Chapman Filmed Entertainment is a partnership between Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and private investors designed to produce commercially viable feature films that will serve as a launching pad for some of the country’s top young filmmaking talent.
Slated to produce four to six pictures per year in the micro-budget range ($250,000 - $1M), Chapman Filmed Entertainment is a sustainable, fully-functioning production company. Utilizing Chapman University’s professional and production resources, the company is tapping into the emerging trend of micro-budgeted films in the independent film arena.
The current constraints of the traditional economic models of independent filmmaking, combined with enhanced and increasingly accessible technology, position Chapman Filmed Entertainment to take advantage of the production and social media talents of the new era of young filmmakers and storytellers.
Employing a combination of Dodge College graduates in key creative positions, top students as assistants and a select group of established industry professionals in both crew and mentoring roles, the productions are designed to keep costs low while maintaining high creative standards. At the same time, the productions will build a bridge into the industry for talented Dodge College students and alumni.
Robert Bassett,
President and CEO – Chapman Filmed Entertainment was developed by Bassett as an
avenue to promote the creative work of
graduates of Chapman University, recognized as one of the top film schools in
the nation. As the Dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Bassett successfully
raised $52-million to build Marion Knott Studios, a 76,000-square-foot
state-of-the-art studio complex, complete with sound stages and pre- and
post-production facilities, which opened in 2006. A visionary educator who pioneered the
integration of digital technologies in film education, Bassett oversaw the
conversion of the film school’s entire curriculum to the use of digital
technology in the early 90’s, long before others followed suit. He has also
assembled a world-class faculty with a combined filmography of more than 300
feature films, a record unmatched among full-time faculty at other film
schools. 
Harold
Hewitt, Chief Financial Officer – Hewitt is the Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer at Chapman University. Over the years he has focused his career on identifying and
resolving financial planning and management issues as well as providing
strategic leadership at several Southern California non-profit
institutions, primarily in the discipline of higher education. 
Travis Knox,
Vice President of Production and Development - Accomplished producer Travis
Knox, a 1993 graduate of Chapman University, oversees development, production
and all day-to-day operations. Knox’s recent credits include Warner Bros.’ “The
Bucket List” starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and New Line Cinema’s
“Hairspray” starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and
Queen Latifah. Knox previously served as Executive Vice President of Feature
Development at Storyline Entertainment. 
Barbara
Doyle, Executive in Charge of Production Management, Unions and Budgets – Doyle
is the Chair of the Film Division at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and a
former production associate at Tri-Star Pictures where she was involved in the
production of more than 40 feature films. 
Judd Funk,
Head of Business Affairs—Funk has a joint appointment as a Professor in Dodge
College of Film and Media Arts and Chapman’s School of Law. He was formerly
Senior Executive Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs for New Line
Cinema. 