Cinematic arts students wrap filming on new TV pilot

A crew of 60 juniors in Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center has wrapped filming on its latest project, a television pilot based on a young adult book series, at sites around Lynchburg.

The students are part of a two-year immersion cohort within the department, which allows students to concentrate solely on filmmaking. In addition to creating their own short film and business plan, students earn at least one IMDb credit on a professional film project.

The TV pilot is based on “Finding Your Faith,” a book by Stephanie Perry Moore about a teenage girl who experiences the loss of her brother as she transitions from middle school to high school. Her faith and passion for playing the piano help her move forward.

“It’s a story about overcoming (hardships) and about a young woman coming into her own and discovering what she can do,” producer and cinematic arts professor Lorene Wales said. “Her and her mom acknowledge that the only way she can get through it is with God. She plays the piano and she struggles with that, and it ends with a performance when she triumphs over the mess that is going on in her head. It’s such a positive message for young women.”

The Cinematic Arts Department relies heavily on experiential learning. The department has been a part of 12 projects, including feature films, short films, TV pilots, and a TV series. Three of their feature films and the TV series were nationally released.

“It’s that practical opportunity of getting in there and doing it that shows them so much more than we can show them in the classroom,” Wales said. “They experience the long hours, they feel the tiredness and the need for endurance, and they know what it’ll be like (in the industry).”

Following the current post-production phase, the pilot will be pitched to potential studios and streaming services in hopes of being picked up for production of a full series. The pilot will be screened for the student crew members in the fall.