Posted on April 30, 2025 by Anna Boone
Visiting Assistant Professor Anna Stypko in the Film & Media program, brings a dynamic creative perspective to both her teaching and her community engagement efforts. Stypko’s passion for empowering young storytellers shines not only through her role as an educator at UTSA but also through her work with the Eastside Youth Content Creators Program (EYCCP).
Anna Syptko
Anna Stypko, a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Film & Media program, brings a dynamic creative perspective to both her teaching and her community engagement efforts. This semester, she is guiding students through courses like Digital Video Practicum, Production Capstone, and Lighting & Cinematography, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, communication, and creative risk-taking. Beyond the classroom, Stypko’s passion for empowering young storytellers shines not only through her role as an educator at UTSA but also through her work with the Eastside Youth Content Creators Program (EYCCP), where she helps local youth bring their visions to life through screenwriting and producing.
Stypko shares her journey into film and media, her reflections on community-centered storytelling, and why she believes filmmakers, especially students, should stay grounded in the communities they live and work in.
What courses do you teach, and what do you hope students take away from them?
This semester, I am teaching Digital Video Practicum, Production Capstone, and Lighting & Cinematography. What I hope students take away from these classes is just how much communication and planning it takes to make even a five-minute film. I also try to remind them what a unique opportunity they have as filmmakers in a program like this—to work with a full crew (their classmates) and use state-of-the-art equipment, all for free. It’s the perfect time to take creative risks and tell stories that really matter to them.
Can you share your journey into film and media studies? What inspired you to pursue this field?
I started out in visual art and spent years making paintings. In my twenties, I was also traveling and living in different countries, and it wasn’t always easy to set up a painting studio—but I always had my camera with me, which was a natural transition to film.
When I got back to New York, I enrolled in the NYU Grad Film program. That’s where I really learned how filmmaking works—and where I met many inspiring filmmakers, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with since.
How did you become involved with the Eastside Youth Content Creators Program (EYCCP)? What drew you to this initiative?
I heard about EYCCP from a friend who was involved, and being relatively new to San Antonio, I thought it was a great way to connect with the community. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids, and this seemed like a great opportunity to help them bring their creative ideas to life.
Could you elaborate on your role within EYCCP?
My role at EYCCP was a screenwriting and producing instructor. I helped kids develop their screenplays and produce their movies. I also worked closely with other instructors and Forward Progress director, DeAnna Brown, to create a curriculum for my part of the 8-week program.
How do you integrate your community engagement experiences into your teaching and mentorship at UTSA?
I integrate my community engagement experiences into my teaching and mentorship at UTSA by encouraging students to share their knowledge with the community. Some of my more advanced students are involved in UTSA’s Professional and Continuing Education B-movie summer camp, where they mentor and create films with local youth, which is a great way to practice giving back. I also encourage students to make films anchored in San Antonio: I want them to use the city, walk its streets, and look at it with the eyes of a filmmaker.
Is there anything you’ve learned from working with community members that you couldn’t have learned in a classroom or studio setting?
Before EYCCP, I didn’t know much about the East Side of San Antonio and through the program I was inspired to discover that part of town, which I really like!
Why do you believe it’s important for artists and educators to work beyond the university and into the community?
Community service helps artists connect to where they live and in today’s world, with everything being online, I think that’s more important than ever. Filmmakers have the power to tell stories, and it matters what stories we tell. The craft of film always has a political dimension.
Are there particular projects or stories from EYCCP that stand out to you?
My favorite part of the program is the Certificate Ceremony and Showcase, where the kids get to share their work with their friends and families and even some local officials, like District 2 Council member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez who is a big supporter of EYCCP. Last summer, the ceremony was held in the Carver Community Cultural Center and the whole evening was really special.
Any last comments or anything you would like to share?
If you would like to support local youth art programs like this, please consider volunteering or donating to FWD Progress, the organization behind EYCCP.
— Anna Boone
