LBCC alumna Stephanie Guzman has just made a significant step forward in her film career, working as a second camera assistant on the five time Academy Award winning film “Anora.”
At the 97th Academy Awards, the film directed by Sean Baker won Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Film Editing, as well as winning the 77th Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or.
The Palme d’Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, given to the best film in competition.
For Guzman, the opportunity to work on “Anora” was a career-defining moment full of challenges, particularly shooting with 35mm film which sets the movie apart from most contemporary films.
The 35mm film format presents numerous difficulties; it must be manually guided through a camera or projector, avoiding any light because of light sensitivity, it is expensive, and there is no instant playback to watch what you have filmed since it requires developing.
“Independent films all come with their own sense of hardships. It’s not easy to make a film when your shooting location exteriors, outside, in New York, in January. It’s freezing and you’re working with film, which adds another level of challenges,” Guzman said. “It was one of the hardest projects I’ve worked on just by the nature of it being 35mm film but it was the most rewarding project I’ve ever worked on.”
Guzman’s journey into the film industry began at LBCC, where she studied film production before transferring to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Her time at LBCC provided her with hands-on experience in cinematography, setting the foundation for her success in the field.
LBCC film professor and working filmmaker Eli Daughdrill emphasized the significance of Guzman’s accomplishment.
“She is the first student that I know of that worked on a film that won Best Picture,” Daughdrill said, “She’s smart and hardworking. The fact that she worked with 35mm is impressive because it is hectic and takes a lot of skill.”
Daughdrill, who has been teaching at LBCC for over a decade, also runs a film work experience class that helps students gain real-world experience before they graduate.
“I try to use my connections in the film industry to find people willing to take students as interns,” Daughdrill said, “Offering the opportunity to learn new skills, broaden their network, and work outside of the film student setting to help them understand what it’s like working in a professional environment.”
The LBCC Film program offers a comprehensive curriculum in both film studies and production, equipping students with the skills necessary to pursue careers in the entertainment industry.
“I try to emphasize real practical skills, I’m big on them using the gear hands on, I don’t want the students to be intimidated by the tools or technology,” Daughdrill said.
LBCC alumna Vivian Serrano, who currently attends Cal State Northridge, credits the college’s film program for preparing her for more advanced studies.
“The class I took with Eli Daughdrill was a lot of hands-on work that prepared me for my upper-division classes,” Serrano said, “I learned a lot of skills with the camera, audio, and lighting.”
The success of LBCC’s alumni highlights the program’s dedication to preparing students for competitive careers in film and television.
Many students from the program transfer to top film schools like NYU, USC, and UCLA, while others enter the workforce directly, taking on key roles in production, cinematography, and editing.
Guzman’s work on “Anora” is just one example of how LBCC alumni are making an impact in Hollywood.
Her growing portfolio demonstrates the real-world opportunities available to students who start their film education at LBCC.
Stephanie Guzman, an LBCC alumna and NYU graduate, holding a camera for a headshot. Guzman worked as a second camera assistant on the Oscar-winning film Anora, a milestone in her growing film career. (Photo by Samuel Kretchmar)
Guzman, who has worked in the film industry for a decade, sees “Anora” as a turning point in her career.
“After 10 years in this industry, this experience makes me feel like I’m just getting started,” Guzman said.
She recalls a phrase Daughdrill repeatedly tells his students which is, “Patient persistence.”
She elaborated on just how much the phrase meant to her.
“That stuck with me so hard, I even thought I was going to get it tattooed at one point,” Guzman said, “That’s how near and dear that phrase stuck with me, because working in film is hard. It is not for the faint of heart, and it is a line of work that is always changing—especially being a freelancer. There are so many things you have to juggle, and it requires so much of you.”
As “Anora” continues to gain recognition, Guzman’s role in its production serves as a reminder of the importance of emerging talent in the film industry.
Her story is a testament to the impact of accessible film education and the power of persistence in a highly competitive field.