Weber State University's Studio 76 program helped two brothers launch successful careers in the film industry. Micah and Jon Van Sickle, who both graduated from the university in 2020, now hold professional roles at the Utah-based film production studio Angel Studios.
Micah Van Sickle serves as a video team lead at Angel Studios, where he manages editors, producers, and the livestream team. He earned a bachelor's degree in public relations and advertising from Weber State. Jon Van Sickle works as a creative director at the studio, creating content to market films. He graduated from Weber State with a bachelor's degree in communication and an emphasis in digital media.
Jon Van Sickle has worked on the series The Chosen, producing behind-the-scenes content for promotional use. He also directed the docuseries The Story of Angel, which details the studio's rise to success. Angel Studios is a production studio and streaming platform that uses subscriber funding to greenlight low-budget film projects that embody positive family values.
The brothers credited their career readiness to Studio 76, a student-led media production program at Weber State. Micah Van Sickle described the program as a place where students can jump into production work. Film studies program director Andrea Baltazar stated that Studio 76 operates similarly to a working production organization rather than a traditional classroom.
The program offers students experience in various fields, including producing, cinematography, editing, audio, podcasting, live production, project management, and leadership. Facilities include a television studio, podcast studio, DIY studio, and a Foley room for recording custom sound effects.
The Van Sickle brothers originally moved to Ogden, Utah, from Iowa after being encouraged by their older brother, Jeshua, who works in the Weber State admissions office. They noted that the university provided an affordable education through scholarships and the ability to transfer credits from community colleges.
