A Future in Film: LCCC Alum Awarded in Festival
Lights, camera, action! A 2024 graduate of LCCC’s TV/Film program and vice president of the film club, Hunter Arnold is now an award winning filmmaker after having his short film, A Fast Stop, shown on the big screen at the 2024 Allentown and Jim Thorpe Film Festivals.
Arnold has been passionate about movie making from a young age. “I think [after watching the movie] Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first time I ever thought about making films,” he says. “By 16, I got a camcorder for Christmas and started recruiting my friends from high school to help me make short skits. I figured if I really wanted to take it seriously, I would go where there are folks equally as passionate in the field.”
After creating several shorts over the years, Arnold decided to submit his short film to film festivals, with no high expectations. The film is one in a series that tells the many misadventures of a superhero character whose powers are, quite literally, pedestrian, “From sign-runners to jaywalkers, nothing in Newover County escapes his watch,” Arnold describes.
With his film accepted to both festivals, Arnold got to introduce the fictional world he created to a new audience. Receiving recognition for his work in such a prestigious setting was an experience he will never forget. “I am grateful that I was even considered for entry,” he says, “more so for the award for ‘Best Safety Message’ from the Allentown Film Festival, as well as second place for the PA State Filmmaker category in Jim Thorpe. It was an honor to have been screened alongside so many talented filmmakers.”
Members of LCCC’s Film Club as well as Professor Wendy Barron came out in support of his achievements. “Hunter excelled in and outside of the classroom, taking advantage of opportunities, such as Film Club, Film Festivals and working at WFMZ,” says Barron.
Filmmaking is a collaborative process, one that is built into the TV/Film program that helped Arnold hone his creative chops. It was within his courses at LCCC that he gained that sense of community from his peers and teachers. “I wasn’t too confident that I was going to get anywhere in my field. It was only when my peers began to encourage my work did I feel like I was making an impact with my art. I really don’t think I would be where I am without them. And they will forever have my thanks,” said Arnold.
The hands-on studio and field production classes gave Arnold the knowledge that he now applies at his job at WFMZ-TV. Arnold works primarily as a floor director on the evening and late shows – adjusting the set, working with anchors and reporters, and communicating with the director when needed. “There’s something exciting about being live and witnessing the show being made in real time. It has really made me appreciate the effort that goes into live broadcasting,” he says. He is also grateful for the support and resources he received from Pete Sabino, coordinator for the WXLV Media Design Lab.
To other students looking to be in the same career field, Arnold says, “Patience, focus, and a little humility are key. A lot of people walk into this field thinking they know the world – that they’re going to be the next [Vince] Gilligan or [Stanley] Kubrick, but that’s not without a level of dedication and passion for each step of the craft.”
His future goals are to get involved in a feature film, whether it be directing one of his own productions, or assisting other filmmakers in the area.
More information on the TV/Film AA program can be found on the LCCC website.
