Major: Film Studies
Minors: Digital Storytelling and Fiction-Filmmaking
Faculty Shout-out by Professor Ellen McCallum:
“Tess demonstrated impressive progress and intellectual growth over three courses with me. From her initial essays in FLM380, which showed promise but needed improvement, to her final series of essays in FLM452 where she regularly knocked it out of the park, Tess took feedback and ran with it to become an outstanding writer, an astute close reader, and a perceptive theorist of cinema. If initially Tess was someone who rarely spoke in class, she soon became someone who regularly enriched our deliberations, and indeed was consistently cited by her colleagues as an inspiring colleague and thoughtful, generative discussion leader. I applaud how well Tess met the challenges of film theory and wish her continued undaunted success. “
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
I’ve really enjoyed being a Film Studies major here at MSU. While I’m interested in film production, I like that this major focused on the analytical side of the form, allowing me to strengthen my writing, critical thinking, and understanding of film theory overall. I feel that I’ve walked away from each Film Studies course with new friends and collaborators, and I really think the discussion format of the courses supported that. Additionally, I’m certain there are films and genres that I may never have been exposed to if it weren’t for this major, and I know the way I engage with film and television will be forever impacted by my time here.
Which classes, instructors, or experiences particularly stand out for you and why? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?
I’ve found that FLM 380, 381, and 452 with Professor Ellen McCallum were standout classes when looking back at the past 4 years. From working through the dense theory in my projects to discussing the texts with my peers in and out of class, I was able to see significant growth in my work at the end of each semester. Professor McCallum often encouraged me to sharpen my analyses when it came to both the theory and films taught, and I value the skills I developed over the course of her classes. I also had the opportunity to attend the Toronto International Film Festival in fall 2024 and 2025 through MSU’s Education Abroad program. TIFF was particularly exciting because it gave my peers and I the opportunity to dive into a large part of the film industry: film festivals. Attending screenings and panels from other creatives was inspiring and provided a glimpse into the field I’d like to contribute to following my time at MSU. The Film in Britain program was another exciting trip that I took part in last summer. Led by Professor Kuhu Tanvir and Professor Margo Sawaya, our small MSU group was able to screen films at the British Film Institute, explore London (+ surrounding cities/countries), and collaborate with each other on our own short films. Learning about the film industry outside of the American lens was fascinating and I’m so glad I was able to participate.
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
Befriend your peers! Pretty quickly, I found myself in a lot of the same courses as other Film Studies students and being able to collaborate with and discuss coursework inside and outside of classes was not only a helpful way to workshop ideas, but also a fun way to get to know others with similar interests and goals.
What coursework-related projects were/are you working on this year, and what interests or excites you about them? (capstone courses, honors thesis, independent studies, etc.)
This past year, I’ve been a part of the fiction-filmmaking capstone class, FLM435. I was the art director for our film, as well as craft services, PR director, and one of the premiere planners. This capstone film has been such a treat to contribute to and I’ve loved working with everyone on the team. When it comes to film and television, I really appreciate when there is a strong visual identity to support the story, and the art department is a huge part of that. As art director, I worked hard with my team to bring our production designer’s vision to life and I loved managing everything that went into that. Walking onto set and completely transforming the space with anything and everything I could fit in the back of my van was such a fun task every shoot. I am so proud of the hard work my team put into designing those spaces, props, and costumes. This film is one of the largest projects I’ve gotten to contribute to so far in my creative career, and I’m excited to look back at different elements of our production process and apply them to my own projects in the future.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
Ultimately, I have stories of my own that I’d love to get seen and heard, but right now, I’d like to just get working. I plan to continue writing and dedicating time to my own projects, but I’d also like to explore other pathways into the field. Production design is a newer interest of mine, especially coming off the heels of the fiction-filmmaking capstone, and I’d love to strengthen my technical skills when it comes to the camera. Wherever I end up, I’m excited to collaborate with others with similar passions and produce media that I’m proud of.