The University of Texas at Arlington has appointed Rachel Raimist, a Hollywood director, to its faculty as the Morgan Woodward Distinguished Professor of Film and Video in the Department of Art and Art History. Raimist will teach advanced cinema production and capstone courses in short film production.

North Texas Entertainment Industry Booms

The appointment is part of the university’s effort to attract film students and invest in the film industry, which is growing in North Texas. Raimist said she was drawn to the university’s growth and commitment to students, as well as the energy of the Dallas-Fort Worth creative community.

Raimist has directed episodes of television series such as ‘Bel-Air,’ ‘Elsbeth,’ ‘CSI: Vegas,’ ‘Sex/Life,’ and ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles.’ She currently serves in leadership roles with the Directors Guild of America and teaches at the Sundance Institute and the American Film Institute.

August Jordan Davis, chair of the Department of Art and Art History, said Arlington students will benefit from Raimist’s fresh ideas on filmmaking, new modes of storytelling, and her established industry networks.

UT Arlington’s investment in cinema dates back to the establishment of its first film program in the late 1960s. More than 120 undergraduate students are pursuing art degrees with a concentration in cinematic arts, according to university spokesperson Jeff Caplan.

The university’s recent push to attract new industry experts comes as other North Texas organizations are also supporting the next generation of filmmakers. Tarrant County College operates a Fort Worth Film Collaborative Certificate Program in partnership with the city’s film commission and 101 Studios, the entertainment company that produced Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Yellowstone’ and ‘Landman.’ The program equips students with the foundational skills needed to work in the film industry.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.