Make It Here: Belmont Faculty Experts on Nashville’s Growing Film and Media Scene

Dr. Nathan Adam, Rick Rekedal and Stephen Hauser speak to a blossoming industry at 2026 Nashville Film Festival

Stephen Hauser, instructor of film & television writing, returned from his panel at this year’s Nashville Film Festival energized and eager to channel that momentum into new student projects. After gathering a group of interested students, he sent a cryptic invitation to meet on campus at 10 p.m. and start making something. 

“We’ll just start working, and see what we can create,” said Hauser. Within days, a crew of about 10 students had organized into several creative teams: a sketch comedy writers’ room, a short TV series, a choose-your-own-adventure YouTube series and an analog horror film about an abandoned university. 

That kind of self-starting creative energy, Hauser believes, is exactly what Nashville's growing film and media scene needs. 

Hauser was one of three Belmont faculty members, along with Dr. Nathan Adam, associate professor of media production, and Rick Rekedal, creative arts collective for Christian life & faith thought leader, who spoke on panels as part of the Film Festival.  

Though their work spans filmmaking, media production, education and creative leadership, their conversations at the festival, were anchored by a common theme: Nashville is becoming a place where film and media careers can begin, grow and endure. As the city’s creative ecosystem continues to grow, Belmont is helping prepare the talent that fuels its growth.  

From economic development and workforce training to independent filmmaking, each representative shared evidence that Nashville's creative infrastructure is reaching a new level of maturity. 

Building a Creative Economy 

Rekedal moderated a panel called “Growing Tennessee’s Creative Economy” featuring Gisela Moore, Brian Loschiavo, Chris Conner and Bob Raines.

“Our dream is of a creative economy, an ecosystem that supports film and media in Tennessee,” Rekedal said afterwards. In his view, attracting major productions is only the start. The long-term work is investing in the people who tell stories here, the way Nashville has long invested in its songwriters. 

“There might have been past generations where students felt like all they could do in Tennessee was get their degree before moving to one of the coasts for work,” he said. “We’re actually now finding the opposite to be true.” 

Belmont is also contributing to conversations about the industry’s future. Through Belmont Innovation Labs, the University is leading an impact study on the future of film and media in Tennessee, with partners from across the state's industry.

One observation from fellow panelist Bob Raines particularly resonated with Rekedal: young creatives who get early traction in their first year or two tend to stay. That’s why Belmont emphasizes professional, project-based work while students are still undergrads. 

A Cocoon of Talent 

Adam has seen his students go on to work for the Nashville Predators, CMT, TV stations and in-house creative teams. AI is changing the tools, he said, but not the core of the work. 

“Using AI will absolutely be one fundamental tool in any media producer’s toolkit,” Adam said. “But you still need somebody that knows what good video looks like.” 

For Adam, one of Belmont's biggest advantages isn't equipment or technology. It's proximity to other talented people. “Students are in such a cocoon of talent here, where there’s an endless number of things to create and people to collaborate with,” he said. “Everybody wants to work with people they’re already familiar with.” 

Keeping it Local 

Hauser started his career writing screenplays in Los Angeles, later relocating to Nashville where he has been based for over a decade. “There is something here that feels like Los Angeles,” he said. “We are set up to handle each step of the creative process right here, with little that we still have to outsource.” 

One perspective that resonated with Hauser came from independent filmmaker Pete Ohs, who discussed making movies with a small, trusted group of collaborators. “We have the technology to create and the means to distribute whatever we want,” Hauser said, reflecting on that mindset. “We just need to be able to create, and people can find us.” 

For the students gathering on Belmont's campus at 10 p.m. to write sketches, develop series concepts and film horror stories, that shift is already taking shape. They’re not simply preparing for creative careers somewhere else. Nashville's film and media industry continues to grow, and Belmont faculty see increasing opportunities for them to build creative careers right here in Nashville.