New business of entertainment minor set to debut beginning fall 2023

Starting in the fall, Chapman will offer a new business of entertainment minor to students interested in the two areas of study. Photo by DANIEL PEARSON, staff photographer

What do film students and business majors have in common?

The two schools don’t have much overlap. Some argue the creativity of filmmakers in Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in starkly different from the serious nature of future accountant and entrepreneurs of the George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics.

But these two areas of campus have recently come together to create a whole new area of study on campus, marrying the two aspects of film and business to create a new minor.

Beginning in fall 2023, a business of entertainment will be a new undergraduate minor offered at Chapman through the a collaboration between the film and business schools.

The minor will help bridge the gap between the academic field of business and the film and entertainment industry for students who have an interest in both fields.

The new program can be beneficial for students interested in becoming a producer, entrepreneur or a director for an established company, such as those in Hollywood, or if someoneis interested in the intersection of business with the entertainment industry.

Henrik Cronqvist, the Argyros school dean, commented on what this minor will look like once it is introduced in the fall.

“The minor is interdisciplinary by design and involves both business courses and courses in the entertainment, film and media areas,” Cronqvist told The Panther. “Many students at Chapman want to work on the business side of the entertainment industry, and this minor will help prepare them for a successful career launch post-Chapman.”

The minor will be open to all Chapman students. However, space is limited based on classroom capacities in both Argyros and Dodge. In addition, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA, have completed one semester at Chapman already and have a minimum of 45 credits of requirements remaining on their current evaluation. An application must be submitted along with a resume and a 200-word career plan essay.

Abel Winn, who works as the associate dean of programs and curriculum at the Argyros business school, detailed what the curriculum will look like for this new program.

“The core of the minor provides a foundation in the fundamentals of business — economics, accounting and marketing — and important elements of the entertainment industry — producing, entertainment law and the role of agents and managers,” Winn told The Panther. “The minor also covers a wide range of elective topics from data analytics to entrepreneurship to the video game industry.”

Recently, there was a one-day career boot camp held for film and media students who were interested in learning business principles and information about minors in entrepreneurship and business of entertainment. This event showed the desire that students have to help implement the new business of entertainment minor in the fall semester.

Freshman film and television writing major Sebastian Waverly shared his thoughts on the minor.

“I think the minor is interesting because a big part of working in film and television is being able to manage the business aspects,” Waverly told The Panther. “I personally do not think that I will take it, as I am not very business savvy to begin with, but I have a lot of friends that I am sure would love to take it.”