ANNIKA CIUL

Thesis:  Safety Training in Film Education Programs

Thesis Director:  Dr. Tony Ciarlariello, College of Motion Picture Arts

"As a student in the College of Motion Picture Arts at FSU, I was intrigued by the idea of participating in a thesis project that could give me experiences I might not otherwise get within my major. With the help of my committee, I was able to mix research with my creative background to develop a project that I am extremely passionate about. Safety Training in Film Education Programs focuses on comparing the teaching methods surrounding safety in educational institutions with film programs and the training requirements of the entertainment industry. I did this by conducting interviews with educators, currently working professionals, and researching the training methods of other industries. From that information, I created a series of workshops that could be implemented into any educational program in order to create a change in the culture and mindset surrounding safety for those preparing to work in the entertainment industry.

By receiving the Bess H. Ward Honors Thesis Award, I was able to go further in my research than I could have on my own. Training classes are surprisingly expensive, which usually is not an issue as the company training its employees pays for it. But as an outside researcher, I was unable to pay for those courses on my own. The grant I received gave me the opportunity to participate in training courses from groups such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). These experiences were extremely influential in my research and played a big part in shaping the workshop series I created. Those opportunities would have been closed to me without the Bess H. Ward grant, and I am extremely grateful for it."

-Annika Ciul, Fall 2019 Bess H. Ward Honors in the Major Thesis Award Winner