Student Testimonials
Katelynn Wu, NYU Student
Shenba Vairavan, Williams College Alumni
Dean Gofnung, High School Student
“Mr. Gvozden is an incredibly talented and passionate teacher and filmmaker. I am constantly blown away by how enthusiastic and willing he is to help his students. His constructive feedback brought my work to another level, which went on to be nominated at the All-American High School Film Festival. I highly recommend him to anyone learning to become a filmmaker!”
Dean Gofnung, High School Student
Shenba Vairavan, Williams College Alumni
Dean Gofnung, High School Student
“With Mr. Gvozden’s help and enthusiasm, I was able to discover the wonderful medium of film, which I hope to pursue for a lifelong career. He encouraged me to always try my best and not to accept 'no' for an answer, even when it meant spending the year attempting the impossible: shooting a film in an airplane hanger. With his guidance, I
“With Mr. Gvozden’s help and enthusiasm, I was able to discover the wonderful medium of film, which I hope to pursue for a lifelong career. He encouraged me to always try my best and not to accept 'no' for an answer, even when it meant spending the year attempting the impossible: shooting a film in an airplane hanger. With his guidance, I found myself not only at an airplane hangar, but also in a biplane with my actress, and screening my films in Times Square!”
Shenba Vairavan, Williams College Alumni
Shenba Vairavan, Williams College Alumni
Shenba Vairavan, Williams College Alumni
“Mr. Gvozden was the first and biggest supporter of my desire to enter the world of film. In high school, I was given a digestible understanding of the different aspects of filmmaking, as well as the technical skills to make my visions tangible. Under his guidance, I was able to learn what parts of filmmaking I loved and didn’t love, and today I live in New York and write and act in short films!”
Sam Lenkov, ArtsCollege Student
Colin Fenmore, Chapman University Student
Shenba Vairavan, Williams College Alumni
“Working with Mr. Gvozden in high school deeply influenced how I see and make film. He offered thoughtful, outside-the-box feedback that pushed me to grow without ever limiting my creativity.”
Colin Fenmore, Chapman University Student
Colin Fenmore, Chapman University Student
Colin Fenmore, Chapman University Student
“Mr. Gvozden created a fun, trusting classroom environment that made learning genuinely enjoyable, and his mentorship extended far beyond film—he helped shape both my craft and my character. I truly wouldn’t be the filmmaker I am today at Chapman University without his guidance and belief in me.”
Justin Priluck, CalArts Student
Colin Fenmore, Chapman University Student
Colin Fenmore, Chapman University Student
“I’ve had Mr. Gvozden as a mentor for filmmaking in both live-action and animated films. Within the time I had with him, my skills only improved through his thoughtful insights, and now I’m working at the professional level.”
Shuming Zhao, ETH Zürich Student
Shuming Zhao, ETH Zürich Student
Shuming Zhao, ETH Zürich Student
"Mr. Gvozden’s film class was honestly one of my best memories in high school. His passion for movies is contagious, and he always believed in my ideas, no matter how crazy they were. With his guidance, I learned not just how to make better films, but also how to believe in myself as a creator. I really miss those fun days in his classroom—it felt like a place where anything was possible."
Finley Code, NYU Alumni
Shuming Zhao, ETH Zürich Student
Shuming Zhao, ETH Zürich Student
“Mr. Gvozden nurtured and inspired my passion for film, providing a space where it could evolve from a youthful interest into a serious professional pursuit. He challenged me to grow not only as an artist but also as an individual. I look back on my time with him as foundational to both my personal growth and the achievements I’ve reached today.”
Ruhai Ding, Emerson Student
Shuming Zhao, ETH Zürich Student
Ruhai Ding, Emerson Student
“Mr. Gvozden encouraged my motivation in chasing my dream of becoming a filmmaker and gave me so much support in both technical and creative areas. I remember when we discussed “Why create art?” in class and he pointed out that it is about being 'unsatisfied' and always reaching for better, it is still very inspiring to me to this day.”
Dylan Guss, LMU Alumni
Aaron Mertzel, Brown University Student
Ruhai Ding, Emerson Student
“Mr. Gvozden gave me the confidence and skills to pursue filmmaking. Even 5 years later I still send my drafts through him because I know he will have a way to make the film better.”
Aaron Mertzel, Brown University Student
Aaron Mertzel, Brown University Student
Aaron Mertzel, Brown University Student
“The quality of a student film produced under the guidance of Mr. Gvozden will be an order of magnitude greater than it would have been otherwise. From initial brainstorming through writing, filming, and post-production, Mr. Gvozden strikes the delicate balance between emphasizing each student’s unique vision for their project and producing elevated, professional work.”
Talha Rafique, USC Student
Aaron Mertzel, Brown University Student
Aaron Mertzel, Brown University Student
"Mr. Gvozden’s film and photography guidance and teaching in high school gave me the foundation to become a clear and creative communicator. These are skills I now use to produce media for doctors and health organizations, as I pursue a career in medicine. His teaching helped me see that storytelling and technical skill are just as vital
"Mr. Gvozden’s film and photography guidance and teaching in high school gave me the foundation to become a clear and creative communicator. These are skills I now use to produce media for doctors and health organizations, as I pursue a career in medicine. His teaching helped me see that storytelling and technical skill are just as vital in sciences as they are in film, and learning how to leverage them for good is something I’m grateful to him for!”
Parker Rouse, Independent Film Writer/Director
Parker Rouse, Independent Film Writer/Director
Parker Rouse, Independent Film Writer/Director
"Dan's sincere criticism as a teacher made his guidance invaluable. When I finally heard 'good job,' I knew it was because I had done my best work—and achieved a level of creative success that he knew I was capable of.
"I still feel the sting of the four class periods it took me to fill out a breakdown page for every 1/8 of a page scene in
"Dan's sincere criticism as a teacher made his guidance invaluable. When I finally heard 'good job,' I knew it was because I had done my best work—and achieved a level of creative success that he knew I was capable of.
"I still feel the sting of the four class periods it took me to fill out a breakdown page for every 1/8 of a page scene in my script (there were over 40), but I realize now why Dan made me do it. He was encouraging my strengths (over-the-top, creative ideas) and helping me work on my weaknesses (organization and pre-production). I can now see that I would never have been able to pull off the organization and preparation required to make my first narrative feature without that lesson.
"The level of creativity of the films made by my peers while Dan was my teacher was off the charts! A whacked-out conversation with an alien spaceship, a full-blown B&W period noir, a robot-world parable about the mechanical soullessness of modern society - we all fed off each other, and that all traced back to Dan's energy, passion, and ability to bring out the best in his students."
Sahil Banker, LMU Student
Parker Rouse, Independent Film Writer/Director
Parker Rouse, Independent Film Writer/Director
“I consider filmmaking a powerful storytelling tool rather than just a craft after taking Mr. Gvozden's class. He provided me with a great deal of feedback on my first major project, and I will never forget it. He encouraged me to focus on the abstract rather than what I was comfortable with. His relaxed approach gave me creative freedom,
“I consider filmmaking a powerful storytelling tool rather than just a craft after taking Mr. Gvozden's class. He provided me with a great deal of feedback on my first major project, and I will never forget it. He encouraged me to focus on the abstract rather than what I was comfortable with. His relaxed approach gave me creative freedom, while his guidance was always readily available and thoughtful. He helped me see beyond the technical side of filmmaking and taught me to focus on storytelling beyond the lens, and gave me confidence in my decision to study film in college.”
Nikhil McGowan, High School Student
Parker Rouse, Independent Film Writer/Director
Nikhil McGowan, High School Student
“I wouldn’t have even been able to finish my first film if it weren’t for Mr. Gvozden’s dedication to his students and love of filmmaking. Whether creatively helping me solve problems or providing me feedback 3,000 miles away, his willingness to help his students and his kindness have brought me to truly love filmmaking.
"Through his empat
“I wouldn’t have even been able to finish my first film if it weren’t for Mr. Gvozden’s dedication to his students and love of filmmaking. Whether creatively helping me solve problems or providing me feedback 3,000 miles away, his willingness to help his students and his kindness have brought me to truly love filmmaking.
"Through his empathy, compassion, wisdom, and enthusiasm, Mr. Gvozden is the reason why I’ve grown to love filmmaking. Having him as a teacher has not only kindled a love and appreciation of storytelling within me - no matter how many setbacks I face in the process - but also has infected me with his warmhearted personality, making me a better filmmaker and a better person."
Marquez Caruso, LMU Student
Joe Podoley, Syracuse Alumni
Nikhil McGowan, High School Student
“Without Mr. Gvozden, I truly feel as though the esoteric touch seen in most of my work would be nonexistent. He personalizes the student-teacher relationship in a way that is not often found, and it allowed me to find my unique voice as a filmmaker. He offers a type of personalization I haven’t even encountered at my film school, yet! He
“Without Mr. Gvozden, I truly feel as though the esoteric touch seen in most of my work would be nonexistent. He personalizes the student-teacher relationship in a way that is not often found, and it allowed me to find my unique voice as a filmmaker. He offers a type of personalization I haven’t even encountered at my film school, yet! He truly wants each of his students to hone in their unique strengths, and exemplifies what an artistic mentor should be!”
Luke Swanson, USC Student
Joe Podoley, Syracuse Alumni
Joe Podoley, Syracuse Alumni
“Mr. Gvozden has always shown incredible patience and dedication to his students. I remember, while working on my short film, I would constantly call him at night with last minute questions or concerns. No matter how late it was or how many times I reached out, he always picked up the phone and responded with kindness and clarity. His cal
“Mr. Gvozden has always shown incredible patience and dedication to his students. I remember, while working on my short film, I would constantly call him at night with last minute questions or concerns. No matter how late it was or how many times I reached out, he always picked up the phone and responded with kindness and clarity. His calm presence and willingness to support me through every step of the process made a huge impact on my confidence and growth as a storyteller. Now studying Acting at the University of Southern California, I can confidently say that Mr. Gvozden’s patience and support early on played a key role in shaping my growth as a storyteller.”
Joe Podoley, Syracuse Alumni
Joe Podoley, Syracuse Alumni
Joe Podoley, Syracuse Alumni
“Mr. Gvozden is an incredibly supportive and inspiring teacher who always encouraged me to pursue my passion for filmmaking. His guidance helped me find my creative voice, and his thoughtful feedback and insight allowed me to grow both technically and artistically. ”
Tanner Cusumano, Hollywood Producer
Tanner Cusumano, Hollywood Producer
Tanner Cusumano, Hollywood Producer
“As the founder of the Sierra Canyon Film Festival, I had the chance to observe Dan’s incredible impact on his students over several years. He brought an uncommon level of dedication, insight, and creativity to his role as a film instructor. Dan has a gift for guiding students not only in the technical aspects of filmmaking, but in develo
“As the founder of the Sierra Canyon Film Festival, I had the chance to observe Dan’s incredible impact on his students over several years. He brought an uncommon level of dedication, insight, and creativity to his role as a film instructor. Dan has a gift for guiding students not only in the technical aspects of filmmaking, but in developing their unique perspectives and storytelling voices. Under his mentorship, students consistently produced films that were thoughtful, bold, and remarkably polished for their age. His influence was evident in both the quality of the work and the confidence with which students approached each new project.”
Benji Tucker, NYU Student
Tanner Cusumano, Hollywood Producer
Tanner Cusumano, Hollywood Producer
“Having Mr. Gvozden as a filmmaking teacher truly changed the way I see myself as a visual storyteller. He pushed me to trust my own instincts, dig deeper into my ideas, and reminded me that it’s okay to take creative risks.”