This production initiative at Brandcenter turns student scripts into professionally produced ads. The program gives graduate students real-world experience in commercial filmmaking by pairing them with working directors, producers, and production companies.
Production Master Class
At its core, the initiative is an ambitious experiment in collaboration, mentorship, and local film community development.
Graduate students from the Brandcenter’s Art Direction and Copywriting tracks are selected to have their original scripts produced, working alongside seasoned professionals to bring their ideas to life. Through this immersive experience, they gain a deep understanding of the full production process—and learn how to adapt and elevate their ideas in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
At Brandcenter, we prepare students for a future shaped by creativity and emerging technologies. As AI continues to transform creative workflows, this initiative reinforces the enduring value of traditional production skills. The Production Master Class provides a powerful foundation in creative collaboration, sharpening students’ craft and strengthening their ability to adapt, collaborate, and lead.
The Work:
Take a look at the spec ads created in 2025.
U-Haul
- Production Company – FWENS & SpangTV
- Directors – Devin Whetsone & Micah Gendron (Art Direction, 2005)
- Executive Producer – John McAdorey, Omincom Production
- Producer – Micah Gendron (Art Direction, 2005)
- Brandcenter students: Nithya Charles (Art Direction, 2025), Elio Conroy (Art Direction, 2025), Henry Coffey (Copywriting, 2025), Erin Kang (Creative Brand Management)
U-Haul Full Team Credits
- Production Company – FWENS & SpangTV
- Directors – Devin Whetstone & Micah Gendron (Art Direction, 2005)
- Executive Producer – John McAdorey, Omnicom Production
- Cinematographer – Kuni Ohi
- Producer – Micah Gendron (Art Direction, 2005)
- Art Director – Nithya Charles (Art Direction, 2025), Brandcenter
- Art Director – Elio Conroy (Art Direction, 2025), Brandcenter
- Copywriter – Henry Coffey (Copywriting, 2025), Brandcenter
- Brand Manager – Erin Kang (Creative Brand Management), Brandcenter
- Actors – Julia Majerscak & Pete Peterson
- AD – Tom Prunier
- PA – Isaac Martin
- Production Designer – Sonny Fleming | Ready Set Go
- Art Director – Benny Perkinson
- Art Dept – Rebecca Gendron
- Art PA – Rubén Andrés
- Art PA – Ben Comenetz
- AC 1st – Alexandria Jones
- AC 2nd – Nick Rall
- AC – Nicolas Deunas
- Media PA – Oslyn Meija
- Gaffer – Alex Kent
- Key Grip/Safety – Robert Moose
- Grip – Eric Wakefield Thompson
- Grip – Avery Leavitt
- Grip – Derrick Chirinos
- Wardrobe/HMU – Colter Beach
- Storyboards – Shelley Williams
- BTS – Ben Comenetz
- Spang Studios – Mel Cox
- Catering – Polpetti, Curry Caribbean
- Special Thanks: Ready Set Go! + RVA! + SPANG + SJ!
- Color – Coffee & TV
- Colorist – George Neave
- Color Assistant – Liam Van Rooyen & Lois Chawpman
- Color Producer – Pete Burch
- Edit House – Cut + Run, Austin
- Editor – Adam Henderson
- Assistant Editor – James Kracht
- Executive Producer – Bebe Baldwin
- Finishing – Coffee & TV
- Flame Artist – Callum Wellby
- Executive Producer – Kat Thay
- Senior Post Producer – Tom Knight
- Audio – In Your Ear
- Sound Engineer – Paul Bruski
- Executive Producer – Carlos Chafin
- Casting – Anne Chapman
- Casting Director – Anne Chapman
- Casting Assistant – Carly Hough
Party City
- Production Company – Mondial
- Executive Producer – Patrick Mack, Mondial
- Producer – Marjorie Fajardo, The Martin Agency
- Director – Darren Genet
- Brandcenter students – Jynnelle Smith (Art Direction), Callum Leitenberg (Copywriting, 2025), Emma Kerencheva (Creative Brand Management, 2025)
Party City Full Team Credits
- Production Company – Mondial
- Director – Darren Genet, ASC
- Executive Producer – Patrick Mack
- Agency Producer – Marjorie Fajardo, The Martin Agency
- Art Director – Jynnelle Smith, Brandcenter
- Copywriter – Callum Leitenberg (Copywriting, 2025), Brandcenter
- Brand Manger – Emma Kerencheva (Creative Brand Management, 2025), Brandcenter
- Actors – Kylee Márquez Downie, Dante Black
- Casting – Anne Chapman CSA
- Extras Casting – Rubén Andrés
- Production + Post – Mondial Creative:
- Edit – Madison Hoffman and Nick Wurz
- Color- Will Renton
- Audio – Red Amp
- Sound Engineer – Jody Boyd
- Executive Producer – Marna Bales
Additional Production support from VCU Cinema
- Producer + Consultant – Danny Caporaletti
- AD – Rania Ashoor
- Production Manager – Chris Debo
- 1st AC – Colin Earner
- 2nd AC (Student) – Jai Isaac
- Gaffer – Eric Walkfield Thompson
- Key Grip – Joe Wilson
- Swing (Student) – Nicholas Nohe
- Wardrobe/ART – Kara Michael
- MUAFX / Hair – Amanda Blake
- Art Department – Benny Perkinson
- Art Department Assistant – Ella Saba
- PA #1 – Jakob Tyree
- PA #2 Extras Wrangler – Ruben Pagan
- Steadicam Op – Xavier Velasquez
- Additional Student Crew 1 – Oscar Vorster
- Additional Student Crew 2 – Paityn Perdue
- Additional Student Crew 3 – Hekla Petersson
A
Five Hour Energy
- Production Company – Bousquet Pictures
- Director – Devin Bousquet
- Producer – Danny Ryan, Arts & Letters Creative Co.
- Gaffer & Key Grip – Mike Flinn
- Brandcenter students – Maddie Edwards (Art Direction, 2025), Emme Schumacher (Art Direction, 2025), Kedi Hickman (Copywriting, 2025), Grace Garvey (Creative Brand Management, 2025)
Five Hour Energy Full Team Credits
- Production Company – Bousquet Pictures
- Director – Devin Bousquet
- Gaffer & Key Grip – Mike Flinn
- Producer – Danny Ryan, Arts & Letters
- Art Director – Maddie Edwards (Art Direction, 2025), Brandcenter
- Art Director – Emme Schumacher (Art Direction, 2025), Brandcenter
- Copywriter – Kedi Hickman (Copywriting, 2025), Brandcenter
- Brand Manager – Grace Garvey (Creative Brand Management, 2025), Brandcenter
- Actors – Matthew Foltz, Hazel Marie Love, Sterling Barbett
- Color – Blacksmith VFX
- Colorist – Kevin Ratigan
- Color Producer – Adam Vevang
- Editor – Scott Witthaus
- Finishing – Superjoy
- Flame Artist – Paul Wiederholt
- Executive Producer – Kerry Ayers
- Senior Post Producer – Katherine Leatherwood
- Audio – Red Amp
- Sound – Jesse Clark
- Sound Engineer – Jody Boyd
- Executive Producer – Marna Bales
- PA – Walid Al-Tinawi
- Casting – Anne Chapman Casting
- Casting Director – Anne Chapman
- Casting Assistant – Carly Hough
Industry Partners
These dedicated professional partners make the Production Master Class possible.
- Anne Chapman Casting
- Arts & Letters Creative Co.
- Bousquet Pictures
- Brian Camp Pictures
- Caparoletti Films
- Coffee & TV – London
- Cut and Run – Austin
- FWENS
- GSD&M
- Hungry Man
- In Your Ear Studios
- Mondial
- Omnicom Production
- Red Amp Audio
- SpangTV
- Superjoy
- The Martin Agency
- Tiny Lion
- VCUarts Cinema
- Visual Kinship
- Witthaus Editorial
Interested in becoming an industry partner? Reach out to Tom Scharpf, Chair of Art Direction, at [email protected].
