April 8, 2016 (Jackson, Miss.) - Filmmaker Rick Negron will lead Belhaven University's new film production program, beginning fall 2016. He has worked on hundreds of film and video projects, and he continues to write and direct original work.
Building on his 18-plus years of experience, Negron has exciting plans for his film students that will give them every advantage they need to succeed. The program will immerse students into the film-making process and give them valuable insight about directing, producing, shooting and editing. Negron is working with local industry professionals to give students on-set work experience that coincides with the growing number of movies produced in Mississippi.
“Rick brings a wealth of experience to this new and exciting program,” said Associate Provost Dr. Dennis Watts. “He will enable Belhaven to teach students about film production; provide a pool of professionals for the growing Mississippi film industry; and advance the fine arts within both the Belhaven community and the community at large.”
Negron's love of film began when he was younger. Raised in the Florida panhandle, he moved to South Florida to study film at the University of Miami, focusing on directing narrative and documentary films. After graduation, he cut his teeth in the Miami commercial production industry, working both on set and in the editing room. During that time, he also produced short films and worked on feature-length productions. He became one of the first assistant non-linear editors in South Florida and was soon hired by Crew Cuts, a premiere editing boutique in New York City.
Ready to become a freelance video editor, Negron returned to Miami and acquired clients such as Disney, Nickelodeon, MTV, and DirectTV. He also worked as an editor on Year of the Bull, a football documentary that aired on Showtime and was released on DVD. He became the head editor and post-production supervisor of a daily television show called Off-the-Roof that aired on the Univision channel, Mun2.
Negron withdrew from his television work to focus on becoming an educator. He started the filmmaking program at Calvary Christian Academy, the largest K-12 evangelical school in Florida. This program quickly became one of the most competitive programs in the state, and its students have produced many award winning films and have gone on to work in the film industry. Negron also started the CCA Film Festival, an annual event that has drawn thousands of people over its seven-year run. He earned his Masters of Fine Arts from Regent University in Script and Screenwriting, and he has taught film, photography and writing classes at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
For more information about the film production program at Belhaven, email admission@belhaven.edu or call 601-968-5940.