Where Excellence Meets Purpose

How your support is fueling a top-20 film program to train tomorrow’s Christian storytellers.

In a darkened editing suite on Regent University’s Virginia Beach campus, light glows from a computer screen as students fine-tune the production of a feature-length documentary. Down the hall, others set up lights for a film shoot on a professional soundstage. The energy is palpable—and purposeful.

Excellence that starts with your support

This is the new face of the School of Communication & the Arts (SCA), now ranked as a top-20 film and media program in the nation by the Broadcast Education Association. Regent is training the next generation of filmmakers and content creators, who are gaining national attention, international accolades, and—most importantly—preparing to change the world for God’s glory through excellence in media and storytelling.

“We’ve won more than 800 national and international student film awards,” says Dr. Simon Tarr, dean of SCA. This excellence is made possible through donor support that provides state-of-the-art equipment, professional soundstages, and cutting-edge editing suites where students master their craft.

“In addition, we have a new feature-length motion picture, Beyond Escape, that’s in production right now.” The film tells the harrowing, true story of four human trafficking survivors. “It’s produced and directed by Regent faculty,” Tarr adds, “and Regent film students are serving in key crew roles as part of our newly redesigned film and television degree programs.”

Those efforts—coupled with the launch of the Regent Film Institute—mark a bold new era for Christian storytelling at the university. Feature films are no longer simply class projects; they’re real-world productions where students learn under seasoned professionals as part of their degree.

Attracting Hollywood experience to Regent

“We want to provide opportunities for our students to get practical, hands-on experience,” Film and Media Arts Department Chair Alex Buffalo shares. “Filmmaking is more than just theory. It’s a craft—and God calls us to a standard of excellence in our craft.”

Buffalo, an award-winning producer, director, and videographer, understands both the power and responsibility of Christian media. A former atheist, he came to Regent after decades in secular media and education. Donor generosity enables SCA to attract accomplished professionals, like Buffalo, whose industry experience and faith-centered approach provide students with expertise and mentorship they can’t find in textbooks.

“We teach students who God has called here. It’s all in His providence. We’re here to shepherd them, train them, and lift them up,” Buffalo explains. “I tell students, ‘Practice makes permanent. You’ll never be perfect—only Christ is perfect—but you can make something good that glorifies God, as long as your heart is in the right place.’”

Where your gifts come to life: professional studios

Under Tarr’s leadership, SCA has adopted a deeper focus on storytelling that reflects biblical truth and cultural relevance. The school’s curriculum emphasizes not only film technique but also beauty, craftsmanship and biblical truth. The professional-grade studios and equipment that make this firsthand learning possible exist because of faithful supporters who believe in training Christian media professionals.

That new direction is bearing fruit, as SCA students continue winning film and media awards. Those achievements help cement Regent University’s reputation in the industry and show that students are achieving at a high level.

“By the time they’re juniors and seniors, our students have options as filmmakers,” Buffalo adds. “Students can decide if they want to focus on cinematography, directing, producing, lighting, or visual effects. They can choose to create their own films or work on Regent Film Institute projects.”

From classroom to career: your impact continues

Regent graduates are finding meaningful work in film, television, journalism, and digital media across the country and around the world. But, Buffalo contends, other long-term fruit matters more than winning awards:

“Ten years down the road, if they’re waking up, going to a job, glorifying God in their work, providing for their family, being a member of a good church, that’s where our success is.”

The legacy you’re building through media

From the cameras students use to the soundstages where they create, every aspect of this program reflects donor investment in Kingdom-focused storytelling. None of SCA’s outstanding accomplishments and growth would be possible without the generous support of Regent donors.

Your prayers and financial gifts help equip the next generation of Christian artists, writers, producers, and directors to serve others as leaders uniquely prepared to enter the marketplace with integrity and purpose.

In an entertainment industry that threatens to grow ever darker, Regent University is raising up bright lights to share the redemptive story of Jesus Christ with clarity, conviction, and creativity. The people who support Regent—financially and prayerfully—are a huge part of fulfilling SCA’s mission to teach students to glorify God through their gifts.

“There’s a ‘well done, my good and faithful servant’ thankfulness (Matthew 25) to every single one of the donors who have given—and the donors who will give,” Buffalo insists. “Thank you for giving to a school that focuses on glorifying Him.”

“Regent’s motto is ‘Christian Leadership to Change the World,’” Tarr says. “Our students’ integrity, excellence, and service are desperately needed around the globe. Thank you for helping SCA strengthen and maintain our commitment to academic excellence and spiritual development.”

God’s story continues to be told through Regent University’s School of Communication and the Arts. Thanks to faithful donors, like you, the best is yet to come.