EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in a series of profiles on GCU's College of Arts and Media faculty.
From a young age, Lisa Tervo wanted to be a professional dancer. Her first dance class at 3 years old sparked a passion that drove her to compete at various levels and competitions. But after a serious knee injury benched her, Tervo challenged herself to look into other arts.
The Florida native quickly found her fit in the film industry, which has led her to her position as Grand Canyon University’s chair of film. Tervo studied film at the University of Arizona and earned her master’s in film from Boston University. In her 14 years with GCU, Tervo worked her way up from adjunct professor to head of the program.
1. You grew up dancing and saw yourself becoming a professional dancer but ended up in the film industry. Describe the moment you knew film was a good fit for you.
Two weeks before a national dance competition, I went to a doctor for my knee and they said I could perform still if I wore a knee brace. But when I went on to compete, I did so poorly. I told my parents I don’t have it in me anymore to dance. One day when I had to do a presentation in class, my group thought it would be funny to do a "Saturday Night Live" news sketch. I have always been into the arts, so I said I could film it. My parents had a little camcorder, I tried it, and it just sparked.
I had a friend who was the opposite of me that wanted to be in front of the camera and do all the public speaking. So I said, “I will make the films, and you will be my star,” and we just made a bunch of really terrible films, but it was so fun.
2. Artists often have a song, film or performance that first ignited the passion for their respective fields. What was the first film you watched that made you fall in love with the art?
One of my favorite films that really motivated me about being a filmmaker was “Brazil” (1980) by Terry Gilliam. It’s a bizarre one, but I learned you can make something artsy that people will just watch and enjoy, it doesn’t have to be super serious.
3. What is the key to creating a perfect film?
First key is that there is no perfect film. It’s important to let go of that expectation first.
Second key is just to find something you are passionate about. It depends what role you are playing, like writer, director or other, but the team you pull around you is the biggest in all of that. If everybody is enthusiastic and believes in the film, it will turn out good. Our job is just to write it the best we can, edit the best we can, and share it with the world.
4. This is a competitive industry. How do you motivate your students to keep going and keep the creativity alive?
It is very competitive, but it is also an enormous industry. There are opportunities for people that will work hard. They might not start exactly where they want or get to direct their first film right away, but hardly anybody does. It is more so about the process and what they are learning. Every experience should teach them something, and that will make them a better filmmaker.
Creativity is a skill. It is one of the reasons I like teaching film history class because we all know what is currently out there but very few have seen movies from the 1800s. To let them watch a film and think this is over 100 years old and you are still laughing at it, there is something to learn from experiencing things you think you won’t necessarily enjoy.
5. GCU’s film program was smaller than it is now when you first arrived here. What was your first impression of the program?
I was very nervous and wondered if the kids are even going to believe me as an instructor. My first class I only had one student in it and she wasn’t even a film student. It was a cinematography class and she had not taken Production 1 yet, which was a prerequisite for that class.
I was like, well, here is the syllabus, but you don’t know any of the previous knowledge so none of this makes sense to you, but you are the only kid in the class so we can do whatever we want. It was a very weird but great experience.
6. What does it take to be a program chair?
First, a lot of coffee.
Then, a genuine desire to help people. When I meet a student and they are telling me what they are excited about and what they want to do after they leave, I try to think of how to help them realize their potential and go from here to wherever they want next. That desire is the motivation.
7. What is something most people are surprised to find out about you?
I wanted to be a Radio City Rockette growing up. Also, I cut my own hair. I went to a professional stylist for the first time the other day and someone said, “Wait, you’ve been cutting your own hair?”
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected]
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