Biola will break ground on a state-of-the-art studio facility in early September. It’s made possible by the generous support of Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, owner and president of In-N-Out Burger. The new Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts building will rival some of the best educational facilities in the nation for media training.
The new facility will boast a 3,000-square-foot soundstage, 285-seat theater, collaborative editing spaces, specialized classrooms and other features to serve the needs of students as they prepare for careers in film, television and gaming industries.
In May 2023, Biola renamed its film school to the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts in honor of Esther L. Snyder, the co-founder of popular restaurant chain, In-N-Out Burger. The Snyder family gave Biola the largest financial gift in the university’s 116-year history, not only contributing funds to the studio facility, but also toward an In-N-Out Scholars Fund, a yearly scholarship awarded to at-risk and foster youth who are aspiring film students.
Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts is one of the fastest growing schools and programs at Biola. The program supports a “four screen” media program, equipping and educating students to be effective storytellers and leaders in film, television, and digital content.