Jon Vickers, the founding director of the IU Cinema, began a yearlong sabbatical July 1, according to an IU press release.
Associate Director Brittany D. Friesner will take over for Vickers as acting director while he takes time during his sabbatical to explore strategies for the Cinema’s advancement.
“The Cinema is in great hands with Brittany and the rest of our talented team,” Vickers said. “I think Brittany brings many new perspectives to our program. Every programmer has their own vision.”
During his sabbatical, Vickers plans to attend a few major film festivals, including Cannes and Berlin, where he hopes to network and “carry IU Cinema’s name and reputation forward,” according to the release.He will work to advance the Cinema’s 2020 Strategic Plan, including his part in the University’s bicentennial campaign.
Vickers will work with Film Indiana and other institutions to facilitate additional infrastructure for growth in film and media production in Indiana, according to the release. The initiative includes an effort to restore responsible tax credits for film and media production.
Vickers and students Jezy Gray and Jacy Rush will use collected data from researching tax incentives and their economic influence to craft a detailed proposal to be brought before state legislators with efforts to boost the state’s economy through increased film production, according to the release.
Vickers sees potential growth in film as something which would have a positive effect on the Media School, especially as IU Cinema prepares to collaborate with the Center for Documentary Production and Research.
Vickers will also participate in a few creative projects, including the making of a short film with Russel Sheaffer, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication and Culture, according to the release.
Since September 2013, Friesner has been behind the scenes at IU Cinema.
“From the beginning I was programming, especially with the academic partnership screenings,” she said. “Moving into next year, I’ll take over a lot more hosting of filmmaker guests.”
Friesner earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at IU. She had plans of becoming a sports broadcaster, but soon shifted her interests to public relations and marketing, according to the release.
After moving to Seattle, Friesner became an event manager at a children’s science museum. “That’s when I realized I liked operations and event management — planning events for people and building a sense of community,” she said.
She was inspired to start volunteering for film festivals after experiencing the Seattle International Film Festival, the release said.
Festival work was a revelation to Friesner, according to the release. After SIFF, she made it her goal to work for a nonprofit film organization.
Friesner returned to IU in 2009 and earned her master’s in arts administration at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
“By that time, the commitment to build the IU Cinema had been made. I knew it was happening,” she said. “I stuck my claws in the project as early as I could. I applied for every job that was available and finally got one.”
Friesner stayed in touch with Vickers after writing an article about him and the Cinema for the IU Alumni Magazine, according to the release.
“She was hungry to work here, there is no question,” Vickers said. “From the beginning, from the very first interview, we knew that this should eventually be a place for her. She had the passion for it, but also the arts administration background. I’m glad Brittany was persistent.”
