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.

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.

Burak Calderón (bcalderon@vassar.edu)

Burak Calderón (he/him) is a sophomore at Vassar College. He is a declared film major and a prospective music-composition correlate from Austin, Texas. Burak has a strong passion for storytelling in all of its unique forms, but especially has a love for the audio-visual experience of cinema. Specifically, he’s always had a keen interest in scoring, and how it relates to and amplifies the emotional action of a scene. Burak’s favorite personal hobbies include playing the piano, drawing and digital illustration, fiction reading and writing, and nature walks. He looks forward to expanding his knowledge on the creative process in which films are made, and sharing his enthusiasm for the art with his fellow peers at Vassar. Some of his current favorite films include: Heathers (1989), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Django: Unchained (2012), and Talk to Me (2022).

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.