Baylor Film and Digital Media Presents Q&A with Director of “The Blind Side,” Creator of TV's “Chicago Fire”
Media Contact: Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-3321
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by Gabrielle White, student newswriter, Baylor University Media and Public Relations
WACO, Texas (Jan. 23, 2019) – Baylor University’s department of film and digital media will host a question-and-answer session with Baylor alumni John Lee Hancock, B.A. ’79, J.D. ’82, writer-producer-director of several movies, including the Oscar-nominated “The Blind Side,” and Derek Haas, B.A. ’91, M.A. ’95, co-creator and developer of television shows “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Med” and co-writer of several films.
The event will take place at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in Room 101 of Castellaw Communications Center, 201 Baylor Ave.
The question-and-answer discussion topics will include what work Hancock and Haas have done in the television and film industries and will focus on their journey to where they are now. Hancock has directed such notable movies as “The Rookie” and “Saving Mr. Banks,” while Haas co-created the popular “Chicago” series of TV shows on NBC and co-wrote several movies, including “Wanted,” “3:10 to Yuma” and “2 Fast 2 Furious.” Haas’s book, “The Silver Bear” is being adapted into a film.
Both Hancock and Haas were asked to speak because of their successes, their connection to Baylor and their desire to give back by helping students.
“Our hope is that students in attendance will be inspired and instructed in terms of their futures, either in the entertainment industry or in whatever field they’re pursuing,” said Chris Hansen, professor and chair of film and digital media in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. “For non-students, we hope they’ll find it both informative about the industry and an indication of the excellent work being done by Baylor Bears.”
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email Christopher_Hansen@baylor.edu.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and seven academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit www.baylor.edu/artsandsciences.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.