Through script coverage, table reads, and production planning, students in the CTA 3000: Entertainment Media Business and Practices course bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional filmmaking.
Students in the CTA 3000: Entertainment Media Business and Practices course spent the spring semester collaborating with acclaimed filmmaker Dan Mirvish, co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival, as part of the early development process for his next feature film.
Mirvish, an independent director and producer known for his inventive approach to storytelling, shared an early draft of a screenplay co-written with Christine Vartoughian and Matthias Jeske. The story – set during the Cold War and centered on a surreal Omaha-based aircraft – served as the foundation for the students’ hands-on experience.
Finn Wilkerson ’27, a cinema and television arts major with an interest in writing and development, appreciated the scope and authenticity of the experience working with Mirvish.
“It’s rare that students get the chance to have real-world experience and have an actual impact on a project of this scale,” Wilkerson said. “We’ve been able to see all the work that goes into a project … and it’s been amazing to be a part of the process of bringing a project to life. I chose Elon’s Communications program because of opportunities to engage with the industry and develop the skills we need to thrive in the film world post-grad, and being able to work with Dan Mirvish has been such a candid insight into the world of indie producing.”
Led by Assistant Professor Kai Swanson, students examined the project from multiple industry perspectives. After signing non-disclosure agreements, they wrote formal script coverage – an essential skill in professional film development – before participating in a live table read. Mirvish joined virtually from Los Angeles to hear the read-through and offer immediate feedback on the script’s progress.
Parker Felumlee ’26, an acting BFA major, found the session both immersive and inspiring.
“Knowing we’re directly involved in the production of a new script resulted in an infectious energy that spread to the whole class during the session,” Felumlee said. “Afterward, we got to talk one-on-one with Dan about the characters we read for and discuss their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, etc. that we saw while reading.”
Mirvish praised the students’ input and noted how impressed he was by their thoughtful participation.
“I’m immensely grateful to Professor Swanson and all the Elon students for workshopping our next film,” Mirvish said. “Their feedback is an invaluable aspect to developing the project, and it’s exciting to work with such smart, talented students. Hopefully, this film will help them as they prepare for their own careers after Elon.”
As the course progressed, students shifted from story development to production planning. Divided into three budget tiers – Microbudget ($300K), Lower-Mid ($600K), and Premium Indie ($2M) – teams are now creating pitch decks, business plans, mood boards, marketing strategies, and production budgets tailored to SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Theatrical contracts. Their work will culminate in final presentations to mock “venture capitalists,” modeled after real-world independent film financiers.
Swanson said the course is designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and professional practice.
“Having made my fair share of mistakes on professional sets early in my career, I designed this course to offer students the closest thing to real-world experience in the entertainment industry – but with mentorship and a built-in safety net,” Swanson said. “It’s about helping them develop the confidence, language, and tools they’ll need to thrive.”
Students will receive a special thank-you credit in the final film, making the experience both educational and professionally meaningful. As Mirvish prepares to move the film toward production, CTA 3000 students can take pride in having shaped its early development.