Film students make 'Stranger Things' connection

In January, Royal invited UNG's film students, alumni and faculty to the Tara Theatre for the Atlanta film crew's private screening of "One Last Adventure," a behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary about the final season of "Stranger Things." About 25 students and alumni, organized by the Student Alumni Coalition (SAC), attended this event and were able to network with members of the "Stranger Things" crew.

Royal said she was impressed with the questions UNG students asked her about the industry and their willingness to drive to Atlanta and network at the documentary screening. She is hopeful of being able to hire some as interns on future projects. As someone who didn't attend film school, Royal was also excited to share behind-the-scenes perspective of the industry with UNG students.

"Anytime someone reaches out and wants me to speak, I'm very open to it because it's something I didn't have," Royal said. "I'm always willing to give back. It's rewarding, and the UNG students are enthusiastic."

UNG junior Courtney Blair attended the documentary screening to make industry connections. From experiences like that to being in class with Michael Lucker, a UNG senior lecturer of film who wrote her childhood favorite film "Home on the Range," Blair is grateful for the ways UNG's film program continues to prepare her for her career.

"It's so inspiring knowing it's not as far-fetched as I thought it was. It's right in front of me. These professors are so glad to help us," Blair said. "It's so important to realize how many doors are being opened, and you have to go through them."

Blair, a Dawsonville, Georgia, resident, came to UNG to study journalism before shifting to her current path pursuing a degree in film and digital media with a production concentration. The Colorado native thought she would want to be a screenwriter because of her writing background, but she said she "fell in love" with acting.

While the experiences gained in UNG's film and digital media program are pivotal, SAC aims to maintain those connections after graduation. Robyn Hicks, associate professor of film, said SAC was formed because of UNG's desire to continue investing in its film alumni and encourage them to work in Georgia.

"We want to keep all these wonderful students in our community," Hicks said.

Daya Mancilla, UNG assistant director for learning support, is a co-founder of SAC. She is grateful to help provide support to others who earned a degree in film and digital media from UNG. In addition to her full-time job at UNG, Mancilla is also finding her bearings in the film industry.

"When you graduate, you feel like you have to have everything put together," Mancilla said. "It relies on having a community and being consistent."