MFA Graduate: Film & TV Producer Ty Johnston-Chavis
Anaheim University proudly celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of Ty Johnston-Chavis, a graduate of the university’s MFA in Digital Filmmaking program, who has gone on to become a highly respected producer, industry educator, and entertainment entrepreneur. Johnston-Chavis, a trailblazer in the independent film and television world, is the founder and CEO of T.Y. Entertainment and the visionary force behind the Atlanta Pitch Summit, a nationally recognized platform where emerging content creators connect directly with top television and streaming networks such as BET, FOX, Nickelodeon, Harpo Films, and MGM. Johnston-Chavis has produced and directed several acclaimed projects, including “The Match,” a suspense thriller released on AMC Networks/ALLBLK, “A Taste of Betrayal.” and “Style Me for Christmas” on BET. In addition to her work in film and television, Johnston-Chavis is a bestselling author of To Pitch or Not to Pitch and Give Me the Greenlight, both of which have guided countless aspiring producers through the art and business of pitching. She is also a member of the Producers Guild of America and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. As an educator, Johnston-Chavis has taught at the American Intercontinental University and The Art Institutes, and is now launching The Producers Academy, an initiative aimed at training and mentoring the next generation of producers from underrepresented communities. Her greeting to students considering the Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film’s MFA in Digital Filmmaking program can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0LemJ9eMGw
Historic Donation of Kurosawa’s Ran On-the -Set Footage
Anaheim University’s Akira Kurosawa School of Film is honored to announce the receipt of a historic donation: rare behind-the-scenes footage from the set of Akira Kurosawa’s legendary 1985 film Ran. The footage was generously contributed by Mr. Satoru Iseki, the Production Manager for Ran, through the National Film Archive of Japan, further enriching the school’s unparalleled archive dedicated to preserving the legacy of one of cinema’s greatest filmmakers. This invaluable footage adds to the 70 hours of original Ran set footage previously donated to Anaheim University and will be used for educational, archival, and cultural purposes. It will support the Akira Kurosawa School of Film’s global mission to educate and inspire new generations of filmmakers through direct engagement with the creative process of a master director. The Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Digital Film Program was developed under the leadership of Dean Dr. David Desser—one of the world’s foremost Kurosawa scholars, and the school offers a global platform for students to interact with Hollywood professionals. The newly donated footage will be preserved and restored by the university and shared with students and partner institutions globally, advancing Anaheim University’s commitment to celebrating Kurosawa’s work on an international scale.
