CWU filmmaker wins regional Emmy Award for promotional video

A recent Central Washington University film studies graduate accomplished a first in program history this spring when one of her projects earned a regional Emmy Award at the Student Production Awards ceremony in Seattle.

Gracen Bayer won the Photographer award in the College Craft category for a promotional video she created for PULSE Magazine, becoming the first-ever CWU film major to receive the prestigious award from the Northwest chapter of the Student Production Awards.

The annual contest, governed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), also nominated Bayer in the Non-Fiction Short Film category.

“The short film award was presented earlier in the ceremony, and I didn’t win,” said Bayer, who attended the May 31 event at Fremont Studios with her parents and CWU film classmate Tyler Diltz. “But I wasn’t disappointed or sad; I was excited to see all of the other students from across the Northwest have their moment to shine on stage.”

Although the short film award went to one of her peers, Bayer continued to hold out hope since she still had one more chance to win. As the ceremony neared its conclusion, the moment of truth arrived when her name was announced as the winner of the Photographer award.

“I was totally shocked,” she said. “I didn’t know I was going to have to give a speech, so I just went up there and thanked my mentors in the Communication Department — Gretchen Lohse and Michael Caldwell — and Tyler for letting me know about the competition. The whole experience was pretty surreal.”

Bayer said she wasn’t aware of anyone else from CWU ever winning a Student Production Award, although others have been nominated over the years. To her knowledge, the last time a CWU student received recognition was in 2017.

She explained that she didn’t even know about the contest until Diltz showed her how to submit her work. The two were looking at the display cases in Lind Hall last winter, and Diltz encouraged her to enter her work in the competition.

“It was kind of a happy accident,” said Bayer, who completed the winning video before joining the PULSE staff in winter quarter. “With Tyler’s help, I just stumbled across it — and then I ended up winning! This is definitely the biggest honor I have ever received.”

Bayer plans to move to Los Angeles in the next few months to pursue her dream of becoming a Hollywood filmmaker. She will be joined in California by a couple CWU classmates, and she has already connected with a number of CWU alumni who work in the industry.

“They have all been so generous with their time and wisdom,” she said. “Their guidance and advice are going to make a huge difference as I get started.”

Now that Bayer has a regional Emmy to include on her résumé, her chances of finding a job have undoubtedly increased.

“Winning this award was such a special way to cap off my senior year, and it gives me confidence in myself and my craft as I begin my career,” she said.