The John H. and Patricia W. MitchelI Scholarship honors the legacy of Columbia Pictures Television Founder John H. Mitchell and is designed to support and prepare current and future generations of undergraduate students to become ethical and responsible media professionals and leaders. In addition to the monetary award associated with this scholarship, the Mitchell Scholars will receive invitations to special events and programs throughout the year. This year's scholars will have the opportunity to meet with LSA Dean Curzan, attend presentations from FTVM guest scholars and industry professionals, particpate in specially programmed film and media based seminars geared toward their interests, engage with FTVM alumni, and obtain individual professional development resources and guidance.
Dierra Barlow is a senior FTVM major (screenwriting) with minors in Afroamerican and African Studies and Creative Writing. Dierra has spent the last two summers interning for companies in Los Angeles, including for Circle of Confusion and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Academy Gold) in 2019 and remotely for Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment. During her free time, Dierra loves listening to 70s R&B, soul, and gospel music, watching sports, and spending time with her family back in Saginaw, Michigan. She currently serves as the liaison for the University of Michigan’s Black Film Society where she helps connect students with alumni and industry professionals.
Jelani Embree is a senior FTVM major with a focus on production. He finds biographies difficult to write because he feels “[he] does not know much about [himself] yet.” Jelani is thankful that the FTVM major allows for plenty of self-exploration – and he hopes to “define [himself] through what [he] creates.” Jelani wrestles for U-M, and he spends his free time playing guitar, drawing, and meditating.
Macy Goller is a junior undergrad at U of M getting a dual degree in FTVM and Theater Arts, with minors in History and French. Macy uses all of these studies combined to be the best storyteller she can. Film for accessibility, theater for the soul, history for the context, and French to be able to share these stories with as many people as possible. Macy's goal is to use these mediums to enable storytellers all over the world to share their piece. She hopes to be a vessel for creativity and a facilitator of honest and raw conversations through art. She is ever grateful to her family, peers, mentors, and teachers who have gotten her where she is today.
Lara Graney is a junior from New Jersey majoring in FTVM and minoring in Business. She is the Vice President of M-agination Films and the Co-President of the Film and Video Student Association. In her free time, Lara likes to create short films and talk about movies; she also enjoys cooking and food media. Lara is thrilled to be one of the recipients of the Mitchell scholarship.
Julia Gray is an FTVM major, Screenwriting Sub-Major, Environmental Science minor and Global History minor, who is currently serving as an RA in Alice Lloyd. Julia is interested in the international screenwriting industry (mainly in Canada and Europe), and, in her free time, she loves to watch TV: “I could spend the rest of my life watching TV,” claims Julia. “If I want to change it up I'll watch a movie or a review of a movie."
