Studio Fairfield - Student Film Makers

Dennis Donovan
DENNIS DONOVAN is a Fairfield University Senior who directed the final part of Dawn of Conviction and was the Cinematographer for the second part. After working on several Fairfield University Projects, West Canal (Co-Director) and Avant Garde (Cinematographer), Donovan co-created the online mini-series Echo’s Wayward with fellow student Bob Cammisa. Donovan is currently at work on his final student production ECHO 49, which is slated to premiere in May 2010.
Jamie DeStefano
JAMES “JAMIE” DeSTEFANO is an aspiring Editor / Director. A film major at Fairfield University, Jamie ended his junior year by producing, writing, directing, and editing his first short film, Red Light Green Light, in May of 2009. He could not have completed the film without the enormous amount of skill and support offered by the Companion Pictures team. Working on Dawn of Conviction allowed Jamie to step outside his comfort zone and try new things, along the way developing a new love for cinematography, and a new respect for audio and lighting.
Robert Cammisa
Dawn of Conviction marks the fourth film directed by Robert Cammisa. He is currently a senior Film and Television major from Seymour Connecticut. His former films include West Canal (co-directed), and Avant-Garde (directed. In addition, he helped create an online sci-fi mini-series called Echo’s Wayward with friend and fellow student Dennis Donovan. Robert directed two of the episodes and produced the mini-series. He is currently producing the prequel to Echo’s Wayward and looking to do another film for his capstone. He is also a member of the Companion Pictures production team and looks to continue to make films with the group.
Victoria Clougher
VICTORIA CLOUGHER has worked on numerous films and shorts over her past year with the Fairfield University Media Center. She started out as an editor, working on pieces such as the mini web-series "Echo's Wayward", the short film "The Real O'Neill", Andrew Osborne's senior capstone, and a variety of PSA's and other shorts. She also has experience as a script supervisor - again with Echo's Wayward and The Real O'Neill. She enjoys acting as well and has had a variety of cameo appearances in student films, PSA's, and she had a full role in Kenni Nwajagu's film "Save the Hero". Most recently, Victoria worked on the feature film "Dawn of Conviction". She was the script supervisor and the Art Director, which consisted of taking care of costumes, props, set, set dressing, hair, make-up, and blood effects throughout the shoot.
Kenni Nwajagu
KENNI NWAJAGU is part of Fairfield University's Class of 2012. Born in Nigeria, Kenni is a writer, director, producer, and an actor. He moved to the US at the age of seven and became involved with a local performing arts company called Original Works Inc. Through the program, he gained experience at writing and directing for stage and film. During his first year at Fairfield, Kenni wrote, directed, and edited a short film called "Save the Hero", acted as Assistant Producer for the web miniseries "Echo's Wayward" and the award-winning short film "Red Light Green Light", and Casting Assistant for the award-winning short film "The Music of Erich Zann". He also worked on various other both student film productions and television productions.
Matt Petterson
MATT PETTERSON is a Fairfield University senior making his directorial debut with Dawn of Conviction. He has previously worked on student films as an Assistant Director for Just Go With It (2008) and Save the Hero (2009), Sound Designer/Boom Operator for West Canal (2007) and ECHO 49 (in production), and Camera Operator for several concert and documentary pieces. His experiences carry over into post-production, where he has served as editor for West Canal and Service@Fairfield: MAGIS08 (2009) and sound mixer for Echo’s Wayward (2009).
Pat Hendrickson
Dawn of Conviction puts Patrick Hendrickson in the directors chair for the first time. The Chicago native has worked as Director of Photography for two previous Fairfield University productions: "West Canal" and "The Magic Life of Barney Strout". "West Canal" was the first film in which Hendrickson worked with fellow crew members Donovan, Cammisa, Petterson and Toran. Hendrickson then continued work with Cammisa and Donovan on "Avant Guard". The three co-wrote the project and Hendrickson assistant directed. Hendrickson looks forward to writing/directing his last student production next year.
Phil Toran
PHIL TORAN is a dedicated cinematographer born and raised in Needham, MA. He is an active member of Companion Pictures and has worked on a number of student projects within the Fairfield University Film program, as well as faculty projects and freelance work with Fairfield University. His first short film titled Stigma, inspired Phil to pursue photography as an art and submerge himself into the world of moving photography and cinematography. After his first work with Stigma, he went on to be DP and lighting director in the production Echo's Wayward, directed by Dennis Donovan and produced by Bob Cammisa. Among other student films Phil has worked on are: The Windmill and Watershed, Removed, Save the Hero, and West Canal Street. Phil has consistently worked alongside director Dennis Donovan and with producer Bob Cammisa in extraordinary projects including the Western film Dawn of Conviction, shot on location in South Dakota.
Tom Saporito
TOM SAPORITO is a filmmaker double-majoring in Film and Classical Music, with a minor in Television. He has written three screenplays ("The Real O'Neill", "Mr. Magnanimo", and "CC"), the first two of which have been produced, and latter currently in the early stages of production (to be by Directed by Victoria Clougher). He made his directorial debut with the short "The Real O'Neill" Recently, Tom has done camerawork for the upcoming short "Echo 49" (Written and Directed by Dennis Donovan. Acting has also been a large part of Tom's career building, nabbing roles in "The Real O'Neill", "Save the Hero", and "Dawn of Convictions". His acting experience also comes from one year doing Improvisational Comedy at Fairfield and a Level One Degree from the Upright Citizens Brigade under the tutelage of Gil Ozeri.
E. Alex Petrakis
E. ALEX PETRAKIS is an up and coming producer and cinematographer; he also is also improving his writing. Born and raised in New Jersey, E attended Randolph High School where he developed his passion for films. During his freshman year, E worked on Echo’s Wayward as a Assistant Producer, The Real O’Neal as a Director of Photography, and Jordan’s Asylum as a Producer. Now currently a sophomore, E is currently working as a DP for a comedy written by Tom Saporito.
Dan Dunn
DAN DUNN is a student filmmaker, hailing from Manchester New Hampshire. He has worked on Echos Wayward (2008), on which he filled the roles of grip and Behind the Scenes cinematographer, and Removed (2009), on which he was Director of Photography. A sophomore at Fairfield University, he is studying film and running for the University’s cross-country team. Looking ahead to after graduation (2012) he hopes to work in the film industry as a cinematographer, DP, or Director. Although his big dream is to someday travel the world making ski films.
Alex Lewindowski
ALEXANDER “BOWIE” LEWANDOWSKI was born and raised in South Florida. He is now a sophomore at Fairfield University as a New Media major with a concentration in film. Last year he directed About Charley and Mr. Magnanimo. On “Dawn of Conviction” he worked as Key Grip, best boy, Boom operator, and Camera three.

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Student Filmmakers

The home of the New Media Program is in the University’s award winning Media Center, a 15,000-square-foot facility on the ground floor of Xavier Hall. The Media Center facility consists of two fully equipped television studios and control rooms, a head-end satellite downlink and distribution center, three nonlinear editing suites with more than 30 editing bays, two media class and screening rooms, a digital imaging lab, and offices for Media Center personnel and equipment distribution . We have a new custom-designed 32-foot Mobile Satellite Uplink Production truck with high definition cameras and a Grass Valley Switcher — for productions of our students and staff. This truck enables Fairfield to produce sports, news, public affairs, and entertainment programs virtually anywhere, with immediate broadcast via satellite to the nation or the world. The Media Center is also home to the student television channel, The HAM Channel, with offices and work areas for their production efforts. Full-time personnel of the Media Center are professional video and digital producers, writers, editors, and design and repair technicians, and many also teach courses within the program.

The Media Center is the home to the Resource Center for Advanced Digital Exploration . RCADE offers a collaborative setting for University students, staff, and faculty to use new media technologies for research, teaching, and imaginative work. It offers a regular schedule of free workshops on digital hardware, including digital still and video cameras, and digital software products such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, Final Draft and digital editing with ProTools, Final Cut Studio 2 and Apple Logic. Students in the New Media Film, Television and Radio program are welcome to supplement their course work with RCADE workshops and significant internships are available at the Media Center and in production companies throughout the metropolitan area. After graduation, many students in this program acquire solid entry-level jobs in various media fields or continue to develop their interest through graduate studies.