Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Noah Amir Arjomand ‘25 has brought to life a short film that feels both timely and timeless.  A dark comedy about theatre faculty sparring over outlandish financial schemes to keep their department afloat under the duress of budget constraints, “THE CUTS” will premiere at the LA Shorts International Film Festival. This Oscar-qualifying showcase for emerging cinematic voices runs July 30 - Aug. 12, 2026; the film has not yet been assigned a screening time.

Production began in the spring, when Arjomand joined the team at the request of writer Annika Speer, associate professor of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production. With the film’s topic based on real challenges facing higher education, the filmmakers used UCR locations, students, staff, and alumni to make the production process smoother.

“The story takes place at fictional ‘Riverbottom College,’ and another fun part of pre-production was designing (slightly pathetic) college branding, advertisements for fictional campus events, and even custom coveralls together with our art assistants, UCR students Aubrey Jerue and Hector Castro,” Arjomand said. “We shot THE CUTS over the course of three days in March, which went smoothly because everyone arrived well-prepared and committed.”

On set, the lines between student and mentor blurred, creating an instructive and inspiring dynamic.  The cast was primarily CHASS alumni — Rachel Millar ‘25, Josiah Alpher ‘25, and Esther Banegas Gatica MFA ‘22 — as well as their former teacher, Bella Merlin, Distinguished Professor in TFDP, and her husband, the seasoned actor Miles Anderson, among other industry professionals. The result was a rare convergence of emerging talent and established artistry, each learning from the other in real time.

“It was really fascinating for me to see my former instructors take many of the concepts they had taught me when I was a student and put them into practice during filming,” Millar said. “It’s one thing to hear a lecture or participate in a class activity, but to see these masters of their crafts in action was really rewarding.”

Alpher added, “It’s such a beautiful experience to work with fellow UCR students, staff, and alumni on this project. That feeling of collaborating with people you’ve taken a class with, or worked with on another project, is such a good feeling. Making art that you care about, with people you care about… it doesn’t get much better than that.”

This team cared deeply for their art. “THE CUTS” tackles an ever-present fear for those in the arts or in art education: budget cuts. Loss of funding is imminent at any time, whether due to federal or local issues. This challenge affects schools and universities across the United States and many overseas.

“I’m a Brit, and many of my colleagues in the UK are losing their jobs in university performing arts departments,” Merlin said. “It’s vital that we all understand how important the arts are for all manner of communicative, empathic, collaborative, and cultural aspects of human expression and community. While the film has a light timbre, the undercurrent is profound, relevant, and impactful. We need live theatre. We need the performing arts. We need relevant filmmaking.”