By Lexie V. Owen | Echo
Flashing cameras, red carpets, silver screens-junior film and media production major Erin Fuhr is spending this semester in the city of movie magic. She is the first female from Taylor to participate in the Taylor University Hollywood Internship Program (TUHIP), a pilot program in its third semester of operation.
Erin never saw herself going to L.A. until she was recommended to TUHIP by Kathy Bruner, assistant professor of Media Communication. Kathy selected Erin for the program after hearing she wanted to study abroad. According to Kathy, one of the most important criteria for students selected is a steadfast dedication to excellence that will represent Taylor positively to the filmmaking community. Erin agreed the Hollywood trip would be the best fit for her.
"We thought this was a good description of Erin," Kathy said. "She is a tenacious and diligent film student. We were especially impressed with her work as a producer in the Documentary Filmmaking class in the fall. She would make a great producer someday."
This past fall, Erin and her classmates produced the documentary "Married to Magic" about a couple who performs a magic show together in Indianapolis. During the process, Erin grew to love the subjects of her documentary. Erin's documentary class is what sparked her interest in producing documentaries.
"It stretched me in ways I didn't know I could be stretched," Erin said. "I want to do this for the rest of my life: hear other people's stories and tell them in interesting ways. My favorite part is working with subjects directly."
Erin has learned more about the relationship between producer and subjects during the first two weeks of her internship. She has been working with Nicky Hevesy, head of nonprofit film company Through The Glass Productions. Erin has witnessed Nicky interact with the people in her upcoming documentary "A Violence Disrupted," about gang intervention in L.A.
"People would call Nicky from jail and she would pull me in to listen to the conversations," Erin said. "She showed me files from the trials she's using for the doc. I got to see her close contact and her relationships with the people in the doc. It was cool to see that aspect."
Erin's responsibilities have also included running a silent auction to raise funds for the documentary. This proved to be a challenging and unexpected experience.
"It was a huge growth opportunity for me," Erin said. "It's not what I expected at all. It took me out of my comfort zone."
Organizing the auction helped Erin see the reality of working for a nonprofit studio, especially in the area of fundraising.
"I learned a lot about the process about raising funds, interacting with those in the doc and thinking outside the box to find different mediums of portraying people in the doc."
In addition to forming professional relationships, Erin has made close connections with the other participants in TUHIP. Though, to her surprise, she is the first and only female among them.
"I didn't know until I signed up," Erin said. "I'm really excited to have that honor, but I try not to think about it that way. I didn't choose it for myself. God chose it. It's a little bit scary, but also really exciting because I want to do my very best."
Erin's passion for film and commitment to excellence helps her fit right in with the others in the TUHIP program.
"It's a really good group," Erin said. "The guys are super awesome and they're all really supportive of me. Although I don't know what people think when they see one girl traveling with three guys at a time," she added with a laugh.
So far, all but one of her instructors and speakers have been men. But Erin is far from intimidated by the lack of females in the field.
"This is what I love and I don't care if a lot of guys are doing it," Erin said. "They just have the same vision and passion as me. I'm sure there are other females out there with the same dreams. I'd encourage anyone else who has this opportunity to take it because you learn a ton."
Kathy hopes that Erin will be the first of many female representatives of Taylor's media department.
"We were glad to send Erin as our first female student because we knew she would represent us well and benefit greatly," Kathy said. "We hope to send many more talented female students in the future."(Thumbnail photograph courtesy of Erin Fuhr.)
