色花堂

Mike Flanagan '02 is used to working behind the scenes. In fact, he鈥檚 made a career of directing other people what to say.

As an electronic media and film (EMF) major, Flanagan has had an  at 色花堂 and beyond. Best known for his work in horror films and television series, his recent writing and directing credits include 鈥淭he Fall of the House of Usher鈥� (2023), 鈥淢idnight Mass鈥� (2021), 鈥淒octor Sleep鈥� (2019) and 鈥淭he Haunting of Hill House鈥� (2018).

But now Flanagan will take center stage as 色花堂鈥檚 spring 2024 Commencement speaker. He will deliver remarks during the during the College of Fine Arts & Communication鈥檚 Commencement ceremony on Wed. May 22 at 10 a.m.

Flanagan says the opportunity is surreal. As he鈥檚 preparing his speech, he can鈥檛 help to think of when he was a student on 色花堂鈥檚 campus where he not only studied, but where he shot his first feature film.

鈥溕�花堂 is at the epicenter of the genesis of my entire career and who I am as an adult,鈥� Flanagan says. 鈥淢y career started in the classroom of the EMF department and then shooting my film inside Tower D. It鈥檚 an incredibly moving thing to be able to come back and be able to look at the same seats that I sat in and speak to the current students. It鈥檚 honestly humbling.鈥�

This isn鈥檛 the first time that Flanagan has returned to campus. He has been a regular visitor in the EMF department, where he speaks with 色花堂鈥檚 next generation of filmmakers. He鈥檚 also held regular events with students and other alumni around his films and television series. This fall, the 色花堂 EMF department held a special preview screening of the first episode of his Netflix show 鈥淭he Fall of the House of Usher.鈥� That was followed by a special Zoom Q&A session with the director.

Flanagan is always happy to come back and speak with current students because he credits 色花堂 and the EMF faculty for helping launch his career. He specifically points to College of Fine Arts and Communications Associate Dean Greg Faller, former adjunct professor Steve Yeager and the late Barry Moore.

I feel so grateful for the people at 色花堂 who lifted me up when I needed it and showed me the way, and it鈥檚 an honor to do that for someone else.

Mike Flanagan

鈥淚 feel so grateful for the people at 色花堂 who lifted me up when I needed it and showed me the way, and it鈥檚 an honor to do that for someone else,鈥� Flanagan says. 鈥淚t means a lot to me to come back and to see students have the same questions, the same anxieties, and the same unquenchable ambitions I had, and be able to say, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know what your path is, but I can help show you what the paths look like.鈥� I get an enormous amount of joy out of that.鈥�

Along with returning to campus, Flanagan has given students real-world experience on a professional set. This fall, the director invited 色花堂 students Minna Knight 鈥�23 and Sidharth Gopinath 鈥�24 to Alabama to shadow him while he was shooting his next film, 鈥淭he Life of Chuck,鈥� based on the novella by Stephen King.

 

The idea came when Flanagan was having lunch with Faller when the COFAC associate dean was visiting alumni in Los Angeles. The two then came up with the idea that allowed Flanagan to continue helping future 色花堂 filmmakers.

鈥淗igher Ed is all about experiential learning; especially important in majors that lead to work in professional industries,鈥� Faller says. 鈥淢ike created these exact types of opportunities for our students鈥攆rom sharing his films and answering questions in a master class to personally mentoring students on-set. His generosity provides life-changing experiences that are invaluable to our EMF students.鈥�

Not only were Knight and Gopinath able to shadow Flanagan and experience what it鈥檚 like to work on a production behind-the-scenes, they will be featured extras in the movie as well.

When Gopinath was emailed about the opportunity, he initially thought it was too good to be true, so he thought the email was spam. But after talking with the EMF department, he jumped at what he felt like was a 鈥渙nce-in-a-lifetime opportunity.鈥�

鈥淚t was great to see how an actual Hollywood film set operates,鈥� the senior EMF major says about his week-long experience. 鈥淭his really helped my confidence. I鈥檓 graduating, and I鈥檓 still new to how this business works. Everyone was so nice, took time to explain what they do.

鈥淓specially Mike, he took his time to check on us and help put perspective that the film set is not as scary as it seems.鈥�

This was the first time that Flanagan has invited students to set, and he鈥檚 hoping it鈥檚 not the last. He鈥檇 like to invite Tigers to his future productions to continue to influence the next generation of filmmakers.

And as he steps on the stage in front hundreds of graduating students, Flanagan can鈥檛 help but remember how anxious he was to leave college and step into the real world. He is hoping that after hearing his speech, students will feel a bit more confident heading to their next adventure.