UA Film Professor Selected for Emmy Seminar

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Dr. Rachel Raimist is living proof that you don’t have to be in Hollywood to be a filmmaker, and people in L.A. are taking notice.

Raimist, an assistant professor in the department of telecommunication and film and co-director of UA’s Creative Campus, has been invited to participate in the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Faculty Seminar Nov. 10-15 in Los Angeles. She is one of 20 faculty members nationwide selected.

“The seminar is put on by the education arm of the television academy, which puts on the Emmys,” Raimist said. “Things like industry work flow, the terminology, roles and crew positions, how things work on a set, how shows are produced, the technology – all that kind of shifts. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to have faculty who are far removed from how things actually work teaching young people to enter this career field.”

Raimist said she has primarily worked on films, music videos and live events, so she is excited to gain even more knowledge to share with her students.

“I have a lot of students who love television and who hope to work in television,” Raimist said. “I hope getting to spend a week there will give me a current sense of the industry and a better sense of how our students could enter television as a career field.”

Dr. Glenda Cantrell Williams, associate professor and chair of telecommunication and film, said Raimist’s experience at the seminar will positively influence the entire department.

“This seminar is quite competitive, so we’re very proud that Dr. Raimist was selected,” Williams said. “The entertainment industry is always changing and growing, so having faculty spend time with industry professionals in Los Angeles keeps our curriculum fresh and up-to-date. The information Dr. Raimist brings back from this seminar will impact hundreds of our students.”

In addition to gaining knowledge to share with students, Raimist said she hopes the seminar will lead to more internship opportunities in L.A. for UA undergraduates.

Raimist is the third UA telecommunication and film faculty member to be selected for the faculty seminar. Dr. Kristen Warner attended in 2011, and Williams attended in 1998.