Nov. 21, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Jeremiah Lafleur at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Dec. 4 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

Lafleur is the assistant director of marketing and recruitment for community and workforce development at Southern Utah University, where he helps connect people with opportunities, through video, storytelling and design.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 14, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Mark David Christenson at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 20 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

is an actor, director, podcaster and live improv performer in Los Angeles with appearances on stage and in television and film.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 7, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Kevin Wilmott at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

won an Academy Award and the BAFTA the British Academy award for co-writing the feature film 鈥淏lacKkKlansman鈥� with Spike Lee. The film also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes film Festival.

He and Lee co-wrote the feature film 鈥淒a Five Bloods鈥� for Netflix which was named the best film of 2020 by the National Board of Review. He also co-wrote and is the executive producer of the critically acclaimed film 鈥淐hi-Raq,鈥� also directed by Spike Lee.听

Award-winning films written and directed by Willmott include 鈥淣inth Street,鈥� 鈥淐SA: Confederate States of America,鈥� 鈥淭he Battle for Bunker Hill,鈥� 鈥淛ayhawkers鈥� and 鈥淒estination Planet Negro.鈥�

Documentaries directed by Willmott include 鈥淔rom Separate to Equal: The Creation of Truman Medical Center,鈥� 鈥淕ordon Parks Elementary,鈥� 鈥淔ast Break: The Legendary Coach John McLendon,鈥� 鈥淲illiam Allen White: What鈥檚 the Matter with Kansas,鈥� 鈥淣o Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate in Kansas鈥� and the upcoming 鈥淭he Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks.鈥�

Willmott co-wrote with Trai Byers and directed the critically-acclaimed feature film 鈥淭he 24th鈥� about the Houston Riot of 1917, which was nominated for an NAACP image award.

Willmott is a professor in the Media and Film Studies Department of the University of Kansas.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

Oct. 31, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Sarah-Emily Langfield at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 6 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

Langfield is a make-up artist and actor in Kansas City, Missouri.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Oct. 22, 2025鈥摵卟萆缜�檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Alison Lewis at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Oct. 23. in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment business both as a singer and voice actor in film and TV including programs such as Futurama.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Oct. 11, 2024鈥揂ctor Sharon Blynn will deliver an interactive career guidance presentation to 含羞草社区 cinematic arts, graphic design, and digital animation students on Tuesday, Oct. 22, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Kemper Recital Hall, Leah Spratt Hall, Room 101.

鈥淎s part of Missouri Western鈥檚 applied learning model, this presentation is designed to help students find their voice and develop their career path,鈥� said Dr. David Sutera, assistant professor of cinema at Missouri Western.

Blynn is a cancer survivor, an 鈥渁ctorvist,鈥� writer and founder of 鈥淏ald Is Beautiful,鈥� an ovarian cancer awareness organization dedicated to empowering women and girls to define their beauty and wholeness on their own terms. She has appeared on TV and in films, and performed on stages in New York and Los Angeles, as well as sharing her Bald Is Beautiful message all over the world.听

Most recently, Blynn played the role of Skrull alien Soren (wife to Ben Mendelsohn鈥檚 Talos) in 鈥淐aptain Marvel鈥� and 鈥淪pider-Man: Far from Home鈥� and Red Wizard Dimitra Flass in 鈥淒ungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.鈥�

She has also appeared on TV鈥檚 鈥淭his Is Us鈥� (NBC), 鈥淭he Detour鈥� (TBS), 鈥淏ody of Proof鈥� (ABC), 鈥淪hameless鈥� (Showtime), and 鈥淟ie to Me鈥� (Fox), and she hosted the PBS documentary, 鈥淭he Whisper: The Silent Crisis of Ovarian Cancer鈥�, and the Revlon Pink Pony Foundation鈥檚 鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk About Cancer鈥� podcast.听

Blynn鈥檚 recent honors include the BraveHeart Women鈥檚 Courage Award and the Lilly Tartikoff/EIF Hope Award, and she was named a Revlon Role Model and Lifetime TV 鈥淩emarkable Woman.鈥澛�

This event is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

Professor of Philosophy Dr. Jim Okapal will present 鈥�Enhancement and Alienation in ‘Flowers for Algernon鈥欌�� on March 1 at noon in Popplewell 207.听

Associate Professor of Cinema Toby Lawrence will present 鈥淛ohn Cassavetes: Independent Cinema under the Influence鈥� on March 29 at 12:30 p.m. in Spratt 205.

Pop Culture Club is an event series sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, featuring faculty and staff from several disciplines across campus. Organizer Dr. Susan Martens said the events are valuable to everyone.

鈥淲e have literature, we have film, we have all kinds of things,鈥� Dr. Martens said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 fun.鈥�

Following a short lecture about pop culture, attendees have time to talk in small groups. They talk about what they are watching, listening to and playing. Then there is question-and-answer time.听

Two additional events will take place later in the semester in conjunction with a new partnership with the Rolling Hills Public Library.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 27, 2023鈥揂t 含羞草社区, most classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, with Gold Fridays set aside for applied learning opportunities outside the classroom. On the last Gold Friday of the spring semester on April 28, there will be three public events showcasing student projects by Missouri Western students.

Gold Fridays PORTAL Poster Showcase
10 a.m.
Remington Hall Atrium second floor

Students who have participated in applied learning activities (research, internships, etc.) will display posters illustrating the results of these activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the students questions about their posters.

Psychology Research Day
Check in starts at 11 a.m., program begins at 11:30 a.m.
Eder Hall, room 101

Prospective students can get an immersive look at Missouri Western鈥檚 Psychology Program by participating in Research Day. Meet faculty, talk to current students and learn about their poster sessions, and tour the Psychology Lab. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Check-in will be 11-11:30 a.m. Students can pre-register at .听

Eighth Annual Griffon Film Festival
Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m.
Missouri Theatre, 715 Edmond Street, Downtown St. Joseph

Senior Cinema students will be presenting their thesis films to the world at this event. After the films there will be an awards ceremony and Q&A session with the filmmakers. This event is open to the public and tickets will be available for $5 on the day of the event at the Missouri Theatre box office. Students, faculty and staff get in free with a valid MWSU school I.D.听

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

March 20, 2023–Students in 含羞草社区鈥檚 Griffon Production House have released their latest 鈥淕riffon University鈥� video, spotlighting the research of a Missouri Western faculty member.

鈥淕riffon University鈥檚 mission is to highlight student and faculty research and provide engaging content to a wider audience, letting them see what we do at Missouri Western,鈥� said Thomas Brecheisen, assistant professor of cinema and director of Griffon Production House.

Last fall, Dr. James Okapal, professor of philosophy, published 鈥淔antastic Beasts and How to Categorize Them鈥� on The Prindle Post, a digital publication of the Prindle Institute for Ethics at Depauw University in Indiana.

In the article, Dr. Okapal explores and critiques the moral framework behind the distinction between 鈥渂easts鈥� and 鈥渂eings鈥� in the J.K. Rowling book, 鈥淔antastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.鈥� The video features Dr. Okapal talking about his article and graphics created by digital animation students.

The short film was created by:

• Content director: Rebecca Evans, junior performing and cinema arts major from St. Joseph
• Script supervisor: Blake Elder, sophomore performing and cinema arts major from Lathrop, Missouri
• Editor: Brecheisen
• Graphics: Digital animation majors Dana Vinson, sophomore of Roland, Iowa; Andrew Holcomb, senior of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; RJ Cousins, sophomore of St. Louis, Missouri; and Lexi DeLapp, junior of Blue Springs, Missouri

The film is available on YouTube at .

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

Enacted by a troupe of Commedia dell鈥橝rte actors and set to a joyful score, Collodi鈥檚 beloved tale comes to life in the form of Geppeto鈥檚 wooden creation, mischievous Pinocchio. Navigating the treacherous world, Pinocchio encounters a double-crossing fox and cat, an evil coachman and a ravenous dogfish. But for every deceitful character, Pinocchio finds compassion and wisdom from those who love him, helping him through his misadventures so that he can learn the value of hard work and family on his way to becoming a real boy.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $6 for students, $10 for Missouri Western faculty and staff and free for Missouri Western students with valid ID. Tickets are available at the door, or may be purchased in advance at mwsutix.com.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.