Biola University’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts was named to The Wrap’s Top 50 Film Schools list. Biola is excited to be included on the list, ranked 45 out of 50 schools in the nation, and the only Council for Christian Colleges and Universities full member university on the list.

The list highlights former executive vice president at AMC Networks and new dean of Biola’s film school, Tom Halleen, the school’s building on the horizon, and internship opportunities as reasons for being included on the list. 

“You wouldn’t think the executive who made AMC vital by programming Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and the Walking Dead would quit to become the dean of a Christian school's new School of Cinema Media Arts, but that’s just what Tom Halleen did,” states The Wrap’s description of Biola. “And you might think that Biola is puny, but it’s got dozens of faculty and Halleen oversees a $76 million building project for a 45,000-plus square-foot sound stage, theater, classroom and office complex. Internships are required and done at Bad Robot, Netflix, Amazon, the Television Academy and the DGA.” 

Earlier this year, Biola welcomed Halleen as the new dean of the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Halleen was a key team member in the transition of AMC into one of the most innovative cable networks on television in part through the launch of groundbreaking and Emmy Award-winning series including Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead.

“I'm thrilled to see the great work of Biola's Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts staff and faculty recognized in this way.  I'm honored to join this amazing team,” said Halleen. “At Biola, we're not just a film school. We're more than that. We teach the skills for our graduates to be competitive throughout the media industry — film, tv and game design — while also teaching them character to stand out.” 

Due to Biola’s location in Southern California, film students have access to the heart of Los Angeles just 20 miles from campus, internship opportunities in the city and classes led by industry professionals. Biola film students are given excellent opportunities to learn and grow in the media arts through available equipment, location and outstanding faculty and staff.  

Biola's School of Cinema and Media Arts has been ranked as one of the top film schools in the world by multiple industry-leading sources in the past including Variety, MovieMaker, Filmmaker and Backstage. 

The building mentioned by The Wrap will be a 50,000-plus square-foot facility that will house a 300-seat theater, sound stage, scoring stage, motion capture stage, Foley stage, color correction, mixing, recording and editing rooms, computer labs, three classrooms and faculty and staff offices. A hallmark of Biola’s film school is the access students in the program have immediately upon entering Biola, which currently includes almost $4 million worth of state-of-the-art equipment.

The school recently launched the new bachelor’s degree in Game Design and Interactive Media and concentrations in production, editing, cinematography, sound design, visual effects, directing, entertainment business and entertainment producing.

Apply and learn more about Biola's Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. 

For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, assistant director strategic communications and media relations, at jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.