LA | Today at Elon | ��޹��Ʒ

Grant recipients near completion of films in ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Short Film Grant Competition

Brad Lemack — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:01:12 +0000

Production is well underway and nearing completion by all three of the ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles-area alumna who were recipients of the 2025-26 ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition. Filmmakers Julia Boyd ‘15, Bex Evans ‘16 and Mirai ‘07 are all expected to wrap their productions by the end of the month.

For Mirai, her short film shoot was an opportunity to both produce her original script and bring together several Elon alumni for a Hollywood reunion. Serving in various production capacities on her “#StopAsianKate” were Lauren Gadd ’06, who worked camera, Katie Laurence ’24, who worked as assistant camera, Alicia Reynolds ’07, who acted in the film, Stevie Kloeber ’07, who traveled to Los Angeles from Minnesota to serve as script supervisor, and Dean Karasinski ’06, who worked in production design, art department, craft services and as producer.

All three short films, Boyd’s “The Life and Time of …,” Evans’s “Shadow Dusk” and Mirai’s “#StopAsianKate,” will have their world premieres at the first ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival, in late July.

Stephanie Moeller ’09: Growing an Emmy-nominated career from Elon Roots

Caitlin Fish — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:02:26 +0000

“I’m 16 years in this business, and if anyone asks me about my path, I truly owe it all to ��޹��Ʒ, as I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without it,” said Stephanie Moeller ’09.

Moeller has made a name for herself as a five-time Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment Television, who now works as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

Stephanie Moeller ’09 poses on the ET stage.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew ��޹��Ʒ had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that Elon was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to Elon helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers Elon asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With Elon’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did Elon’s inaugural ‘Elon in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller made the switch from the international department to the domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer. Over her 15 years at E! News, she was nominated for five Emmy Awards,��Ի��interviewed people like Steve Carell, Charlize Theron and 50 Cent. She also had the privilege of working on the red carpet at the Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing that’s gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are just normal people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained. “When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts, I’ve always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty. They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally��Ի��give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller credits her continued success to strong relationships with her coworkers, interviewees, and former hosts, always keeping in contact with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the biggest pop culture stages as a top moment.

“I recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars, like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,��Ի��Leslie Mann, to name a few.”

This unforgettable experience solidified for her that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples Center.

“It was just me, my host Will Marfuggi, and a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death. It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Stephanie Moeller with the production team at E! News

Moeller’s journey at E! News was marked by steady growth in leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and opportunity.

“One meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell, who at the time was hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in September, we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,” said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

Elon’s top-notch curriculum and amazing professors helped her feel prepared for the real world, knowing she could succeed outside the classroom. Elon’s study abroad center helped many students, including Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller has come a long way through courage and perseverance, and now she works for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide show.

“This business, especially out in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that is what keeps you there,” she explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s going to end up where and who can help you down the line. And when you’re on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you, as one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

Elon Los Angeles students celebrate Elon Day in LA

Brad Lemack — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:16:53 +0000

��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles spring semester students had the opportunity to mix, mingle and connect with Elon Los Angeles-area alumni at the packed Elon Day LA event on March 5, hosted by LA alumni chapter Co-Presidents Cameron Jackson and Taylor Martin.

The gathering, held at The Belmont in West Hollywood, brought together an enthusiastic group of alumni, many of whom had participated in the Elon LA semester experience during their Elon academic journeys.

Current students shared internship and academic class experiences with their new Elon connections. Many took advantage of the opportunity to request meetings later this semester with individual alumni as a part of the Elon Los Angeles “Coffee with an Alumnus” program.

Elon LA spring semester students Kevin Reda and Jackson Bennett connected with Elon alumnus Jordan Roman ’15 (center) at the Elon Day event in Los Angeles.

The immersive Study USA Los Angeles semester and summer experiences offer students opportunities for alumni engagement, community service, unique academic classes with industry professionals, and site-based experiential learning. for Spring 2027 open April 1.

Elon Los Angeles film grant recipients meet with students to share project insights

Brad Lemack — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:25:39 +0000

The three Los Angeles area Elon alumna who are recent recipients of ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles 2025-26 Alumni Short Film Grant Competition awards met with spring LA students last week to talk about their grant-funded short film projects.

In accordance with the terms of their grants, alumna Bex Evans ’16, Julie Boyd ’15 and Mirai ’07 have each created opportunities for spring students to participate in and/or observe both their pre-production process and on-set work.

Elon LA alumna short film grant recipients Bex Evans ’16, Julia Boyd ’15 and Mirai ’07 met with spring LA students to talk about opportunities to get involved with their productions this semester.

Pre-production of all three short films is slated to begin this week, with production to start shortly thereafter. Production of all three films will be completed by the end of the Los Angeles spring semester in April. The three short films will have their world premiere this July at the first ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival.

Through Study USA��Ի��National Campus Programs, ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles offers an immersive spring and summer semester of academic classes, experiential learning, professional development and community service opportunities for students with a variety of majors. For information about the Los Angeles experience and 2027 opportunities, please visit the ��Ի��National Campus Programs��ɱ��ٱ��.

Julia Boyd ’15 talked with spring LA students about her short film project “The Life and Times of …”.

��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles announces the recipients of 2025-26 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant competition funds

Brad Lemack — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:24:51 +0000

Three Los Angeles-area Elon alumni have been selected to receive a $3,000 grant each for the production of their original, unproduced short films.

Bex Evans ’16 is one of three Los Angeles-area alumni to be awarded a short film production grant from ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles.

Mirai ’07 has been awarded a 2025/2026 grant for the production of her short film “#StopAsianKate,” one of three grants awarded to LA-area Elon alumni by ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles.

The 2025-26 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant competition was open to all Los Angeles-based Elon alumni to submit proposals this past fall for consideration for production funding. A selection committee comprised of both industry professionals and Elon alumni was assembled to read, review and rank all proposals received. From those rankings, the top three highest-ranked projects were selected to receive grants. Grant funding was made possible, in part, by the financial support from members of the Elon Los Angeles alumni community and others.

The three grant recipients are Julia Boyd ’15, for her short film “The Life and Times of …”, Mirai ’07, for her short film “#StopAsianKate” and Bex Evans ’16, for their short film “Shadow Dusk.”

Production of these funded projects will commence in early 2026. As a component of the grant requirements, filmmakers will make opportunities available to ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Spring 2026 students to participate in their projects through direct set experience and/or production observation. Elon Los Angeles program assistant and alumna Macy Mills ’23 and alumnus Jordan Roman ’15 were co-chairs of this year’s grant competition.

Elon alumna Julia Boyd ’15 has been awarded one of three 2025/2026 short film production grants to LA area alumni from ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles.

The selection committee members included Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and showrunner (“Lost,” House,” “The Good Wife”) Elon parent Leonard Dick P’20 (father of Julie Dick ’20), Emmy Award-winning producer Marsha Posner Williams (“The Golden Girls”), actor Eric Rollins, and LA-based alumni Frankie Campisano ’16, Mia Ginae Watkins ’16, Lauren Duncan ’18 and Alyssa Needham ’19.

The three short films funded will have their world premieres at the first ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival in late July 2026.

Lillian Engel ’19 cuts her path from Elon to Hollywood’s editing suites

Joshua Renza — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:48:50 +0000

The first time Lillian Engel ’19 stepped into Elon University’s School of Communications, her attention went straight to the editing suites, not the cameras or soundstages.

“Something about seeing those editing rooms was just really intriguing,” she says. “By the time I arrived at Elon, I knew I wanted to be a cinema major. Specifically, within that, I had become interested in becoming an editor.”

That curiosity has since guided Engel through the cutting rooms of major studio projects, from “Extraction” on Netflix to “Joker: Folie à Deux” with Warner Bros. Today, she lives in Los Angeles, cutting out her place in Hollywood’s fast-moving post-production world, one frame at a time.

Growing up in Connecticut, Engel didn’t initially know that cinema and television could be a field of study. But after visiting Elon, she was drawn to the university’s approach.

“I’m a very hands-on person, other schools I visited talked about doing theory for the first few years,” she said. “At Elon, they encouraged filmmaking from day one.

Lillian Engel ’19 smiles while on set with FreshTV in 2015.

That approach gave Engel a creative outlet and community. She joined Cinelon Productions, the student-run film organization, where she eventually served as a writing executive.

“Editing is part technical and part storytelling,” she says, “Knowing how to tell a story, and being able to teach that, is integral to what I do. You need a big-picture understanding so you’re not just putting shots together.”

By the time she graduated, her professors knew exactly where her passion was. “If we were doing a project, they knew I wanted to be the editor,” Engel says. “They let me tailor my time at Elon toward that focus.”

Engel credits several Elon faculty members for helping her build that focus. Cinema & Television Arts faculty Nicole Triche and Youssef Osman, she says, helped refine her technical skills and explore new editing software. Director of Student Engagement and Special Projects and Assistant Professor of Journalism Colin Donohue, who served as her academic advisor, provided constant encouragement.

“He was always championing me toward my goals and helping me figure out where to position myself,” she said.

Lillian Engel ’19, working on-set for a Coca-Cola commercial competition in 2017. (Photo credit: Tommy Kopetskie)

Donohue recalls her as “one of the finest students I’ve had in 18 years.”

“Lillian exhibited tremendous leadership and empathy. She was thoughtful, creative and curious — the kind of student who inspired everyone around her to be better,” he said.

That drive carried her beyond campus. Engel interned in both New York and Los Angeles, gaining early exposure to production and post-production environments. She also studied abroad in Paris through Elon’s French program, an experience that deepened her love of global storytelling.

In 2018, she nearly missed the deadline for the American Cinema Editors’ (ACE) Student Editing Competition, but managed to submit her entry just in time. A few months later, she received an email that changed her path — she was named a finalist and invited to the ACE Eddie Awards in Beverly Hills. “It was surreal,” she says. “I was meeting people whose names I’d only ever seen in movie credits.”

Lillian Engel, left, smiles at the 2018 ACE Eddie Awards in Beverly Hills. From left to right: her mother Melissa, Jenny Stringfellow ’15 and Ben Stringfellow ’15.

The event became her first glimpse into the professional editing world and her first encounter with Elon’s vast alumni network.

“There was another Elon alumnus there, and he later referred me for what became my first job. Elon pulled through and got me my start in Hollywood,” she explained.

After graduating, Engel moved to Los Angeles without a job or apartment.

“I was couch-hopping and networking, but within weeks, two Elon connections reached out at the same time with opportunities,” she said.

One of those connections led her to her first project: Netflix’s “Extraction,” where she joined the team as an office assistant.

“It was a really good take-off point, I was learning the back end of how a professional post-production office runs,” said Engel.

She has since worked on high-profile projects, including “Vacation Friends” for Hulu, “Peter Pan & Wendy” for Disney+, and “Joker: Folie à Deux” for Warner Bros. As an assistant editor on “Joker: Folie à Deux,” she helped manage footage organization, sound and music coordination and communication between departments.

Lillian Engel poses beside the Joker 2 film poster in 2024, where she served as assistant editor.

“I was in charge of liaising with the music department, sending and receiving cuts, and integrating the composers’ work,” she explained. “It was a good way for me to learn the process without being totally overwhelmed.”

Despite the differences between genres, Engel says the essence of editing remains the same. “The process doesn’t necessarily change, you still screen, cut, and refine scene by scene with the director. What changes is the scale, but the collaboration and creativity stay constant.”

Now an editor for an independent feature film, she reflects on the challenges of working in an industry that thrives on connections.

“There are no job boards in editing; everything is word of mouth. You can’t force the network, it happens organically,” she said.

She’s also quick to note that setbacks are part of the process: “Mistakes happen, and the key is staying calm and finding a solution. If I’m confident I can fix it — the world isn’t ending. It reflects better to take responsibility, communicate, and move forward.”

Her mentors and collaborators have continued to inspire her growth, including “Joker” editor Jeff Groth.

“Jeff would have us assistants come in and ask our opinions,” she said. “He made the cutting room collaborative. That taught me a lot about leadership and trust.”

Engel remains connected to Elon’s film community, seeking to mentor students who want to enter post-production.

“When I first moved to LA, I didn’t know anyone except some other Elon connections; that network has been everything,” she said. “I always want to be a resource for students interested in editing; it’s not as shiny as directing, but it’s vital to storytelling.”

Lillian Engel sits down at her editing desk in Los Angeles in 2023.

Her advice for students: practice constantly, “Editing is like a muscle; the more you do it, the stronger your eye and timing get. Get involved with projects, apply for competitions, and reach out to professionals. It’s all about staying curious and connecting with people.”

As for her own future, Engel hopes to keep exploring new genres. “I’d love to edit a musical one day, or maybe a period piece, something with a lot of emotion and texture. Right now, success means working on stories I care about and being part of great teams,” she explained.

For those who knew her at Elon, Engel’s story comes as no surprise. Donohue remembers presenting her “Outstanding Senior in Cinema and Television Arts’” award at the end-of-year ceremony.

“We didn’t need prepared remarks to celebrate Lillian,” he said, “She inspired people around her to be better. She left an imprint on this place.”

From the editing suites that first caught her eye to the cutting rooms of Hollywood, Engel’s path reflects the importance of curiosity and perseverance; the same values that continue to shape Elon storytellers today.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share those stories online.

Selection committee announced for the ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles 2025-26 Alumni Short Film Grant Competition

Brad Lemack — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:10:47 +0000

A group of elite Hollywood industry insiders, two of them Emmy Award winners and four of them Elon alumni, have been chosen to serve as members of the selection committee for the 2025-26 ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant competition. Supported with contributions, in part, from the Elon Los Angeles alumni community, the project will award $3,000 to each of three Elon LA-area alumni for the production of their original, unproduced short films in the first half of 2026.

Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and showrunner (“Lost,” House,” “The Good Wife”) and Elon parent Leonard Dick P’20 (father of Julie Dick ’20), Emmy Award-winning producer Marsha Posner Williams (“The Golden Girls”) and actor Eric Rollins will join with Elon LA-based alumni filmmakers award- Frankie Campisano ’16, Mia Ginae Watkins ’16, Lauren Duncan ’18 and Alyssa Needham ’19 to read, rank and judge the 2025-26 competition submissions received. The submission window for project proposals closed on Oct. 1.

Award recipients will be announced in early December 2026. Funded projects will require the alumni filmmakers to include the participation of students from the ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles spring 2026 semester experience in various production, performance and other capacities.

The three fund-supported films will have their premiere screenings in late July 2026 at the first ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Alumni Film Festival.

Elon alumni Jordan Roman ‘15 and Macy Mills ‘23 (Mills also serves as ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles program assistant) are the short film grant project’s co-chairs.

��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles launches fall “Learn & Share” series for LA alumni with sold out gathering

Brad Lemack — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:29:08 +0000

The ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles fall “Learn & Share” programming series, exclusively for Elon LA-based alumni, kicked off on Sept. 17 at The Preserve, Elon LA’s home base in Hollywood. The event was a sold-out gathering that featured a conversation with “Matlock” award-winning series co-executive producer and Elon alumna Michelle Leibel ’14.

A wide range of topics were covered in a conversation that was moderated by ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles director Brad Lemack. Attendees participated in a lively question-and-answer session covering topics that ranged from AI in the writer’s room to the state of the production industry landscape in Los Angeles.

Elon LA program assistant Macy Mills is co-producing this innovative fall initiative with Lemack.

The next event in the “Learn & Share” series is an alumni day of community service on Thursday afternoon and evening on Oct. 16, covering meal service shifts at Elon LA’s non-profit partner, The Hollywood Food Coalition. Elon LA-area alumni can get information and sign up to participate .

Join us for an Evening for Elon in Boston

Michele Terry — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:08:18 +0000

Alumni, parents and friends of Elon are invited to come together for an Evening for Elon in Boston. Connect with fellow members of the Elon community and hear a few highlights from campus.

The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at The State Room. A reception including a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program featuring remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book. Current alumni donors are invited to attend the Cheers to Elon celebration with food and extended bar service, photo booth and fun music! Make a gift of a minimum of your class year (ex: $20.21) to your choice of designation to join the alumni after party.

Evening for Elon in Boston with President Connie Ledoux Book
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
6:30 p.m. Hosted reception with hors d’oeuvres
7:30 p.m. Program with remarks by President Connie L. Book
8:00 p.m. Cheers to Elon celebration for alumni donors

The State Room
60 State Street, 33rd Floor
Boston, MA 02109

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres

��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles to offer community “Learn & Share” opportunities exclusively for Elon LA alumni this fall

Brad Lemack — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:11:22 +0000

��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles is launching a new initiative this fall exclusively for Elon LA-based alumni. Three community “Learn & Share” experiences will present opportunities for career empowerment, financial planning and giving back to the community.

On Wednesday evening, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. PT, at Elon LA’s home base at The Preserve, Elon alumna Michelle Leibel ‘14, a co-executive producer of the hit CBS-TV series, “Matlock,” starring Kathy Bates, will share the journey of her career success so far with fellow Elon alumni, in a conversation and Q&A moderated by ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles Director Brad Lemack. To register for this event, please visit .

Elon alumna Michelle Leibel ’14, a co-executive producer of the hit CBS-TV series “Matlock,” will kick off the inaugural ��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles “Learn & Share” programming initiative this fall. She will talk with Elon LA alumni about both her career and the industry landscape.

On Thursday, October 16th, from 1:30 p.m. PT – 8:30 p.m. PT, alumni will have the opportunity to give back to the Los Angeles community by volunteering for a meal service shift at the Hollywood Food Coalition, Elon LA’s nonprofit community partner. To register to volunteer for this important initiative, please visit: .

The fall 2025 Elon LA “Learn & Share” program initiative will conclude on Thursday evening, November 13th, at 6:30 p.m. PT at The Preserve, with a conversation and Q&A with a leader from the industry financial community about money matters, strategic financial planning, and taxes for entertainment industry freelancers and others. To register for this event, please visit: .

��޹��Ʒ Los Angeles is invested in both student and alumni achievement. Elon LA has a commitment to offering an environment and fostering opportunities for all members of the Elon LA community to learn, earn and thrive.

“Learn & Share” opportunities for Elon alumni are free to attend, but registration for each event is required through the links provided. Seating at the conversation/Q&A events is limited to 25 people; participation in the alumni community service day is limited to 16 people.

LA | Today at Elon | �������޹�����Ʒ

Grant recipients near completion of films in �������޹�����Ʒ Los Angeles Short Film Grant Competition