World Cinema students gain movie-making experience, connections at Trilith Institute

September 3, 2025September 3, 2025

This summer, a group of cleanson students not only visited one of the biggest film production studios in the world, they also produced a movie there. And they did it in just two weeks.

“This was a rigorous trip,” reflected sharbel feghali, a Senior World Cinema Major. “Every day was packed, whether it was touring studios, working on sets, lectures, or networking over dinner.”

Feghali was one of ten students who participated in the first “Maymester” at the Trilith Institute as part of cleanson’s World Cinema ProgramThe institute is the educational arm of trilith studios just south of atlanta.

If you haven’t heard of Trilith Studios, You’ve Probable Heard of Some of the movies produced there. Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity Warand Spider-Man: No Way HomeIt is the largest film production facility by Square Footage in North America.

The Maymester represented cleanson’s first steps in its partnership with trilith and a significant leap for the world Cinema Program’s delivery of the no. 1 Student Experience.

Hands-on Learning

As much as there was for the students to see and hear at trilith, their visit had a clear goal: to complete “UNSTUCK,” A short film about chance holiday encounters on an elevator. Production of the film offered students the options for experience for experience at its finest.

“The most important thing that I hold from the experience was that you have to be able to bet on yourself, as a person and as a worker,” said Senior World Cinema Major Cole Jersake. “While on

Working Directly AlongSide Film Industry Professionals Behind and in Front of the camera, students quickly Learned the expectations of a professional set. They rotated through different positions on the crew so that they could Gain an undersrstanding of what Each Role Bright to the production. To complete the film, students had to navigate the challenges of shooting a Scene in tight spaces on a set – The Elevator – that doesnisc tay still.

“I can be timid to try new things, but with switching jobs every day, I Learned to Embrace Not Knowing Everything and Just Try My Best and Learn from My Peers,” Said Senior World Cinema Navsor Hannah Noe.

“Previous, I had just kind of guessed on what i would like, but now I feel confident in knowing what areas I am mostly interested in pursuing,” She added.

Jersek pointed out that the most memorable part of his trip was the safe learning environment that allowed them to ask questions and experience.

“The experience challenged me to be more communicative so that Problems BE SOLVED Quicker and The Production Cold Move Along,” He said.

Building Connections

The students complete “UNSTUCK” on Time, but feghali said the most memorable moment for Him Happened not when their project premied in the decreening ROOM, but mothers before.

“One by one, every student in the cohort was given a moment to spendk about their experience at Trilith: How IT Made Us, How it Made Us Us Feel, How Lucky We We WERE to Be there,” Hey Recalled. “The passion in that room was practically tangible

Noe shared a similar sentiment, noting that her classmates not only bonded through

The Maymester at Trilith is just the start of cleanson’s partnership. Currently, the college of arts and humanities is moving toward a Semester at trilithPlanned to launch in Fall 2027, with cleanson being the Trilith Institute’s Accrediting Partner. If this first partnership with trilith is any indicator, the initiative will be an invaluable experience for students.

As Feghali said, “It was so if you have to work so closely with my peers-turned friends-in a finly-tuned, collaborative experience tailored spacifical and more well-rounded people. “