Betsy Walters

Hometown:

Derry, NH, USA

Prior To BU:

As an undergrad at GW, I interned with the nonprofit CINE, which organizes awards programs and educational workshops for filmmakers. I fell in love with the film festival/nonprofit side of the industry, and I stayed at CINE for 15 years. I embarked on this career because I love great film and TV, but the best part of my job has been the opportunity to connect with those who make it, especially student and independent filmmakers. One of my favorite programs is a series of classes and workshops to teach emerging filmmakers how to develop and pitch ideas to funders and networks. Those were such a blast to work on; I got to travel, and to see some amazing ideas come to life.

Why Film & TV Studies:

As I thought about the next phase of my career, I wanted to expand the educational work I was most passionate about through teaching and research. I was looking for a program that examined not just film and TV content but the industry that produces it. COM's Film & Television Studies program is the perfect fit for me, and the professors are so amazing. I can't wait to get started!

Looking Forward To:

I can't wait to get into the classroom again and connect with people who love film and TV as much as I do! I'm also thrilled to return to Boston; I grew up in southern NH and childhood trips to Boston turned me into a diehard city girl, so I'm excited to explore the restaurants and museums. And after 18 years in DC, I finally get to watch Red Sox and Patriots games on TV again.

After BU:

My goal is to teach emerging film/TV content creators and create more opportunities for them to tell their stories. That may take any number of forms! But I'd love to teach media students, and to work with organizations like film festivals, state and local film offices, distributors and nonprofits to create programs that curate fresh talent and train them to thrive in this ever-changing industry.

A Bit About Me:

• I went to Slovakia in April, where I participated in a very cool film festival (Ekotopfilm/Envirofilm) and learned exactly one Slovak word: "Ďakujem" ("thank you").
• I also once tried on the Sorting Hat and it put me into Slytherin, which is outrageous since I am clearly a Ravenclaw (or a Hufflepuff, depending upon who you ask).

Betsy's LinkedIn