Students

The FMC meets with the chair and other members of the department to discuss the curriculum and related issues of mutual interest, as well as to plan faculty-student social events. Majors committees also interview candidates for faculty positions when they are brought to campus and report their assessment to the department chair.

Peter Chu (pchu@vassar.edu)

Peter Chu  (Fall) (he/him) is a Film and Economics major from Los Angeles, CA. He is interested in unorthodox modes of storytelling, and enjoys capturing the aesthetics of everyday life through film and photography. Some of his other interests include fashion design, opinion journalism, and sports, which he pursues through student orgs and in his free time. He is excited to expand and strengthen the Vassar film community as a member of the FMC. Some of his favorite movies include La Haine, Possession, Minari, and Paris, Texas.

Bella McCray (bmccray@vassar.edu)

Bella McCray (she/her) is currently a senior Film and Anthropology major (with a potential Dance correlate) from Oklahoma City, OK. She is very interested in feminist film theory and hopes to produce some surrealist/experimental films while at Vassar. On campus, she is a part of the Raymond House Team as a Student Fellow, where she helps plan events for the Raymond community and support first-year students in their transition to college. She is very happy to be a part of the Film Majors Committee and is excited to work with the other film majors to build our community! Her guilty pleasure is the vegan shortbread cookies at the Gordon Commons.

Etta Fontenot (efontenot@vassar.edu)

Etta Fontenot (she/her) is a senior film major with a french correlate from Los Angeles, CA. She is interested primarily in nonfiction and documentary filmmaking as well as screenwriting, and hopes to produce several nonfiction shorts during her time at Vassar. Outside film, she loves journalistic and creative writing, and writes for a local social advocacy journal. She is excited to help coordinate the film department’s upcoming events and connect fellow film students! Some of her all time favorite movies are Atlantique, Some Like It Hot, and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

Cody Siegel (Spring) (csiegel@vassar.edu)

Cody Siegel (he/him) is a junior Film and English double major from Katonah, NY. His cinematic focuses lie primarily within narrative filmmaking through screenwriting, directing, and producing. He is interested in early American cinema, the avant-garde, film and exploitation, auteur, the visceral, political cinema, sensuous theory, and aestheticism. Outside of film, Cody is an editor for the Vassar Review and tutor for the college’s writing center with a focus in British and American Literary Histories. He is looking forward to helping the Film curriculum team up with other departments in the arts and hopes to bring in more panelists in the industry to work with students and faculty firsthand. Some of his all time favorite movies include Mulholland Drive, In the Mood for Love, Paper Moon, Magnolia, The Way Way Back, and Eyes Wide Shut.

Miranda Fishkin (mfishkin@vassar.edu)

Miranda Fishkin (she/her) is a sophomore film and drama major from Chapel Hill, NC. She gravitates toward surreal, camp, and comedic narrative film with particular interests in directing and screenwriting. Outside of film, Miranda enjoys performing in live theatre and stand-up comedy. She looks forward to strengthening the artistic network between film students and supporting the creative endeavors they pursue. Her favorite movies include Synecdoche, New York, Vagabond, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Mia Zottoli (mzottoli@vassar.edu)

Mia Zottoli (she/her) is a sophomore prospective film major from Matthews, North Carolina. She loves narrative filmmaking but also wants to learn more about the creative aspects of documentary films. She enjoys creative writing and wants to translate that passion to screenwriting, and hopes to create many short narrative and documentary films during her time at Vassar. Outside of film, she plays ultimate frisbee, sings a capella, and acts/directs for Vassar theater. She is looking forward to learning more about Vassar’s film department and helping spread her love of film to the wider Vassar community! Some of her favorite movies are Booksmart, Poor Things, and 50 First Dates.

Student Film Projectionists

If you have technical skills, enjoy watching films, are responsible, detailed-oriented, reliable, personable, and prompt, then you might be a good fit for a campus job in the Film Department.

The Film Department hires a limited number of students each academic year to work as Student Film Projectionists. Students are hired to cover the projection of films for a variety of required class screenings throughout the semesters. The department utilizes state-of-the-art digital equipment and technology to project films in its theater and classroom settings. In addition, covering special event screenings and meeting guest speakers makes this job extra exciting. The Student Employment Office assists with the placement of students for this position. Please visit their website for details on the student job application process.

Womp Haus Film Academic Interns

Four year-long academic internships are available in the Film Department’s camera, audio, and lighting house we call “Womp Haus.” Students can get an in-depth, hands-on experience with all varieties of production equipment as they manage the Womp Haus inventory system, prep student orders, assist in maintaining Studio A, the Vassar Film editing labs, help with in-house video productions, and more. Students must be in good academic standing to apply for the academic intern positions.

The Film Majors Resource Guide gives the Vassar film student access to declaration forms, production releases, permits, and online tutorials for equipment and production facilities.