Biola Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts

Here’s the number one editing tip you need to speed up your workflow! John Schmidt has taught at Biola since 2002, and brings over 35 years of film industry experience into his teaching. “Each of us in the film industry have a limited amount of time on this earth, and a limited number of films on which to work,”John says. “At the end of the day, I want the ones on my filmography to have told stories that matter, which are needed messages for our time, and which are a reflection of God’s grace in the world.” — John Schmidt Tag a video-editor friend! #BiolaCMA

Here is ALL you need to know about applying to the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts! The next generation of storytellers needs to be profoundly creative, skilled in their craft, honest and empathetic in communication and highly entrepreneurial. Here at Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts — ranked by Variety as one of the 30 best film schools in North America — you’ll have the opportunity to create stories that are a cut above. You’ll learn both the technical and creative skills necessary to enter the world of media, and gain a solid foundation that will help you navigate life in the entertainment industry. Save for later! Apply now (Link in bio)

🎬✨ Today, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the new studio facility for Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts! We are so thankful to God for His faithfulness in bringing us to this historic moment. As a top-ranked film school in the nation, we cannot wait to see how God uses our students creativity and drive for Gospel-centered living in the future. “What I believe is one person can change this world so there’s going to be a whole lot of students who change this world through the new building,” said President and Owner of In-N-Out Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. A special shoutout to Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson for her incredible support and to the hardworking @innout crew for serving our community today. To our faculty, staff, alumni, students, and everyone who joined us today — thank you for being a part of this milestone. #SnyderCinemaArts #BiolaUniversity

“I leave here not just with a specific direction, but with a new understanding of what I want to center my life around.” Kristy Lowe, graduating senior in Cinema and Media Arts and member of Epsilon Kappa Epsilon, Biola’s highest academic honor society, reflects on what her time at Biola taught her. Coming to Biola from South Africa, Kristy has made a meaningful impact on our community and graduates with a strong foundation in Christ and a renewed sense of purpose. At Biola, students are challenged to grow academically, spiritually and personally as they prepare to follow God’s calling on their lives. Apply now at the link in our bio! #biolauniversity #boldfaith #brightfuture

The countdown is on 🎥 Rest up this break, CMA — your best work is about to have a whole new home. We can't wait to show you what's coming. ✨

Tonight, Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts celebrated its Spring 2026 graduates at Day 2 of Biola University's Commencement — and the future of film and media is looking bright! 🎬🎓 To our Snyder graduates: you have spent years learning to see the world differently and tell its stories with skill, creativity and purpose. Now the screen is yours. Go create work that challenges, inspires and points to something greater! Congratulations, Class of 2026 — you are #BiolansForLife! Help us celebrate our graduates in the comments below!

"Should I not sit down and write my scripts with intention, purpose, and love?" ✍️📖 Meet Daniel Shing! As a senior writing for film and television major at Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts, Daniel’s journey from a fan of "throwaway" lines in Star Wars to intern at Kingdom Story Company is a testament to the power of storytelling. For him, community is the heartbeat of the Biola experience. He’s learned that whether you’re on a student set or a major feature film, leading with humility and a hunger to learn opens doors you’d never expect — like watching five of your own shots make the final cut of a "I Can Only Imagine 2." We are so proud of the way Daniel integrates his faith into his craft, reflecting the heart of a God who loves to create. Interested in starting your journey at Biola? There is still time to apply! Link in bio! #FaithAndFilm #StudentFeature #FutureFilmmakers #ChristianScreenwriter #ChristianScreenwritingProgram

From composing music to building worlds, there’s not much that Drew Magro can’t handle. A junior Game Design and Interactive Media major and Torrey Honors student, Drew has played at Punk N Pie, composed music for games such as Tassena, and gone deep in his literature studies through the @torreyhonors college. Check out his soundtrack for Tassena on Spotify by looking up “Drew Magro.”

Happy finals week! Share your favorite edit bay story in the comments 👇

Watch Pas de Trois, Natasha Salvador & Amabel Theophila’s senior thesis: May 5, Ethel Lee Auditorium. Doors open 6:30pm. Logline: When two inseparable boxing prodigies begin training for a life-changing tournament under the guidance of their trusted coach, ambition and manipulation drive a wedge between them. Until a final match forces them to confront the cost of chasing success at the expense of friendship. This is the story of @pasdetroisfilm “Creating Pas de Trois was a rare kind of experience - one where Natasha and I felt truly blessed at every stage. The production process was overall smooth sailing and by the end the crew really felt like a family. We managed to create an environment where we were not only making good art, but also having a lot of fun doing it. Our hope is that the film carries the same spirit forward and encourages fellow filmmakers to tell stories that are true, raw, and real.” - Amabel Theophila, Producer, senior cinema and media arts major Producers: @amabel_t @joannaboroh @jackiepro28 Director: @salvador.shots Written by: @mihaelajoy_ @sugary__________sean DoP: @abbyj_16_ 1st AD: @cordner.ben Production Designers: @kg.mclaughlin @katie.ciecalone Editor: @faithfullerfilms BTS Photos: @naylahhjobe @kp.ixels @isaacharry

We’ve been recognized once again! Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts is featured in Variety’s 2026 Education Impact Report for the ninth year in a row. Recognized for preparing students for an ever-changing industry, the Snyder School emphasizes both excellence in craft and qualities like adaptability, reliability and collaboration. “If we can prioritize excellence in those areas, too, along with the craft, they will be better prepared for this ever-changing industry, because they’ll know how to adapt.” — Tom Halleen, founding dean of the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts With enrollment up 63% since before COVID and a new 45,000-square-foot studio facility opening this summer — designed to support the full production workflow from ideation to final presentation — students are gaining hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art environment. It’s National Decision Day — there is still time to take the next step toward your future at Biola! Apply using the link in our bio! #biolauniversity #snyderschool #biolacma

Our latest Game Jam at Biola University showcased the talents of students in game design, writing for film and television, and cinema and media arts — alongside artists, coders and musicians from across the Biola community. The challenge: form a team of four and build a fully functional game demo in just 48 hours. We were also thrilled to welcome back several Snyder School alumni. This spring, contestants tackled the theme “1984.” Interpretations varied — from neon-soaked ’80s aesthetics to explorations of authoritarianism inspired by Nineteen Eighty-Four, with some teams even limiting mechanics to reflect second-generation 1980s console gaming. “It’s incredible coming back to Game Jam every semester. Seeing veterans return to show off their growth — and bonding over the shared struggles of years past — is what it’s all about. I’m immensely proud of this year’s final products; it’s truly some of our best work yet!” — Ezekiel A. Torres (’30) Congratulations to our winners — the team behind Infiltrate Moscow, Mark Squared: Luke Henry, Mark Wanis, Mark Johnson and Zach Safi.