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The first day of��this summer’s Virtual Production class with Film, Animation and New Media Chair Gregg Perkins was anything but typical.

Instead of reporting to the classroom, students including Marco Polo-Perez ’26 and Falyn Housenbold ’26 were given the chance to be production assistants on the set of a made-for-television noir murder mystery movie that was filming in several locations on the UTampa campus.

"I mean, first of all, they can do it while they're studying in a summer class, in person," Perkins said of the benefit of having filming happening so close to home. "It's just unheard of - this is the first day of my Summer II class and they have an internship on a feature film set."��

Polo-Perez, a film and media arts and writing double major, said his tasks consisted of transporting equipment, allowing people into filming areas and bringing snacks and water for the cast and crew at each location.

“We had the choice to either come at the class hours or be there at 7 a.m., and we decided to be there early, because I thought it would be a great experience, and I wanted to get everything from beginning to end,” he said. “It’s good, because it teaches you what to expect on a set, how to work with people collaboratively at all times, and it really teaches you those social skills.”

His goal after graduation is to pursue a master’s degree and work in post-production or video games as a narrative designer.��

Housenbold, also a film and media arts major, has been on a set before, but not typically in a production assistant role.��

“I’m a special effects makeup artist, so I usually fill that role.” A production assistant is “a very different position to work in, where I'm running around a lot more and focusing on 900 different things compared to my one job.”��

“It was a nice experience to meet new people, to hopefully open doors to networking opportunities and a different way to look at set life,” she added.

Housenbold was “super excited” when she received the email about the opportunity to be on set the first week of class.

“I love being on sets. It's one of my favorite things to do, so anything that requires being on set and making films and being creative, I'm always hands-down ready,” she said.

Following graduation, she plans to attend makeup school and pursue a career in special effects makeup.

It’s too early to reveal the title and network where the film will debut, Perkins said. Though the film is anticipated to be released by the end of the year.