BEA2026: Full Schedule

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9:00am PDT

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT

With a focus on documentary and non-fiction storytelling Mobile Journalism author Robb Montgomery returns showcase fresh case studies from the field. Participants will get an exclusive screening of winning documentary films from the recent Mobile Journalism Awards that were shot on smartphones and small cameras. He will also demonstrate how to create a 3D modeled immersive multimedia online exhibit using a free phone app, open source software, and Anthropological qualitative research methods. Montgomery also will reveal how he filmed a documentary film scene about virtual sex using a MetaQuest VR headset.
Moderator: Robb B Montgomery, Visual Editors, NFP

Moderators

Robb Montgomery

Author, Mobile Journalism

Robb Montgomery is a Berlin-based journalism educator, documentary filmmaker, and visual media anthropologist known for his contributions to mobile journalism and media development programs. He is a former Chicago newspaper editor who builds immersive cultural heritage experiences... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
W311

BEA, Workshop | News, Workshop | Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, Workshop | Production Aesthetics & Criticism, Workshop | Filmmaker Spotlight, Workshop

10:15am PDT

Festival of Media Arts: Faculty Showcase Session & Awards - Audio & Documentary Competitions

Saturday April 18, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W308

Please join us as we recognize all of the Faculty Festival winners from Audio, Documentary & Scriptwriting competitions.

After the awards are handed out, we will hear from our Best of Competition winners.
Confirmed Presenters

Faculty Audio
Short-Form Production Category
Haitian Church in Pine Hills Fights Fear with Faith; Rick Brunson, University of Central Florida

Faculty Documentary
Short-Form Documentary Category
Chicken Ghetto; Sangsun Choi & Paul Lee, Kennesaw State University

Moderators

Heather Dunn

Arizona State University

Speakers

Sangsun Choi

Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Sangsun Choi is a visual storyteller who focuses on discovering the unique meaning behind ordinary life. He believes that this value can be revealed through exquisite observation and artistic representation. Originally from South Korea, he has created dozens of works about child labor... Read More →

Rick Brunson

Senior Instructor, University of Central Florida

Saturday April 18, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W308

BEA, Festival of Media Arts | Radio & Audio Media, Festival of Media Arts | Documentary, Festival of Media Arts | Filmmaker Spotlight, Festival of Media Arts

3:00pm PDT

A Conversation with Lifetime Achievement in Creative Scholarship recipient John Woody

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

W310

Steve Anderson & John Woody are the first recipients of the BEA Lifetime Achievement in Scholarship Award. In this session, we'll have a conversation with John about his career progression alongside the rise of technological innovations that have defined modern storytelling. We will discuss key moments in the growth of the field while offering some insights he has gleaned about academia and BEA over the course of his long and successful career.

Moderators

Michael Bruce

Dept. Chair, Associate Professor & Director of Digital Media Center, University of Alabama

Speakers

John Woody

Emeritus Professor, James Madison University

John M. Woody dedicated thirty years to James Madison University, where he served as a full professor of Media Studies until his retirement in 2015. Specializing in advanced video post-production, he built a reputation for combining creative storytelling with emerging technology... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
W310

3:00pm PDT

Screenwriting Craft: How to Hook 'Em

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

W307

This interactive workshop opens with a lively slide presentation, showcasing some of the most memorable opening scenes in modern cinema as well as examining what makes these moments irresistible to audiences. From there, the session shifts into hands-on practice: attendees are invited to share their own opening pages aloud and receive constructive feedback from peers. Whether they’re polishing a screenplay or just starting out, colleagues will leave with sharper tools for grabbing attention with a "unique hook" from the very first scene.

Moderator: Leslie Kreiner Wilson, Pepperdine University
Panelists: Carey Martin ,Liberty University
Lucas Martins Néia, Senac University Center (CAS), Brazil
Andrea Baltazar, Weber State University

Moderators

Leslie Kreiner Wilson

Pepperdine University

Speakers

Carey Martin

Professor, Liberty University

screenwriting, directing, film & television history

Andrea Baltazar

Asst. Professor, Weber State University

Andrea Baltazar is a writer-director with a growing professional portfolio of work in film and television. She has also worked on various media projects as an on-location sound mixer and video editor. In addition to her professional work, Andrea teaches digital media, film, and television... Read More →

Lucas NÃ©ia

Senac University Center - Santo Amaro Campus

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
W307

Writing, Workshop | BEA, Workshop | Filmmaker Spotlight, Workshop

4:15pm PDT

Off Script: Students Take the Lead on Creative Media Education

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

W304

This panel discussion between current creative media production students and professors will talk about what works in the classroom. Students will lead the conversation, sharing what assignments, teaching methods, and feedback have pushed them to do their best creative work, and the professors will respond and discuss how to put these ideas into practice. The discussion will cover what kinds of projects get students excited, how critique sessions can be helpful instead of discouraging, creating environments where creativity thrives, and mentoring approaches that help students find their own creative voice.

Moderator: Ralph Beliveau, University of Oklahoma
Panelists: Scott Hodgson, University of Oklahoma
Traci Easley Williams, University of Oklahoma
Molly Horn, University of Oklahoma
Keaton Schallhorn, University of Oklahoma
Nathan Pooler, University of Oklahoma
Kate Needham, University of Oklahoma
Kevin Hahn, University of Oklahoma

Moderators

Ralph Beliveau

Professor, University of Oklahoma

Dr. Beliveau is the Area Head for Creative Media Production and Professional Writing at the University of Oklahoma and affiliate faculty in both Film and Media Studies and Women and Gender Studies. He writes and teaches about media education and literacy, race, horror media, documentary... Read More →

Speakers

Kevin Hahn

Instructor, University of Oklahoma

Accomplished educator and digital media professional with 20+ years of combined experience in video production and higher education instruction. Master's degree in Journalism with Creative Media Production focus from the University of Oklahoma with extensive graduate teaching experience... Read More →

Molly Horn

University of Oklahoma

I am a senior majoring in creative media production with a minor in film and media studies. I am set to graduate in May of 2026 with my Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma. At the University of Oklahoma, I serve as the Director of Special Projects for Gaylord College's... Read More →

Kate Needham

Senior Producer, University of Oklahoma

Hello! My name is Kate Needham, and I am a senior majoring in creative media production with a minor in entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in May of 2026. I serve as Senior Producer for Gaylord Hall Productions, a client video-production company at Gaylord... Read More →

Keaton Schallhorn

University of Oklahoma;

Nathan Pooler

Director of Project Development - Greenlight, University of Oklahoma

Hi, I'm Nathan Pooler, a student in broadcast and film. Whether I'm behind the camera, in the control room, or in the producer's chair, I live for the craft of bringing compelling content to life.
I will be graduating from the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism... Read More →

Scott Hodgson

Professor, University of Oklahoma

Storytelling that makes an impact is my passion. Helping other do the same is my career. Since 2006 I have been teaching in Creative Media Production at the University of Oklahoma. My focus is documentary, corporate and commercial production.

Traci Williams

Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma

I've spent more than 25 years doing what I love — teaching students how to tell stories that matter. My work sits at the intersection of film and television production, scriptwriting, visual media, and Africana studies, and every course I teach is built around one core belief: representation... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
W304

Documentary, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Production Aesthetics & Criticism, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Filmmaker Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

4:15pm PDT

Creating Learning Experiences in Professional Productions

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

W310

Professional productions provide opportunities for students to move beyond the classroom and immerse themselves in real learning environments. By participating in live broadcasts, studio productions, documentary work, film productions, and other industry-level projects, students gain hands-on skills that reinforce theory and coursework. This panel brings together faculty who have integrated students into their professional productions. Attendees will learn how these experiences prepare students for careers in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Moderator: Michael Crews, Georgia College & State University
Panelists: Valerie Turco, SUNY New Paltz
Nick Artman, Slippery Rock University
Heather Elliott-Famularo, University of Connecticut
Hussein El Moataz, American University in Cairo

Moderators

Michael Crews

Georgia College & State University

Speakers

Hussein El Moataz

Adjunct Instructor, American University in Cairo

Experienced Media Producer and Media Production Instructor conducting research on social media and news dynamics. Proficient in content creation, social media management, and public relations. Recognized for excellence as an award-winning documentary filmmaker.

Production Aesthetics & Criticism, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Filmmaker Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

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