Eight UVU students were awarded the 2025 Brandon Fugal Fellowship, receiving mentorship from Hollywood screenwriter Steven E. de Souza and hands-on industry experience through FanX Studios.
February, 28, 2025, Orem, Utah
Eight students from Utah Valley University’s (UVU) FanX Studios Writer’s Room have been selected as Brandon Fugal Fellows, a prestigious cohort for aspiring entertainment industry professionals. These students will receive a cash award and yearlong mentorship from renowned screenwriter Steven E. de Souza.
FanX Studios, founded by industry veterans Brent Baum and Jonathan Schwartz, offers UVU students an unparalleled opportunity to learn from Hollywood insiders. With a combined 30 years of experience at DreamWorks, Maverick, Destination Films, and Relativity Media, Baum and Schwartz are committed to providing mentorship and hands-on learning through their partnership with the FanX convention network.
“These students are gaining access to experiences that are truly unique in higher education,” said Tammy Clark, Associate Provost for Academic Innovation at UVU.
Each year, fellowship recipients receive a $5,000 writing contract to develop screenplays under the guidance of a seasoned Hollywood writer. They also benefit from professional feedback from industry executives and university professors. Beyond financial support, the program immerses students in the commercial and creative realities of screenwriting.
Clark emphasized the program’s real-world impact: “Students aren’t just learning to write—they’re developing scripts in a Hollywood-style writers’ room, creating projects with real production potential.”
Learning from a Hollywood Legend
This week, Steven E. de Souza visited UVU to teach seminars and share insights into filmmaking and storytelling. With credits including Die Hard, The Running Man, Judge Dredd, and Commando, de Souza is one of the few screenwriters whose films have grossed over $2 billion worldwide. Over the next year, he will mentor the eight fellowship recipients (mentioned above) as part of UVU’s Writer's Room program, launched in 2024 through a collaboration with FanX Studios.
The program in its first year featured entertainment industry veterans such as Jennifer Howell (South Park, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls), Ed Neumeier (Robocop, Starship Troopers), and Christopher Curtis (Broadway’s Chaplin).
“This program is a game changer,” said Provost Clark. “It bridges the gap between academia and industry, providing students with real career opportunities.”
With industry leaders recognizing UVU’s innovative approach, the university is establishing itself as a top destination for aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers.
Baum highlighted the program’s uniqueness: “We’ve had faculty from the University of Texas, NYU, and UCLA tell us they wish they had something like this in their film schools.”
Key program supporter and generous donor Brandon Fugal attended the award ceremony and a special Die Hard screening at the Megaplex Theatres Geneva in Vineyard, Utah. A longtime admirer of de Souza’s work, Fugal shared his enthusiasm: “My worldview has been shaped by de Souza’s screenplays. What a privilege to have world-class talent mentoring our students and putting this program on the map.”
Fugal also expressed his confidence in Utah’s growing role in film and television: “Utah is becoming a center of gravity for the industry. My series, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, returns for its sixth season in June, and we’re filming four months a year with Utah talent and film crews.”
De Souza’s Advice for Aspiring Writers - and insider Die Hard Arcana
De Souza urged students to embrace self-criticism as a tool for success: “You can only be as good as your ability to critique your own work. Mastering that skill puts you ahead in the entertainment business.”
He shared a storytelling philosophy inspired by silent film legend Buster Keaton: “I always want the audience to think they’ve figured things out—then I double-cross them.” He explained that misdirection, when executed properly, creates satisfying plot twists.
De Souza also emphasized the importance of spatial awareness in filmmaking. Citing Die Hard, he noted how director John McTiernan used subtle visual cues, like a recurring pin-up poster, to orient the audience during intense action sequences happening within the sprawling, multi-level Nakatomi Plaza. "John McTiernan is brilliant here; you are never confused as to where you are in this movie. That pinup is not cheap or gratuitous, it helps the audience know the geography of the building, to anticipate what’s next, and to stay engaged."
Sometimes, he said, the best moments in film happen spontaneously. He recalled a memorable Die Hard scene where a henchman (played by Al Leong), looks both ways, and sneakily grabs a candy bar in the lobby snack bar before attacking the SWAT team—an improvisation that became a fan-favorite moment. "They're killers, they’re murderers, and yet he doesn’t want his fellow killers to see that he’s stealing a candy bar before shooting up the SWAT team. It's a wonderful unscripted moment."
To the delight of an audience already geeking out over a steady stream of Die Hard trivia, de Souza revealed a last-minute challenge that arose at the end of filming: the villains’ escape plan. The idea of an ambulance hidden inside the van they arrived in wasn’t conceived until the final day of shooting. “Not everything needs to be written into the script from the start. The audience didn’t need a villain to announce they had an ambulance. The moment they see it, they immediately grasp the plan. That kind of visual storytelling is what makes a script work.”
Encouragement for Future Applicants
With mentorship from industry legends, real-world writing opportunities, and Hollywood’s attention, UVU’s FanX Studios Writer’s Room is proving to be a launchpad for the next generation of screenwriters and filmmakers.
Baum offered words of encouragement to those who weren’t selected: “Submitting your work takes courage. The greatest screenwriters have faced rejection. What matters is perseverance. Keep writing, keep refining your voice—we can’t wait to see what you create next.”
Click here to request information about UVU's FanX Studios Writer's Room.
See previous TechBuzz coverage of UVU's FanX Studios Writer's Room.
