Madyson Treharne, a rising senior majoring in creative media production and English literature at Westminster College,is one of six students who participated in the College’s ninth annual Summer Research Fellowship.. A native of Burton, Ohio, Treharne developed and produced the pilot episode of “Bad Habits,” a comedy television show she wrote under the guidance of communications faculty member Bradley Weaver.  

On campus, Treharne is a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and competes on the track and field team.  Beyond Westminster, she works as a production assistant at Schoolyard Studio in Burton,  where she works under the direction of special effects artist Det Chansamone, known for his work in “Power Rangers,” “The Matrix,” “Harry Potter,” “Spider-Man” and more.  

What is the synopsis of your pilot episode?
The television pilot for “Bad Habits" is described as “The Hangover” meets “Sister Act.” Following the journey of six rambunctious nuns, this show will dive into topics like absurdity, secularism and vocational life. The completed episode will be 23 minutes in length.

What is your creative process for the project?
My creative process has been quite extensive. I serve as scriptwriter, producer, set decorator and head of the art department. My process began with writing the script. I had the help of my amazing mentor, Bradley Weaver. From there, I hired around 20 crew workers and seven main ensemble cast members, all of whom I auditioned for the roles. I then hired extras and secured locations around the area for filming. During production I built sets, embedded the Look-Up Table (LUT) into a video file to apply color grading and effects, rented camera lenses and filters and crafted a production schedule and shot list. 

How did you choose the plot of “Bad Habits”?
Having attended a Catholic all-girls school, I saw my fair share of nuns. What I always admired about them was their ability to find fun, change and absurdity in cloistered environments. I explored how fun and religion coincide.  

What have you learned so far?
Wow, so much. I've learned to manage a team of 40-60 individuals, plan and manage partnerships with production studios and locations, source props and costumes and manage a micro-budget while still maintaining high production quality.

“The fellowship enabled me to execute my vision without sacrificing time or budget. It allowed me to become the filmmaker I’ve always wanted to be,” said Treharne. 

“I appreciate the support the Drinko Center provides through its Summer Research Fellowship program, as projects like Madyson’s might not have been launched without the financial support.  I know it’s just a part of her overall budget for producing the pilot, but she'’ enterprising and making it work.  She’s got a liberal arts approach to this project, but in the end she’s the boss who understands everyone’s job and manages her crew and cast,” said Weaver. 

To learn more about Westminster’s School of Communication, visit www.westminster.edu/communication.

Sponsored by the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research, Summer Research Fellowships at Westminster College allow students to conduct hands-on research and creative projects under the guidance of our experienced faculty mentors. 

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