Equipped to Lead and Succeed
Alumni
5 USF Filmmakers to Watch
From independent productions to major studio projects, USF alumni are making their mark across the film industry.
We caught up with five graduates whose creativity, vision, and talent are shaping the future of storytelling on screens around the world.
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Ellora Coombs ’12
Production assistant and set decoration coordinator
Notable Credits:
13 Reasons Why (2018), Beautiful Boy (2018), Steve Jobs (2015)
How did USF prepare you for your career?
I switched to media studies in my last year and found it both practical and relatable — media is everywhere. After graduation, I worked at a public access TV station. Then, I went back to USF for a master's in family therapy. I didn't complete it, but both my media studies and psychology classes equipped me for my career. I started as a production assistant, became a writer for reality TV, and worked as a set decoration coordinator on shows like 13 Reasons Why, Chant, and Looking. During COVID, I pivoted to a nonprofit focused on art installations and mental health.
What advice would you give current USF students?
Try everything that you can. People are multitalented. It might surprise you where you find your people and what you end up loving. Don't miss what's right in front of you.
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Jesse Feldberg ’06
Director, actor, and writer
Notable Credits:
Two Spies (2020), Silver Bullet (2019), 4th and Olive (2018)
How did USF prepare you for your career?
I originally came to USF to complete my degree, and I was required to take another writing class. At first, I thought, 'Again?' But I leaned in. By the time I graduated, senior officers at the Coast Guard headquarters in D.C. were coming to me asking, 'Can you edit this?' That writing muscle became so well-developed that I started writing screenplays. It was tremendous. After the military, I took an acting class and I loved it. That's when I realized I was passionate about film.
What advice would you give current USF students?
Constantly do something. If you're a writer, write and make it come alive. Produce it, whether it's a play or a film. If you're an actor, go do that, and acquire life experiences. Go see the world. Study the craft. All these things. Just do it. Don’t feel the need to model yourself after other filmmakers — accept whatever your path is and don't force it to look like anyone else's.
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Richard Leaf ’82
Actor, film director, and producer
Notable Credits
A Refugee (2025), Stop The World (2011), Hannibal Rising (2007), Enigma (2001), The Fifth Element (1997), Braveheart (1995)
How did USF shape your journey to becoming a renowned actor?
I grew up in England and attended boarding school. After graduating, I traveled for a year and ended up in Rome where I was introduced to acting. My mother recommended an American university and I chose USF due to its size. I'd heard so much about San Francisco. I majored in communications, aiming to be a journalist. In my first year, I entered a playwriting contest with two friends. From there, I was all in: College Players (eventually becoming president), DJ at KUSF, music reviews in the Foghorn. I like to say I was reborn in Rome and blossomed in San Francisco. USF allowed me to open myself up to new ideas and explore what I was actually interested in. Afterwards, I couldn't stay in the US, so I went back to England and attended acting school, eventually joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, doing plays and touring the European Union.
When did you know you loved your work?
While I was in College Players, we did a play called Magic Afternoon and The Lion in Winter, where I really got a feel for the work of an actor. I stopped doing everything else and the love of acting took over. The Jesuit spirit of USF is so generous in allowing you to do what you'd like, to explore your passions in an open and friendly environment.
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Frances Reyes-Bolinger ’09
Location scout and manager for freelance film production
Notable Credits: Crime 101 (2026), Mercy (2026), The Matrix Resurrections (2021), 13 Reasons Why (2018), Beautiful Boy (2018), Venom (2018), Ant-Man (2015)
How did USF prepare you for your career?
I found College Players in my sophomore year and got involved in theatre. My first college internship at a small business became my first job out of USF, and then decided to pivot to making movies. Looking back, my time at USF really allowed me to build my relationship with the city. When I started working as a location scout, I realized that from being at USF and living in San Francisco, I have a memory of every block.
What's a moment that made you love your job?
I remember knocking on the door of an apartment building off Lower Haight. The person who answered was one of the first transgender individuals to go through gender-affirming surgery, and she was present at the very first food fight that started the Pride movement, Compton's Cafeteria Riot. Because I had to get her approval for filming after hours, I met this person with this incredible story. Sometimes I get these little snippets of incredible stories, and it really grounds the neighborhood feel of what we're doing.
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Michael P. Vasicek ’01
Producer in modern horror feature films, and COO of Get Hot Tequila
Notable Credits: Sundown (2026), Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon (2025), Deathstalker (2025)
What's a moment that made you love your job?
Being on set is a wonderful experience. A set feels like it has its own pulse. You have different groups coming together for different things. Actors, choreographers, and camera crews. It’s alive. I had the privilege of being on set for DEATHGASM 2 in Saskatchewan, CAN. It’s really fun to watch a director do their magic. Being on set means long hours, but it's a learning experience, and rewarding all at once.
How did USF prepare you for this career?
USF gave me the foundation to pursue my passions. The university is centered in an urban environment and I learned to balance academics, networking, and maturing. A foundation in curiosity and networking served me very well, particularly in my educational career. I'm proud of my connection to USF, and if I can inspire any future filmmakers, they can reach out to me.
Visit NetworkUSF to connect with more alumni in your industry.
