Robert Hitchcock
At Chapman University, learning often extends far beyond the classroom, especially during Interterm in January. Through immersive travel courses and hands-on experiences, students can engage directly with the industries they aspire to join and observe their fields in real time. In the reflection below, Paige Filipan, a senior public relations, advertising, and entertainment marketing major in the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, shares her perspective on attending the Sundance Film Festival and how the experience shaped her understanding of the evolving entertainment landscape.
Paige Filipan: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Last year, I walked by a travel course flyer on a Marion Knott Studios bulletin board entitled “Structure and Function of a Film Festival.” I scanned a QR code, applied, reached out to some friends to join me, and ultimately left my California bubble to learn more about the role film festivals play in the grand scheme of the entertainment industry. As a transfer student who didn’t have an opportunity to study abroad at my previous school, I was intrigued by the chance to travel as part of my studies at Chapman.
This week-long course visits Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. Since its founding by Robert Redford in 1985, Sundance has launched hundreds of acclaimed films, including Get Out, Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, Precious, Reservoir Dogs, and Whiplash. This year was also particularly historic, as Sundance announced it would close its 41-year chapter in Park City and move to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027. I wanted to get the last traditional Park City Sundance Festival experience.
Main Street as a Classroom
Most of the festival’s panels, screenings, and talks are centered on Park City’s iconic “Main Street,” where different companies rent out local businesses’ spaces to host activations and events. A good portion of my experience at Sundance was spent strolling down the street in 20-degree weather, hot hand-warmers in hand, looking out for pop-up public events, guerrilla marketing stunts, opportunities to network, or even random talent sightings.
While standing in line for a panel, one of the other trip attendees, Erick Ferrufino (Creative Producing ’26), said, “It’s surreal being surrounded by people shaping the future of the film industry. This city is freezing, but very inspiring.”
The Future of Film Marketing
Our course’s curriculum asked that we attend the following: film premieres, industry panels, screenings, and networking events. As a film marketing student, my first big highlight came during an Adobe and Variety panel focused on storytelling for fans and the future of audience engagement. Here, I listened to Hannah McMechan, the screenwriter of “KPop Demon Hunters,” say that the international KPop fanbase on TikTok deserves credit for the marketing success.
“If this finds the KPop fans, this will blow up,” said McMechan, “If it’s buried and it’s not (traditionally) marketed, then maybe no one will see it, so we were hopeful that Kpop fans would see it, and they did.”
McMechan’s candid acknowledgment that grassroots fan engagement outperformed traditional marketing strategies wasn’t just refreshing; it also confirmed my beliefs about the industry’s direction. Marketing with the fans in the forefront of your mind is essential in 2026, and this conversation inspired me to keep thinking outside of the box for my future campaigns.
The Power of the Chapman Network
Another highlight of the trip was the Chapman-hosted alumni mixer. Alumni, faculty, and industry guests gathered for an afternoon of connection and networking. The event featured Matthew Belloni from The Town podcast in discussion with Dodge College faculty member Travis Knox, offering insights into Hollywood’s evolving landscape.
After the discussion, attendees enjoyed curated photo stations, a hat-making bar, and industry-relevant tabling. To cap the event, Canon raffled off a professional-grade camera, which went home with Chapman alumnus Anthony Deng ’16.
Star-studded events, industry mixers, and panel discussions delivered valuable learning opportunities, but the trip’s most unexpected gift was community. Away from our Orange campus, Chapman’s network revealed its true strength.
“Seeing my peers be so outgoing in a new environment encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone,” said Isa Ruiz (Creative Producing ’26).
Conversations with classmates deepened beyond small talk; faculty offered plenty of guidance in a new environment; alumni shared important career advice. The bonds forged in freezing weather proved that a community isn’t built in a single location: it travels.
A Lasting Impact
As we left Park City, I felt I had accomplished everything I set out to do. The trip reinforced the value of being part of Chapman and Dodge College, not just for the education, but for the community it fosters and the opportunities it presents.
