By Ellie Tiemens | Echo
John Bruner, assistant professor of film and media production, was selected to be one of 25 college professors from around the country to attend the Television Academy Foundation's 2018 Faculty Seminar Program.
Bruner has been a professor at Taylor since 2005. He has an extensive resume highlighted by his positions as a director and producer of a program for the Committee to Re-elect Bush, a camera operator for two Olympic Broadcasts and as a professor of film at Taylor University.
"I've been very lucky in my career . . . to have opportunities just rise up to meet me out of nowhere," Bruner said, recalling the chances he has been given to work at two beginning TV stations.
Bruner was selected to attend this Faculty Seminar Program in California from a pool of applicants from all around the country. From November 4-9, Bruner will have the opportunity to sit in on panel discussions with various television programming executives as well as tour studios and meet with and observe Hollywood's top producers in television. One thing that excites Bruner about this program is to be able to learn some of the nuances of directing and producing different genres or media.
Over the years, Bruner and his wife Kathy have also worked to drastically change the film department and bring new opportunities to students.
Jake Vriezelaar, a junior film major and member of Taylor's film production team, often works with Bruner and is currently a student in his directing and cinematography class.
"John deserves this recognition because he exemplifies what it means to love and serve others before himself . . . Stories need to be told here in the cornfields just like they are told in Hollywood and John has been a part of paving the way for students to do that," Vriezelaar said.
Over the years, Bruner and his wife Kathy have drastically changed the film department and brought new opportunities to students.
Bruner enjoys many parts of his job here at Taylor but especially loves seeing students apply the theories they have learned in class to real projects.
"John really loves his students well," Vriezelaar said. "He cares about who we are before the things we make. He, of course, wants us to craft the best stories we can, but is always teaching us to be good people first. Especially as creators reflecting Christ. This has helped changed my perspective on what it means to be a filmmaker. It's made me think of what it means to be a redemptive storyteller in the midst of an industry that needs hopeful art."
