Our guest on today’s podcast is Daniel Leonard, Chief Technology Officer, Associate Dean, and Full Professor at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, consistently ranked among the top film schools globally. Daniel has supervised and edited award-winning feature films, documentaries, and TV programs; presents about filmmaking with AI; and is recognized as an industry expert, frequently consulted by major news outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and USA Today.
Today’s episode is sponsored by EditMentor, teach and learn filmmaking interactively.
From Soundboards to Storyboards: Daniel Leonard on Shaping the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Daniel Leonard’s path to Chapman began at the University of New Haven, where he studied music and sound engineering with aspirations of becoming a rock star. After discovering that live sound work involved “lugging a lot of cable” and finding limited job opportunities post-graduation during the recession, he took a film course in his final year and “got bitten by the [film] bug.” His film professor, Jean Boucan, was hired by Florida State University’s master’s program and invited Leonard to follow. Though initially accepted as alternate 25th out of 24 available spots, Leonard spent a year working on student sets and on Boucan’s feature film before gaining admission and Florida residency—reducing his costs by two-thirds. This experience taught him that “you really have to work for this and you better take advantage once you get in.”
After working on independent films, then at a post house, Leonard joined Florida State as a staff member heading post-production, helping “get their technology in order.” He transitioned to faculty after discovering his passion for teaching: “The greatest joy is letting the light bulb go on for other people.” Over 30 years in education, his former students have achieved notable success—the Duffer brothers (creators of Stranger Things) recently visited campus, and another former student now handles color grading for Avatar 3 in New Zealand with Peter Jackson’s team. Leonard arrived at Chapman in 1998 and played a key role in designing the technology infrastructure for Marion Knott Studios when it was built in 2006 with approximately $50 million in funding.
Hands-On Learning Meets Cutting-Edge Technology
At Chapman, Daniel emphasizes giving students practical, hands-on experience with state-of-the-art tools—from virtual production sets to AI-assisted video editing. “It’s not about memorizing buttons,” he says. “It’s about making creative decisions, problem-solving, and collaborating effectively.” Students learn to navigate real-world projects that mirror the challenges they’ll face in professional media careers.
Chapman University is home to Knotts Studios, a $50M purpose built filmmaking studio. Knotts Studios includes two professional sound stages (2,500 and 5,000 sq. ft.), a dedicated Foley stage, and specialized stages for broadcast journalism and cinematography. The facility houses 36 individual editing suites, a set design shop, a production design studio, audition rooms, and a hair/makeup studio. Students have access to industry-standard editing and mixing software such as Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, and Adobe Creative Suite. The studio features a 500-seat Folino Theater with advanced film and digital projection, Dolby surround sound, and is open 24/7. Equipment checkout includes cinema and broadcast cameras (Sony, Arri, RED, Canon), professional lighting and sound gear, lens packages, and grip/electrical equipment. The infrastructure includes Mac and Windows labs.
Student Projects
Chapman University’s Dodge College enrolls both graduate and undergraduate students, with typically thirty undergraduate thesis film projects produced each year. Each thesis project is managed by at least seven key student creatives (director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer, production designer, and producer). Graduate students complete a two-year program and receive starting budgets of $20,000 for their thesis productions. The majority of crew roles—about 20 to 25 students per film—are filled by students, with occasional professionals hired for sound design, stunts, or makeup, where specialized skills are needed. Students begin with basic equipment in their first year and gain access to advanced technology and facilities progressively with each project.
Industry Partnerships and Career Prep:
Chapman maintains extensive partnerships with technology and media companies including Avid, Dell, AMD, Sony, Panasonic, and Disguise. These collaborations provide students with hands-on access to industry-standard hardware and software, and help keep the curriculum aligned with professional workflows. Chapman’s dedicated career office and mandatory internships support job placement, and students are widely regarded as top interns across Hollywood owing to their collaborative attitudes and technical proficiency. Alumni have emerged in prominent roles, including the Duffer Brothers (creators of Stranger Things), colorists working on Avatar 3, and founders of companies like Frame 48.
Admissions and Outcomes
Daniel says that Chapman’s admissions process searches for applicants who show creativity, collaboration, solid writing ability, and strong academics. Application portfolios are crucial and often decisive when evaluating candidates. Students typically enter as specialists in a discipline, but can transfer tracks if interests evolve. Chapman’s approach values unique creative voices and encourages multidisciplinary backgrounds in fields like theatre or music, contributing to richer storytelling.
Groundbreaking Projects and Technology
Student projects frequently push technological boundaries—including visual effects collaborations, virtual production, and animation. Recent standout films such as Top Spin (Michael Zhang), Dimebag (Matt Chi), Eater (Duffer Brothers), and Icarus (Tom Teller) showcase innovative practices. Chapman’s Institute for Creative Reality and soon-to-launch Innovation Hub support emergent tech like AI-driven editing, virtual reality, and augmented reality experiences.
Career Advice and Hybrid Work
Chapman advises students to be tenacious networkers and to seek frequent and meaningful internships. Faculty guide students not only in technical skills but also in time management, problem-solving, and adaptability—skills necessary for today’s hybrid and freelance film industry where personal connections are key to opportunity.
For readers interested in learning more straight from the source, listening to the accompanying podcast offers deeper insights into Chapman’s curriculum, expert advice from faculty, and first-hand stories from students and alumni. The podcast delivers candid perspectives on what it takes to succeed in film and media, providing valuable context and advice beyond the written page.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to hear Daniel’s story and learn how hands-on, tech-forward education is shaping the future of media arts.
