Stephens College Students Begin Production Journey on Alpha-Gal Web Series Ahead of ’26 Summer Film Institute
What began as an early-summer classroom exercise has quickly evolved into a major hands-on filmmaking experience for students at Stephens College’s Conservatory for the Performing Arts. As early work begins for the 2026 Summer Film Institute (SFI), students are already writing, filming, directing, and acting in scenes from Alpha-Gal, an original web series that will begin production in May 2026.
The project originated in Screenwriting I, where students developed a multi-episode narrative that will join SFI’s growing library of student-created work. Associate Professor and Chair of Filmmaking Chase Thompson said he introduced the idea in class, and students expanded it into a five-episode series.
The story draws inspiration from the real Alpha-Gal allergy, a tick-borne condition that prevents those affected from eating mammalian meat. “I thought it was fascinating,” Thompson said. “What if someone wanted to infect the whole world with it to turn everyone vegetarian—and how would they do it?”
A Cross-Program Collaboration
The project brings together students from three courses — Screenwriting I, Acting for Camera, and Filmmaking I. Thompson partnered with Assistant Professor of Acting John Hemphill to kickstart the production process.
“Screenwriting got the scripts to his class, his students auditioned for the roles, and then my Filmmaking I students practiced directing,” Thompson explained. The joint filming session served as both rehearsal and real-world practice, helping actors grow more comfortable on camera and giving filmmaking students the chance to direct performers in a professional-style environment.
Building Momentum
For Thompson, the early stages of filmmaking are some of the most challenging — and the most rewarding. “Once you get momentum, a project starts to unfold itself,” he said. “But the hardest part is getting that white page to turn black and then getting the right people in the right spots.”
This collaboration, he noted, has exceeded expectations. “I’m happy with how it went. It’s been really fun.”
Thompson says one of the strengths of Stephens’ Conservatory model is the proximity between filmmaking and acting students. “Being in the Conservatory is great because we have access to actors and can collaborate with them right away,” he said.
He believes the project has strong potential. “Alpha-Gal is a really interesting story. I think we did a great job in the screenwriting phase, and people are going to be surprised by what we accomplish.”
Learning from Industry Professionals
Official filming begins this spring, supported by mentorship from industry professionals. Among them is Academy Award–nominated independent filmmaker Nathan Truesdell, who will serve as director of photography.
“Our students will get to learn directly from him,” Thompson said. “Exposure to passionate, established professionals helps students get past doors that are hard to open — and it’s something that sets Stephens apart.”
What’s Next
With two major roles cast, the team now moves deeper into pre-production. “We’re going to finish another pass on the writing, cast additional parts, and start building props and working on art direction,” Thompson said.
He looks forward to watching students bring the project to life from start to finish. “When they see the final product, they’ll know they were there from concept to completion.”
For more information about The Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College.
