TFTV Impact Report 2021/2022

• Christopher Nataanii Cegielski
(BFA Film & Television, ’16)
signed for exclusive commercial
representation with the
Brooklyn-based production
company Voyager. Among
his recent projects, Cegielski,
pictured, was tapped to direct a
PSA for ABC in honor of Native
American Heritage Month. The
PSA, featuring an appearance by
his mother, pictured, aired nationally during Thanksgiving 2021. Watch the Director’s Cut.
• Christopher Anaya-Gorman (BFA Theatre Production, ‘09) was front and center at the 75th annual Tony
Awards when host Ariana DeBose took a moment to acknowledge his work, and all Broadway stage managers
whose work is essential to a production’s success. Anaya-Gorman is the stage manager for the Tony awardwinning
Broadway musical Paradise Square. Read more.
• Rachel Gibney (BFA Design and Technical Production – Lighting Design, ‘11) was promoted to Associate
Principal and Hamilton Smith (BFA Design and Technical Production – Lighting Design, ‘13) was promoted to
Senior Associate at Available Light, the award-winning Lighting Design firm. The firm’s areas of specialization
include museum exhibition lighting design, architectural lighting design and special event and trade show
exhibit lighting design and production.
• Brian Klimowski (BFA Musical Theatre, ’16) booked Cinderella at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Quinn
Corrigan (BFA Musical Theatre, ’19) was in Legally Blonde at Chicago’s Metropolis Performing Arts Centre.
Amanda Valenzuela (BFA Musical Theatre, ’20) was in the World Premiere Opening of Million Dollar Quartet
Christmas at the Phoenix Theatre. Josh Dunn (BFA Musical Theatre, ’17) was part of the world premiere of The
Wanderer at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.
• David Bornstein (BA Film & Television emphasis in Producing, ’13) was selected as one of 20 Fellows to
participate in RespectAbility’s 2022 Lab for Entertainment Professionals with Disabilities. More at The
Hollywood Reporter.
• Pretty Problems, a comedy feature written by and starring Michael
Tennant (BFA Theatre Production, ’03), made its World Premiere at
SXSW 2022, and was one of just two films acquired for distribution
at the festival. IFC Films will distribute the film later this year (more at
Deadline). Pretty Problems also won the Audience Award at SXSW and
the top award at the Sonoma Film Festival. The film, about a couple
whose relationship is put to the test when they try to fit in with new
acquaintances during a weekend of wine and wealth, also stars Clayton
Froning (BFA Acting ’07). A testament to both the on-screen and
behind-the-camera talent of TFTV alumni, the crew of Pretty Problems
features Second Unit Director of Photography Symeon Platts (BFA
Film & Television, ’15), Key Grip Matt Cole (BA Film & Television, ’16),
First Assistant Camera Pancho Ortiz and Second Assistant Camera
Alejandro Olmedo (BA Film & Television, ’14). “I never really understood
how important lighting was,” Tennant said. “Symeon Platts and Matt Cole
came to us with so much input. They could show us in 30 minutes how to
entirely black out a glass house.” Read the Deadline review.