Born and raised in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, Cinema-Television student Chester Elijah Branch has always known that he wants to be a film screenwriter.

His life took an interesting turn in 1998 when his father brought him to Regent University’s at-risk youth program. Chester was originally planning on dropping out of high school because he felt that his talent was all he needed to succeed in the film business. “I thought that going to school would just slow me down,” Chester said.

However, Chester was so intrigued by the youth program that he decided to pursue higher education. After he completed his undergraduate degree from St. Augustine College in North Carolina, he returned to Regent University for the graduate school preview weekend in 2003. He felt that this was the school where he was supposed to be.

“I feel like the world is heading towards a brick wall and God has called me to shed light on the world through my stories,” Chester said. He also said that Regent was the institution that would equip him with these skills.

Upon graduation, Chester plans to write at least two movies and executive produce a family television drama. Following these productions, he would like to become a college or graduate school professor teaching the art of telling stories. (Interview by Andrea Faith Camp)