Real-world learning at WSU opened doors to successful film careers for two brothers
OGDEN, Utah — If you ask Micah Van Sickle why he and his brother, Jon, came to Weber State University in 2017, he would joke that moving from his hometown in Ogden, Iowa, to Ogden, Utah, just made sense.
The true story is that their older brother, Jeshua, was attending Weber at the time and convinced them it was the right move — something he continues to do for prospective students today as an employee in WSU’s admissions office.
“He told us Weber offered degrees in our fields; public relations for me and digital media for Jon,” Micah said. “The mountain views from campus were another effective selling point.”
After earning his associate’s degree at a community college in Iowa, Micah decided to follow his older brother’s advice and take advantage of all WSU had to offer.
“I was able to seamlessly transfer all credits to Weber,” he said. “There were also cool scholarships for out-of-state students, and they gave us a bunch of perks.”
Weber State provides more than $90 million in financial aid and scholarships each year. Out-of-state students pay resident tuition during the summer, and there are a variety of housing options both on and off campus for students to choose from.
An affordable education was a priority for the brothers, but Jon also saw Weber’s digital media programs and proximity to major film hubs in the West as a gateway to bigger career opportunities.
“It was a way to get closer to the film industry pretty easily,” Jon said. “It was a good place to go.”
The brothers graduated from WSU in 2020; Jon with a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in digital media, and Micah with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising.
They now work at Angel Studios, a Utah-based film production studio and streaming platform. Micah is a video team lead, managing the studios’ editors, producers, and livestream team. Jon brings the stories to life as a creative director, making content to market the films and get them on the big screen.
Angel Studios funds and markets low-budget film projects that embody positive family values, and subscribers — not Hollywood executives — give films the green light for investment.
“Models like Angel allow for creators in a smaller space to have a huge impact,” Micah said.
Jon worked on Angel’s acclaimed series “The Chosen,” filming and editing behind-the-scenes content for promotional material. He also directed a six-part docuseries detailing the studio's rise to success called “The Story of Angel,” available to stream now.
The brothers say their road to Angel was lined with doors opened by Weber State’s Studio 76, a student-led media production program that gives students real-world experience making digital content.
“When I'm asked to describe Studio 76, I say it's almost exactly like a playground,” Micah said. “They allow you to just jump in.”
Andrea Baltazar, film studies program director at Weber State, says Studio 76 has grown significantly since the brothers’ graduation in 2020, now offering students an even greater range of production resources, facilities, coursework, and experiential learning opportunities.
“Studio 76 is especially valuable because it operates similarly to a working production organization rather than a traditional classroom,” Baltazar said. “Students can gain experience in areas such as producing, cinematography, editing, audio, podcasting, live production, project management, and leadership.”
There’s also free equipment rentals, computers with industry-standard software, and access to several production spaces, including a television studio, podcast studio, DIY studio, and a Foley room, which is used in film post-production to record custom sound effects.
“We learned about the industry from all angles,” Jon said. “Through those connections, later on, I was able to use the skills to get a job.”
Today, the brothers get to support emerging talent in the same way they were supported at Weber State. They said they’re encouraged by the next generation of filmmakers, and it’s satisfying to guide and invest in new projects they come across.
“I'm super encouraged, especially lately with younger filmmakers who’re blowing it out of the water,” Jon said. “I'm feeling super, super good about the future of film.”
Alexis Cirkovic, News Coordinator
801-626-7362, alexiscirkovic@weber.edu- Contact:
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Alexis Cirkovic, News Coordinator
801-626-7362, alexiscirkovic@weber.edu
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