Josie Azzam stringout editor, Project Runway, season 12

Josie Azzam portrait at work next to Project Runway poster
Josie Azzam

Josie Azzam worked as a full-time editor of television documentaries at PBS affiliate NET Television before moving to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. 

She earned a MFA in Film Production with an emphasis in Editing in 2012.

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Elizabeth Baquet assistant to the head of production, Funny or Die Productions

Elizabeth Baquet photo
Elizabeth Baquet

As a student, Elizabeth Baquet worked on Digs as a locations manager. As a freshman, she worked on UNL’s first Carson Film Series movie, Vipers in the Grass.

“As a student, you get excited about this because you get to interact with professionals and work with your peers,” said Baquet. “But the coolest aspect of this project is when the professionals step aside and let the students take over.”

Baquet used Kickstarter to fund a short film called Home Roam and also worked on campus at HuskerVision.

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Shane Bystrom freelance editor, PopSugar

Bystrom moved to Los Angeles after graduating from UNL, and before working at PopSugar, he earned a highly selective internship with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences as a sound intern at Larson Studios.

In 2011, Bystrom interned for Hollywood Studios International and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in L.A.

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Timothy Croshaw Senior Set Designer in Los Angeles

Photo of Tim Croshaw
Timothy Croshaw
Tim Croshaw has been a set designer for Twilight (the first of the series), Star Trek: Into Darkness, Inception, X-Men: First Class, The Avengers and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He has also worked as a set designer at NBC/Universal, first on their television series Medium, and then Monk, as well as House, M.D. His other TV series include House of Cards, Entourage, Dexter and Deal or No Deal, among others. Read more about Timothy Croshaw

David Duffy creative director, Disney Cruise Line

David Duffy
David Duffy
David Duffy has been creative director for Disney Cruise Line Entertainment and Port Adventures since 2007. Duffy began working at the Magic Kingdom at DisneyWorld in 1987. He performed in improvisational comedy shows at Walt Disney World Resort for six years and later moved to production work. With the launch of the Disney Cruise Line business, he was selected to be a member of the creative team for all of the entertainment product for the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the first two ships in the fleet. Read more about David Duffy

Jessie Graff stuntwoman

Jessie Graff on American Ninja Warrior (Photo by: Brandon Hickman/NBC | 2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC)
Jessie Graff
Jessie Graff's credits include Sons of Anarchy, Transformers, Hawaii Five-0, The Dark Knight, Iron Man 2, and Bridesmaids. She was part of the group of stunt actors to receive a 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. UPDATE August 29, 2016: Jessie made history and just completed the Stage 1 Final of the American Ninja Warrior TV series in Las Vegas! The first woman to ever complete the Stage 1 Final, Jessie will continue to compete in the Stage 2 Final in a few weeks... You can watch her on NBC television. Read more about Jessie Graff

Aja Jackson one of six national finalists for the prestigious Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Internship

Aja Jackson works with lighting equipment
Aja Jackson
Aja Jackson was one of six national finalists for the prestigious Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Internship. She served as the assistant lighting designer for the Glenn Korff School of Music and Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film co-production of “Candide” in 2013. She was the lighting designer for University Theatre’s “Bright Ideas” and “Agravio.” She also assisted with lighting dance at the University of Iowa in 2011 and was an assistant lighting designer in 2012 for the Off-Broadway production of “Flipside: The Patti Page Story” in New York. Read more about Aja Jackson

Zach Janky video editor, PlattForm Advertising

Zach Janky
Zach Janky

Zach Janky edits and designs television commercials, web videos and lobby videos for various clients nationwide.

His projects have involved 2D and 3D motion graphics, 2D animation, directing talent, voice over recording, compositing, kinetic typography, 2D animation and lower-thirds design.

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Alexander Jeffery Filmmaker

Alexander Jeffrey
Alexander Jeffery
Alexander Jeffery is a filmmaker in Los Angeles. ​In 2015-16, The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy received the Programmers' Choice Award at the 2016 Cleveland International Film Festival; Best Director-Short Film, Best Short Film, and Best Ensemble Casting-Short Film at the 2016 Wild Rose Independent Film Festival; and Best Picture (Grand Prize) at the 2015 Louisiana Film Prize. Read more about Alexander Jeffery

Abby Miller Actor

Abby Miller
Abby Miller
Abby Miller, '02, has seen her acting career take flight with her portrayal of Ellen May on the critically acclaimed FX drama Justified. Miller has also appeared in Mad Men, Private Practice, Gilmore Girls and several films. Miller has also starred in several commercials for clients such as McDonald's, Target, State Farm and American Express. Read more about Abby Miller

Matt Miller lighting and technical director, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Matt Miller
Matt Miller

Matthew Miller was promoted to Lighting and Technical Director at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 2012. He was previously Lighting Director at Hubbard Street, which is one of the only professional dance companies to perform year-round. The main company has appeared in celebrated dance venues in 44 states and 19 countries.


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Mike Peters Assistant Head of Rigging, Cirque De Soleil Las Vegas

Mike Peters spent three years as an entertainment rigging specialist for Royal Caribbean International, maintaining and operating the Foy and other automated rigging systems on their ships.

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Scott Raymond cycle animator, DreamWorks Animation

Scott Raymond
Scott Raymond

Raymond's credits include animation work for films including Madagascar 3, Megamind, and Shrek Forever After.

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Benito Sanchez Camera production assistant for Alexander Payne’s film, Nebraska

Benito Sanchez working on the Nebraska Film
Benito Sanchez
Benito Sanchez had the opportunity during his senior year at UNL to work on Alexander Payne’s film, Nebraska, as a camera production assistant and as the personal assistant to Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. In addition to Sanchez, recent Carson School alums Jacob Heger (B.F.A. 2010, M.F.A. 2012), Jake Denney (B.A. 2012) and Rudy Jansen (B.F.A. 2012) also worked on the Payne film. Assistant Professor of Film Sandy Veneziano served as Art Director for the film and said the experience was invaluable for Sanchez and the other Carson School alums. Read more about Benito Sanchez