- John H. and Patricia W. Mitchell Scholarship
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- Current Mitchell Scholars
- Mitchell Scholars 2022 - 2023
- Mitchell Scholars 2021 - 2022
- Mitchell Scholars 2020 - 2021
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- John H. Mitchell Visiting Professor in Media Entertainment
- John H. Mitchell Critical Conversations
- John H. and Patricia W. Mitchell Community Outreach Fund
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Meet the Mitchell Scholars
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Mitchell Scholar Events and News
Fall 2023
Pictured (from L to R, front) Juan Morales, Professor Burnstein, Lauren Horne (Mitchell Scholar 22-23), (at back, L to R) Lily Price, Sydney Sweeney, Daniela Castillo, Jim Patterson, and Johannes Pardi (Mitchell Scholar 21-22). Nora Pasche (Mitchell Scholar 22-23, not pictured) was also in attendance.
Writer/Producer Jim Patterson (Two and a Half Men/Call Me Kat) conducted an open session with the FTVM Mitchell Scholars on Friday, September 15, 2023, wherein he opened the floor to questions about how to navigate a career in a writers' room. Interspersed with personal anecdotes and several doses of laughter, Patterson left the scholars with excellent advice on breaking into the industry - and on making oneself an invaluable asset.
"When you are just beginning as a staff writer, you are there to LEARN. Figure out what the showrunner needs - how they work - and what they want. Practice gratitude - and work harder than anybody else."
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, (pictured above, L to R) Dean Curzan gathers with Mitchell Scholars Juan Morales, Sydney Sweeney, Lily Price, Daniela Castillo, and Associate Professor Colin Gunckel for a group photo after joining them for a special welcome lunch in the LSA building. During the event, the scholars conversed with Dean Curzan and Professor Gunckel about their classes, their lives in the world of screenwriting and production, and the current state of the industry.
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, (pictured above, L to R) Mitchell Scholars Lily Price, Daniela Castillo, Sydney Sweeney, Johannes Pardi, and Nora Pasche gather with Writer and Actor Matt Price (at center) in the FTVM conference room for an engaging conversation about what to expect during a pitch session, how to best receive and interpret notes, and the impact of AI on writers in the industry. Professor Jim Burnstein (not pictured) organized the event and was also in attendance.
On Thursday, November 2, 2023, Writer/Producer Doug Miro (at center) met with the Mitchell Scholars to share his journey from growing up in Metro Detroit to becoming a Hollywood screenwriter and television writer/creator. He then engaged with the scholars about the individual paths in entertainment they were hoping to follow.
Lecturer and Screenwriter Cindy Davis met with the 2023-24 Mitchell Scholars on Friday, October 27, 2023, in the FTVM conference room. In an enthusiastic and heartfelt session filled with personal stories and experiences, Davis shared a plethora of screenwriting tips regarding how to navigate the business, the best way to build a portfolio, and how they might prepare for future pitch sessions.
Hosted by Department Chair Johannes von Moltke (at right), our 2023 John H. Mitchell Visiting Professor, Scholar and Author Miranda Banks (second from left), met with the Mitchell Scholars on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, to discuss the various approaches to landing a career in the industry. Focusing on the importance of continual questioning and reflection, Banks assured the scholars that "there is no one path" to one's ultimate career and that "every job is important" in building a career portfolio.
"When you are considering your career - think about it as 'directionality' vs. 'weight' ...and always ask yourself, 'What is it I want to learn next?'"
Immediately following their meeting with Professor Banks, the cohort gathered in the Rackham Amphitheater to participate in the John H. Mitchell Critical Conversations Symposium "Finding Your Way: Creative Careers in an Era of Streamers, Studios & AI."
Engaging in a conversation about career paths related to contemporary transformations in the entertainment industry with Professor Miranda Banks were Writer Robb Chavis; CMO of Fantom Foundation, Joseph Epstein; and Writer/Director/Producer Gail Lerner.
On Friday, November 17, 2023, (pictured above, L to R) Mitchell Scholars Lauren Freeman (22-23), Sydney Sweeney, Daniela Castillo, Juan Morales, and Lily Price gather with Writer and Producer Phonz Williams (at center) in the FTVM conference room for a playful pose after an engaging conversation about how to proceed in the industry. Phonz shared invaluable advice about forward thinking, the power of visualization, and how to "give as much as you ask" to those around you. Professor Jim Burnstein (not pictured) organized the event and was also in attendance.
"Make the most out of what you have.
That's when you are often the most creative."
