Striped Chair of Vilas Hall

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Striped Chair of Vilas Hall

Do you remember me? You probably sat in me while you were waiting for some filmmaking gear, perhaps you took a nap on me between classes.

Maybe you don’t remember me at all, but I’m still in good old Vilas Hall, and I want to reconnect with you. Fill out our survey and stay in touch with me and other Com Arts filmmakers:
https://forms.gle/NdHatMJRpCXhD8oS7

09/02/2026

Welcome, or welcome back, to campus! There are so many great ways to kick off your fall semester. You can:

🎥 Stop by the IMC to say hello to our new Media Services Manager, Tim Brayton,
⬆️ ⬇️ Ride Vilas’ brand new elevators,
🎞️ Catch a screening at the Cinemateque in 4070,
🪑Take a selfie in the Striped Chair,
(And hopefully, go to your classes…)

We’re excited to have you in Vilas Hall this fall! 📚🍂

08/26/2026

If you haven't seen it yet, there's a beautiful behind-the-scenes video capturing the making of Morning Moon—we really love the video, but what we love even more is that a Com Arts alum shot and edited it!

Ma Vue is a very talented videographer for UW's Office of Strategic Communications and spent a day on set capturing the behind-the-scenes of this short film. Morning Moon came together through the work of talented alumni from across departments, and Ma's video captures the collaborative nature of the production. In the video, writer and director Aaron Greer speaks on why he thought it was important to shoot this film right here in Madison. Check out the full video to see the story behind the production of Morning Moon! 🌙

08/20/2026

Welcome, Tim Brayton, the IMC’s new Media Services Manager! If you’re in the IMC, stop by and say hello. 👋

Tim will oversee the IMC, production facilities, media preservation, and all classroom and research facilities and equipment in the department. Tim will supervise the technical support staff in Com Arts and ensure that we have the facilities and tools we need to continue reaching our instructional, research, and administrative goals.

Tim was a Com Arts film studies graduate student at UW-Madison. During that time, he taught production courses, including CA 355, CA 465, CA 467, and CA 659. During the pandemic, he also served as our “Tech TA,” helping instructors with the sudden shift to virtual learning. Tim most recently came to us from Lawrence University in Appleton, where he worked in IT alongside two of our former Com Arts-ers, Kaitlin Fyfe and Anne Haydock.

Tim wrote extensively about Disney animation during his time here and is a regular at bar trivia. He is also an outstanding baker and could win The Great American Bake Off if there were such a show stateside.

Tim will work closely with Pete Sengstock, our former Director of Media Services, who is now assigned to L&S IT, on his transition into this position.

Welcome back, Tim!

08/18/2026

The Striped Chair of Vilas Hall is hiring a new student Hellum Intern to make social media posts for our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts! The Striped Chair seeks to connect alumni, mentor current students, and support the education of future filmmakers at UW–Madison.

The Hellum Intern will edit images and graphics for social media posts, write emails, and photograph departmental events. On social media, they will interact with alums and work to build our networks and connections. They will also edit and update our contact database and work on the forthcoming Striped Chair of Vilas Hall newsletter. This is a great opportunity to develop skills in social media management and communication strategy, and to engage with our alums.

➡️ $15/hr
➡️ 4–8 hours a week
➡️ Partially remote
➡️ September 2026 – May 2027
➡️ Apply at go.wisc.edu/m0d7c8 (Applications close August 23 at 11:55 PM)

Erik and Jennifer Hellum have funded this internship to help undergraduates gain skills that jump-start their careers. Jennifer is a New York–based personal branding consultant; Erik is COO/Local Media for Townsquare Media, the third-largest owner of radio stations in the US. Erik is President of Communication Arts Partners (CAPS), a group of distinguished alumni, faculty, and emeritus friends of UW–Madison who constitute a board of visitors for the Communication Arts Department.

08/14/2026

Learn from people working in the film and media industry in our brand-new course, CA150: Behind the Media! 🎥

Taught by Erik Gunneson, this course will feature a weekly guest who will offer insight into their careers and experiences in the media industry. CA150 is a 1-credit, introductory-level course that meets for one 50-minute, in-person class each week.

This is an excellent opportunity to hear directly from industry professionals, strengthen your Badger network, and learn about career possibilities. We hope to see you in 4070 this fall! 🍂

Register here: go.wisc.edu/l4fdtr

08/12/2026

On this day, we remember Vilas' fallen....

Did you know that there was a time students could cross University Ave without ever touching the ground? A pedestrian bridge extended over University Ave for 44 years before its demolition in 2015. On this day 11 years ago, construction workers used heavy-duty equipment to demolish the bridge that spanned University Ave between the Mosse Humanities Building and Vilas Hall.

Built in 1971, the bridge had deteriorated to a dangerous degree. Its use had also declined after a pedestrian traffic signal was installed at the East Campus Mall crossing a few years prior, and it was ultimately deemed too costly to repair.

So next time you're waiting for the walk signal by East Campus Mall, look up and remember when students could cross overhead. R.I.P., Vilas Bridge. 🪦

08/06/2026

For 41 days, Vilas Hall has stood still… but your favorite building on campus is reopening this Monday, August 10th!

Over the past six weeks, campus experienced air conditioning limitations during the hottest days of summer due to a broken chilled water line. On June 30th, more than 20 campus buildings closed, including Vilas Hall. Other than the Wisconsin Public Media broadcast facility, the entire building was closed.

The Cinematheque cancelled its summer schedule, IMC staff worked remotely, the humidity made the stairs slippery, and all of our computers were shut down (possibly the first time the post suites have been offline in their history). But on Monday, Vilas is logging back on. Other than a few plant casualties in the IMC (R.I.P.), Vilas is ready to reopen! We look forward to getting back in the Striped Chair.

07/21/2026

This small but mighty crew, over half of whom are Com Arts alums and students, has been working hard to bring Morning Moon to the screen. By our count, 19 total alums and students have worked on the feature film so far! 🎥🌙

Morning Moon was written and directed by our very own Professor Aaron Greer. The crew includes UW alums Erik Gunneson, Ellena Hein, Alejandro Dominguez, C Kessler, Kyla Pollard, Gavin McLean, Ben Cooper, Swan Ferraro, Madison native Jordan Biagomala, and students Arthur Nelson and Asher Ollins. From Chicago, Judy Febles, Trina Mulligan, and Brian Delisi are the backbone of this incredible crew.

Morning Moon stars Ta'liyah Rashelle, Tommy Martin, and Celeste Cooper. Many supporting roles feature students, faculty, and alumni from the Theatre and Drama Department. Com Arts faculty, staff, students, and friends have also appeared in supporting roles and as extras. Spanning multiple departments and filmed in locations across campus, this is a very UW-Madison film! 🦡

Morning Moon is supported by WARF faculty research funds, a Creative Arts Award from the Division of the Arts, a Midcareer Boost Award from the Provost’s Office, donations from friends, family, and supporters via Create Wisconsin.

Swipe for behind-the-scenes photos of Morning Moon, shot by Asher Ollins! ➡️

07/14/2026

Morning Moon, a feature film by our very own professor Aaron Greer, is in production!

Set primarily in Madison, the film follows newly orphaned college grad Selena as she traverses the city seeking to uncover the mysteries and true identities of her parents. Searching for her father, Selena finds a stranger instead—unearthing secrets, guilt, and unexpected bonds. Motivated by guilt, curiosity, and latent paternal feelings, this stranger and his wife get drawn into Selena’s search, revealing truths from the past that cause all three to question their lives and their relationships.

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes of Morning Moon!

07/10/2026

Looking for a job related to film in Madison? Red Star Rentals is hiring a Grip and Lighting Rental Technician!

Red Star Rentals supplies cameras, lenses, lighting, grip gear, and production trucks to filmmakers. With seven locations, Madison acts as their corporate headquarters. This is a great entry-level position for those seeking to break into the film industry—no film experience required! You’ll get the opportunity to work with gear and make contacts with the local crew and production managers.

➡️ Full-time | $20/hr
➡️ 401(k) + matching
➡️ Health insurance & PTO
➡️ Parental leave
➡️ Entry-level friendly

Apply on Indeed: go.wisc.edu/u20599

Address

821 University Avenue
Madison, WI
53706

Website

https://commarts.wisc.edu/

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