May 13, 2006

CLEVELAND - Kenyon Boltz left film school at another college before coming to Cleveland State University. Ron Howard Jr. (no relation to that other filmmaking Ron Howard) entered CSU planning an engineering career. Julia Sanden-Hodges left her native Berlin, Germany, to attend CSU.

Three very different paths led these students to become the first graduates of CSU's new film and digital media major in the School of Communication.

They will receive their degrees at CSU's commencement today.

"I kind of didn't realize it until they told us it was us three," Sanden-Hodges said. "I think it's good to be the first. I've never been the first at anything."

CSU's School of Communication has been working toward this milestone since it added new film classes in 2004, and got permission from the Ohio Board of Regents to start the film and digital media major in 2005, said Richard Perloff, director of the School of Communication.

The program combines academic study of film with new technologies. Students can either concentrate on film studies and filmmaking, or digital media, which includes television and DVD production. Film students work on short films as individual and class projects, using video and film.

Many students didn't wait for the major to be formally set up, and took classes as soon as they were offered. That's why Boltz, Howard and Sanden-Hodges are ready to graduate today, said Kim Neuendorf, professor of communication at CSU.

A degree isn't essential for making a film, but CSU film students feel credentials are important, Neuendorf said.

More than 40 students have declared themselves as film and digital media majors, Neuendorf said. The goal is to create a cadre of filmmakers who are used to collaborating together, and to keep film talent in Cleveland.

"We have to build a CSU film community," she said.

Each of the trio chose to emphasize different areas of study within the program.

Boltz concentrated on filmmaking classes. Sanden-Hodges combined film and digital media classes, while Howard emphasized digital media.

Boltz, 29, graduated from Padua Franciscan High School in 1995 and studied film for two years at Wright State University. But he wasn't selected to continue in the program for his junior year.

He returned to Cleveland, worked for a few years and enrolled at CSU in 2003. "The film classes were just evolving at that time," he said.

Boltz spent this year working on a short film as a senior project, but it didn't go smoothly. He couldn't get a key location for his first screenplay, and had to write another script. Some of his exposed film was ruined while it was being developed, and he had to reassemble his cast and crew for reshoots.

"You're never in the clear. Always have a Plan B," Boltz said.

He and other CSU film students will show their work in "Indie Film Cleveland," a showcase planned for August, said Cindy Penter, CSU adjunct faculty in film studies and film production.

Penter said several CSU film graduates essentially completed the equivalent course work before the program was certified, and have shown their work at film festivals.

Sanden-Hodges, 24, grew up in Germany, and came to Meridian, Miss., as an exchange student when she was 16. She returned to the United States to attend Cuyahoga Community College and CSU.

She enrolled in CSU's School of Communication, and one day became intrigued by the film equipment area. She took a tour of the film department and decided she wanted to concentrate on film and digital media.

"This looks more fun, to be behind the camera," Sanden-Hodges said.

Howard, 22, graduated from high school in Cincinnati in 2002, and came to CSU that fall on a wrestling scholarship.

He started taking digital media classes and realized it could be a career and not just a hobby. "I just knew this was something I wanted to do."

In one class, he staged and videotaped a campus debate styled on the vice presidential debate that was held here in October 2004. He was the producer-director, and other students filled crew roles. "That was pretty neat," Howard said.

The average person thinks that video producers just grab a camera and point it. "It's a lot more complex than that," Howard said. "I could never imagine until I came to school here."

None of the three graduates is looking to move to the filmmaking meccas on the coasts.

Boltz wants to combine his film degree with his business experience by working in the video department of a marketing company or sports team in Cleveland.

Sanden-Hodges has been accepted into two London graduate film programs. Her long-term goal is to make films for the international film festival circuit.

Howard will look for a corporate job as a video editor in Cincinnati or Cleveland. If nothing turns up, he may apply for a master's program.

"It's a great feeling just to graduate," Howard said. "I feel confident that in a short period of time, I'll find something."