in years to come.” celebrate their accomplishments. Faculty The Cinema-Television faculty chose to members selected the 10 films featured in honor one film with the first Faculty Choice the showcase from a Award. It went to the film group of submissions Pickpocket—a silent, blackmade by students and-white comedy about over the previous a pair of petty thieves who three semesters. They jeopardize a man’s marriage included five graduate proposal. “Our criteria led films from the School us to vote for the film that of Communication & we felt exemplified creativity the Arts (SCA), four and excellent artistry,” Wales undergraduate films STUDENT FILM PARTICIPANTS explained. “Producer Rebekah from the College of Atchinson and director Joe Arts & Sciences (CAS) Armstrong put together and one facultya great film in terms of great storytelling, student collaboration. entertainment and cinematography. … It was a “Most of these are class projects,” comedy that worked well, which is hard to do.” explained Dr. Mitch Land, dean of SCA. “I think this night says a lot about the quality “Our students’ work is among the finest of work that we produce,” Land added. “Sitting I have ever seen in my 30 years in higher in the audience tonight I saw one excellent film education. … Our undergraduate and after another. This shows that the Regent film graduate students prove over and over school is capable of turning out filmmakers that their cinematic artistry stands up who are making quality work, following the with the best!” mission statement Christian Leadership to This year’s showcase was held Friday, April Change the World.” 11, before a packed house at the university’s Center for Performing Arts. With “The History and Future of Filmmaking” as the To learn more about Regent’s event’s theme, SCA faculty members and undergraduate College of Arts & Sciences other attendees dressed as their favorite call 888.718.1222 or visit regent.edu/cas. movie characters. Notable “guests” included Dr. Gillette Elvgren as Cyrano de Bergerac, Professor Dave Garcia as Indiana Jones and Dr. Andrew Quicke as C.S. Lewis.
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LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT SEEKS STUDENT HELP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN Known around the world as a premier vacation destination, Virginia Beach is home to one of America’s most famous boardwalks. Three miles long and 28 feet wide, it’s perfect for walking, roller blading or biking along the Atlantic Ocean. But like any tourist attraction, local officials and law enforcement are sometimes forced to deal with visitors and residents who disturb the peace.
Over the next few months, students in Regent’s Cinema-Television Department wrote, produced and edited a public service announcement (PSA) for the VBPD. “This has been one of my favorite projects at Regent,” says the PSA writer and director Adam Hardy. “What I’ve gained from Regent has been essential to completing this project for the Virginia Beach community. The police department loved the finished product.”
While attending an Executive Leadership Series luncheon at Regent University, Lt. Harry McBrien of the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) told a Regent staff member about some of the serious challenges officers faced during College Beach Week in April 2013. Police were unprepared for a rash of violence that included “three shootings, three stabbings and widespread fighting,” according to the The VirginianPilot newspaper.
After completing the one-minute video, Regent helped promote it to other colleges and universities. Local schools got behind the project and shared it with their students via email and social media. Soon, the Regent PSA was being distributed up and down the East Coast. The Virginia Beach Hotel-Motel Association even added it to their “vacation TV” channel, which runs on a constant loop in all of the city’s hotels and motels, where it was seen 30 to 40 times a day.
“We’ve always done a good job of communicating with our older citizens, but we haven’t done much to reach out to the 18-to-24-year-old group that is more likely to get into trouble,” McBrien explains. “We needed to prepare for the coming year because we had no doubt that we would be visited by as many as 50,000 college kids again.”
The joint effort appears to have paid off. The Virginian-Pilot reported, “This year’s College Beach Weekend [in Virginia Beach] unfolded with no serious disturbances.” Lt. McBrien wants to work with Regent to produce more video PSAs aimed at young adults. “We need to continue this effort with a long-term communication plan for this demographic,” he says.
Shortly after that lunch conversation, a meeting was scheduled with Regent University leaders, including Dr. Mitch Land, dean of the School of Communication & the Arts. “We were delighted to partner with the VBPD to do our part to help keep the beautiful beach areas safe,” Land says. “Also, this gave our students a great opportunity to do some practical video work to sharpen their public relations skills.”
“I’m very proud of our talented students,” Land adds. “All of us feel privileged to have a part in assuring residents and visitors that the VBPD is on task to keep the beaches, hotels and roads safe.”
To watch the Virginia Beach Police Department PSA, visit regent.edu/psa.
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The “Pump Boys” sell high octane on Highway 57, and the “Dinettes” serve up plenty of pie and sass at the diner next door. Together, they perform the stories of their lives on guitars, piano, bass and, yes, even kitchen utensils. Book, Lyrics, and Music by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann
June 20-22, 27-29 Regent University Performing Arts Center
Reserve Your Tickets 757.352.4245 | tidewaterstage.com Pump Boys and Dinettes is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
REGENT WORLD CHANGER
Bruce Long
Award-Winning Broadway Musical Producer After co-producing a Broadway musical that earned three Tony Award nominations, Regent alumnus Bruce Long ’98 (Communication & the Arts) is serving in the same “role” for this year’s smash revival of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, starring James Franco and Chris O’Dowd. “Regent is directly responsible for how I do what I do,” Long explains. “What I received at Regent wasn’t only taught in the classroom, but also modeled through our professors. Christian Leadership to Change the World. That has been ingrained in me.” Long believes that Christian artists—directors, playwrights, designers and producers —must lead from within the entertainment industry. “We have to be decision makers who have a place at the table,” he says. “I want to tell really great stories that have the broadest possible appeal. And because of who I am, and how I think, that influence will be experienced through the creative process and ultimately in the final product.“ Please join the entire Regent community in praying for this month’s alumni World Changer, Bruce Long, and for other School of Communication & the Arts graduates making a difference in the entertainment industry.
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A Message From the Chancellor Dear Friends, Back in 1978, CBN University welcomed its first students to the School of Communication & the Arts. We had seven faculty members and 77 students. Now, more than 35 years and 350 national and international awards later, Regent University alumni, students and faculty are making a global impact in film, television, radio, print and online. The vision that God gave me to build a school for His glory has gone farther than I ever dreamed. In Matthew 19, verse 26, Jesus shares a simple truth with His disciples that should empower every believer to confidently pursue his or her dreams: “With God, all things are possible.” Whether you’re reading this letter as a student, an alumnus or alumna, or a friend of the university, you’re going to face challenges and disappointments. Do not to hesitate in your Godgiven vision. If the Lord has inspired you with a vision for your future, then stand firm on Jesus’ words. Last month, more than 1,400 Regent students completed their studies. God has a purpose for every one of them and for each of us too! After the death of Moses, God told Joshua: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9). Remember, “With God, all things are possible.” Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial gifts that help our students pursue their God-given dreams with strength and courage. Your friendship and support are greatly appreciated. Grace and Peace,
Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson Founder, Chancellor & CEO Regent University
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Regent University’s Impact is published monthly by the university’s Office of Advancement, free of charge, for alumni and friends of the university. Regent University admits students without discrimination on the basis of race, color, disability, gender, religion or national or ethnic origin. Regent University is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to operate campuses within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associates, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Regent University. Opinions expressed in Impact are those of individuals and do not necessarily represent the views of Regent University’s board, faculty, administration or staff. Regent University accepts news submissions from readers but reserves the right to edit based upon clarity, length and content. The university may decline to print material at its discretion. ADV140438
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