Educator.

Tom’s history as an educator in film production, history, theory, and directing.

Adjunct Lecturer & Lead Instructor - Chapman University
(Fall 2018 - Present)

Tom teaches and mentors 18 - 25 students for the foundational course for all production majors at The Dodge College of Film and Media, "Introduction to Visual Storytelling." The class focuses on filmmaking craft and production with an emphasis on teaching storytelling fundamentals through visuals with film exercises and lectures. Students pitch story ideas and then create short film projects for class and instructor review. Students are evaluated by their film's ability to understand and execute the visual storytelling concepts in their own creative voice. As Lead Instructor for visual storytelling, Tom organizes and coordinates the curriculum class in collaboration with other instructors to ensure course consistency and quality.

Tom also taught “Fundamentals of Directing,” a course where students learn an overview of the history, craft, theories, and responsibilities of the role of director.

Teaching Associate - California State University, Northridge
(Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Tom, while studying for his Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting, was awarded a Teaching Associate position instructing undergraduate Cinema and Television Arts students. He structured and taught Foundations of Media Writing, an introductory course that focused on teaching the fundamental art and craft of writing for an audience in the commercial, television, and film formats.

Lead Professor - Dodge Summer Film Academy
(Summer 2011 - 2022)

Tom co-founded and instructed a two week summer filmmaking intensive designed for gifted high school students. He co-wrote the curriculum and held several lectures and workshops covering the craft, practices, and business of filmmaking. He led a six-person staff of instructors in the day-to-day operations of the program, planning events, structuring and organizing shoots, and managing students’ academic and personal needs. The Summer Film Academy was founded by Chapman University Professor Harry Cheney.

Lead Instructor - Dodge Summer Film Academy - China Session

2016 - Tom and Prof. Harry Cheney adapted and taught Chapman University’s Dodge Summer Film Academy for a three week student filmmaking program in Shenzhen, China.

2019 - Tom and Prof. Christine Fugate adapted and taught Chapman University’s Dodge Summer Film Academy for a three week faculty filmmaking program at Dahongying University (NDU) in Ningbo, China.