UVU Writer’s Room Propels Cinema Student Jessa Wright’s Script to Production with FanX Studios
Utah Valley University (UVU) junior Jessa Wright is living a screenwriter’s dream. The digital cinema production major recently received a Zoom call from actress and director Katie Cassidy, informing her that her supernatural thriller was moving into development with Fan X Studios, with Cassidy herself set to direct. The opportunity came through UVU’s groundbreaking UVU-Fan X Studios Writer’s Room, an experiential program designed to give students real-world screenwriting experience and connections.
As one of five students selected from a cohort of 27 in UVU’s screenplay pitching course, Wright participated in an immersive writer’s room mentored by industry professionals, including Ed Neumeier, writer of Robocop and Starship Troopers. He would move on to produce Wright’s project and others from the 2024 class that go into production.
Tammy Clark, associate provost for Academic Innovation at UVU, praised Wright and her peers for their hard work and creativity. “They put in tremendous effort, and each of them deserves recognition. The Writer’s Room is one of the ways we are offering exceptional professional experiences that will significantly impact our students and their futures.”
Fan X Studios CEO Brent Baum highlighted the program’s goal to create a more authentic experience for students, showing them every aspect of Hollywood. With plans to expand the Writer’s Room program and its offerings, UVU and Fan X Studios are transforming film education into a launchpad for aspiring filmmakers like Wright.
Check Out Our Programs!
Our programs have so much to offer! If you want to learn more, click on the icons below!
Animation & Game Digital Audio Digital Cinema Web Design & Dev