Full Sail University Alumni Involved in Nominated Projects at the Emmys and Oscars - MovieMaker Magazine

      Each year, the Primetime Emmys and the Academy Awards celebrate the finest accomplishments in film and television. Full Sail University provides a diverse array of degrees designed to equip students for careers in these fields, and many of the school’s alumni often find their names in the credits of Emmy and Oscar-nominated projects. The 2024 Primetime Emmys and the 2025 Oscars continued this trend: At the Emmys, 73 graduates contributed to 45 winning projects across 69 categories, with four alumni receiving their own Emmy awards. At the Oscars, 47 graduates were acknowledged for their work on 18 nominated projects in 21 categories, with two alumni nominated for their own Oscars.

      Here’s additional information on Full Sail graduates recognized for their work on award-winning projects, along with details on the various Full Sail degree programs focused on film and television.

      **The 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards**

      Last year, graduates from Full Sail undertook a variety of roles on Emmy-nominated shows. In total, 196 alumni participated in 184 nominated projects spanning 103 categories, with 12 graduates receiving their own Emmy nominations.

      Alumni Alexandra Paola Garcia Ortiz (Associate Finishing Producer) and Eric Sibley (Visual Effects Supervisor) both contributed to Netflix’s *Ripley*, which garnered 13 nominations in categories like Outstanding Limited Anthology Series and Outstanding Special Effects in a Single Episode.

      *Fallout* from Amazon Prime was nominated in 16 categories, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes. Alumni such as Miccah Underwood (Set Decoration Coordinator/Art Department Coordinator) and Kendell Darian Copeland (Lead Layout TD) played key roles in bringing the video game adaptation to fruition.

      When the winners were announced, 73 Full Sail graduates were credited on 45 award-winning projects, which included *Shōgun*, *The Bear*, *Fallout*, *Hacks*, and *Ripley*.

      Additionally, four Full Sail graduates won their own Emmy awards:

      - **Patrick Christensen** - Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation for *The Bear* – “Forks”

      - **Mark Hailstone** - Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) for *Shōgun* – “Broken to the Fist”

      - **Gary A. Rizzo** - Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program for *The Beach Boys*

      - **Kyle Rottman** - Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie for *Shōgun*

      **The 2025 Academy Awards**

      This year, 47 alumni from Full Sail University were credited on 18 nominated projects across 21 categories, with two graduates earning nominations for their own Oscars.

      Recording Arts graduates Nancy Nugent Title and Gary A. Rizzo both received Oscar nominations. Gary was nominated for his work as a Re-Recording Mixer on *The Wild Robot*, while Nancy earned a nomination for her role as a Supervising Sound Editor on *Wicked*.

      Several other alumni contributed to *Wicked*, which received nominations in 10 categories, including Best Picture. Graduates Mario Alexander Orlando (Animator) and Chelsea Goodchild (Digital Artist) enhanced the film’s astonishing visual style, while Jeffrey Roy (ADR Mixer) and Geraldo Gutierrez (Re-Recording Mix Technician) worked on its audio.

      Graduates such as Kalani Akuna (Graphic Designer), Vinny Alfano (ADR Recordist), and David Betancourt (ADR Mixer) were also involved in the Bob Dylan biopic *A Complete Unknown*, which was nominated in eight categories, including Best Picture and Best Sound.

      *The Substance* was nominated in five categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Makeup & Hairstyling, with grads Judah Getz and Patrick Christensen serving as ADR Mixers on the body horror film. Graduate Trino Madriz worked as an ADR Mixer on *Nosferatu*, which received nominations in four categories, including Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.

      Other graduates were credited on nominated projects like *Conclave*, *Anora*, and *Dune: Part Two*.

      **Full Sail’s Film & Television-Focused Degree Programs**

      Full Sail offers degree programs designed to prepare students for various roles both on and off set in the film and television industries. These include:

      - **Film Bachelor’s Degree**: Explore the entire filmmaking process and collaborate with peers to create a short film.

      - **Digital Cinematography Bachelor’s Degree**: Learn to produce video content across multiple platforms and understand the business aspects of filmmaking.

      - **Creative Writing Bachelor’s Degree**: Develop ideas and storytelling skills applicable to film and television.

      - **Computer Animation Bachelor’s Degree**: Discover the animation process from storyboarding to final compositing while mastering professional animation workflows.

      - **Show Production Bachelor’s Degree**: Gain skills in lighting,