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

06/01/2026

Dylan Rauwerdink is a winner of the 2026 Hellum Award! 🏅 🎉 Dylan is a Communication Arts student who recently graduated in the Radio-TV-Film track. As the sound designer for CA659’s capstone film, “What It Takes”, Dylan worked diligently to record high-quality audio in the field. He often spent entire days in the studio crafting the film’s soundscape and building a sonic world for the characters. The film’s soundtrack stands out as one of the most complete and fully realized among CA659 films.

🗣️ “As the semester progressed and our group spent more time collaborating and filming, I became much more invested in the project. I feel very happy with the work I put in and how it impacted the final product.

This award will give me a head start towards my goal of getting into a film studies graduate program. I am incredibly grateful.”

⭐ Fun Fact: Dylan’s sister, Caoilfhinn Rauwerdink, won a Nietzchka Keene award in 2022 in part for the 659 film “The Road Without Us” – great filmmaking runs in the family!

Erik and Jennifer Hellum created the Hellum Award to acknowledge students who demonstrate outstanding dedication to their studies and the Department of Communication Arts. We are grateful to Erik (Communication Arts ‘87) and Jennifer (Journalism ‘89) for their support of Communication Arts students.

05/29/2026

Arthur Nelson is a winner of the 2026 Hellum Award! 🏅 🎉 Arthur is a Communication Arts student with a focus on film production. This past semester, he was a gaffer for [Redacted] Films’ “Fragile” in our capstone filmmaking course, CA659. Arthur brought a theatrical, surreal, and beautiful lighting style to “Fragile.” He’s a standout in the classroom and in the Com Arts IMC where he works as a media assistant. 🎥

🗣️ “I am incredibly passionate about filmmaking, and it is my goal after college to pursue a career in the industry I love so dearly. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me by graciously choosing me as a recipient of the Hellum award.”

Erik and Jennifer Hellum created the Hellum Award to acknowledge students who demonstrate outstanding dedication to their studies and the Department of Communication Arts. We are grateful to Erik (Communication Arts ‘87) and Jennifer (Journalism ‘89) for their support of Communication Arts students.

05/27/2026

Christiaan Hajos is a recipient of the 2026 Nietzchka Keene Prize! 🏆🎉 Christiaan is a Communication Arts and Theater double major with a penchant for framing and composition. This spring, he was the Director of Photography for [Redacted]Pictures’ short film “Fragile,” where he captured vast landscapes and complex relationships beautifully. He credits “Once Upon a Time in the West” as the movie that sparked his passion for filmmaking. This summer, he plans to finish writing a minimalistic sci-fi movie about the last two people alive on a melting ice-planet. He aims to make a proof of concept short of it in the winter.

🗣️ “What I want to do with film is make sweeping epics in nature landscapes that capture the beauty around us, and show various relationships between people and nature. I can't wait to get back on set as it's one of my favorite things in the world.”

The Nietzchka Keene Prize supports undergraduate film and video production students. The prize was established in memory of Professor Nietzchka Keene, who inspired young filmmakers in Communication Arts from 1995 until 2004, when she passed away unexpectedly.

05/21/2026

Kaaden Dull is a recipient of the 2026 Nietzchka Keene Prize! 🏆🎉 She is a graduating triple major in Communication Arts: Film-TV-Radio, English: Creative Writing, and French with a minor in Digital Cinema Production. While enrolled in Advanced Screenwriting (CA609), Kaaden wrote the feature-length screenplay "Cassandra Is a Computer." Her short film screenplay "Mountain Raven" was a finalist for the Wisconsin's Own Screenwriting competition. With a passion for reading and writing, Kaaden was an instructor at the Greater Madison Writing Project for their Young Writers camp.

🗣️ “I have always been interested in stories and language which has driven my areas of study. I plan to pursue a career in creative and communications-based writing post-grad.”

The Nietzchka Keene Prize supports undergraduate film and video production students. The prize was established in memory of Professor Nietzchka Keene, who inspired young filmmakers in Communication Arts from 1995 until 2004, when she passed away unexpectedly.

05/19/2026

Alan Zarzycki is a recipient of the 2026 Nietzchka Keene Prize! 🏆🎉

Alan just graduated with his degree in Communication Arts and a Digital Cinema Production Certificate. He was the Assistant Director of the award-winning CA659 capstone short “I Know the End.” He directed the documentary Flying Through The Spectrum, which is about a geographer supporting teens on the autism spectrum through the Taking Autism To The Sky program. While completing advanced coursework in post-production, screenwriting, and film theory, Alan also served as a student media intern for the Learning Engineer Group.

🗣️ “I’m honored to receive the 2026 Nietzchka Keene Prize. After graduating, I plan on staying in Madison to apply my filmmaking knowledge to help grow Madison’s film community before moving on to bigger filmmaking cities like Los Angeles or Atlanta for new opportunities."

The Nietzchka Keene Prize supports undergraduate film and video production students. The prize was established in memory of Professor Nietzchka Keene, who inspired young filmmakers in Communication Arts from 1995 until 2004, when she passed away unexpectedly.

➡️ https://go.wisc.edu/u7968r

05/15/2026

First the bridge, now the art… 🪦💔

Even the sky wept when Professor James Watrous's mosaic “Freedom of Communication” was removed from Vilas Hall on May 12th. Constructed in the early 70s, this iconic mural has greeted thousands of students as they entered Vilas Hall and bid them farewell as they left with a newfound understanding of communications. From our spot inside the IMC, we see folks stop nearly every day to pose for a pic in front of the artwork. 🖼️

The project committee recommended removing this work entirely to protect it during construction. “Freedom of Communication” has since been moved into storage.

We’re overjoyed that a much-needed accessible ramp will cut into the completely redesigned courtyard! 🎊

We hope that “Freedom of Communication” will be restored and returned in the near future. 🤞

05/13/2026

There’s a job opening at the best workplace in the world! We’re hiring - join the Department of Communication Arts as the next Media Services Manager. 🎥 This role will provide technical expertise, operational planning, budget oversight, project management, and oversight of equipment used by media production courses, research, and outreach programs for the department.

📍Position: Media Services Manager
⏰ Application deadline: May 20, 2026
➡️ For more information and to apply: go.wisc.edu/tgq8dw

05/07/2026

⚾ Since the turn of the century, Com Arts has held a semesterly Wiffleball Showdown–and this year, the underdogs came to play! 🚩 CA467 students crushed CA659’s Fluorine Films and Redacted Pictures. There was a valiant comeback effort, but it was not enough to defeat our cinematography and sound recording students. The score is too lopsided to announce, for fear of humbling our capstone filmmakers. It was a beautiful afternoon on the field, and a fun way to end the semester.

Enjoy your spring! 🌸 🌼 🌷 🍀

05/05/2026

Another round of applause for all of our talented filmmakers whose work was featured at the 2026 Communication Arts Showcase! 👏👏👏. It was great to see everyone’s hard work on the screen. The 659 capstone films Fragile and What It Takes show how much students progress from our introductory classes to the capstone. The house was filled with positive energy and a genuine passion for film–thank you to everybody who made it out!

🎬 The showcase featured a variety of work from all of our incredible production classes–including a podcast, short films, narrated screenplays, advertisements, and music videos–followed by a Q&A with Fluorine Films and [Redacted] Pictures. The night was a well-earned result of hard work, passion, and creative collaboration. A special thank you to our sponsors, Cinematheque and WUD film. 🎥

Here are some pics from the night! Congrats, filmmakers! 🎊🎉

04/28/2026

Join us this Saturday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. for the Spring 2026 Communication Arts Showcase at the Marquee Theater in Union South! 🎞️ 🌸 This annual event presents work from our media-making courses CA155, CA355, CA467, and CA659.

We will celebrate our students’ work, including the world premieres of two films, Fragile and What It Takes, made in CA659: Advanced Motion Picture Workshop. Our talented CA659 students worked hard this semester to bring scripts by Com Arts students Michael Pipkorn (Fragile) and Ally Mueller & Phillip Thao (What It Takes) to the screen.

The Communication Arts Showcase will also include short films chosen for special recognition from Communication Arts courses.

Doors open at 6:30, so arrive early to secure your seat. Unfortunately, we will have to turn people away if we reach capacity.

Big thanks to our partners, the WUD Film Committee and UW Cinematheque!

🎥 WHAT IT TAKES 🎥

CREW
Ally Mueller: Director
Ally Mueller & Phillip Thao: Writer
Ethan Yepiz-Foat: Producer
Brennyn Van Handel: Assistant Director
Grace Koenig: Director of Photography
Phillip Thao: Assistant Camera & Colorist
Serenity Nguyet Anh Vo: Gaffer & Assistant Colorist
Kiesen Williams: Production Designer
Dylan Rauwerdink: Sound Designer
David Zhang: Editor & Boom Op

CAST
Malika Daikawa - "Skyler"
Zachary Krueger - "Chase"
Miko Kafel - "Max"

🎥 FRAGILE 🎥

CREW
Michael Pipkorn: Writer & Director
Chaney Chapman: Producer
Liliana Sgriccia: Assistant Director
Christiaan Hajós: Director of Photography
Aidan Feeney: Assistant Camera & Colorist
Arthur Nelson: Gaffer & Assistant Colorist
Sarah Squires: Production Designer
Cassidy Thao: Sound Designer
Gavin McLean: Editor & Boom Op

CAST
Kian Murphy - “Boy”
Evelyn Becker - “Girl”

Address

821 University Avenue
Madison, WI
53706

Website

https://commarts.wisc.edu/

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