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Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts and Torrey Honors College alumna Hannah Chu (B.A. ’15) knew that working for Pixar Animation Studios was a God-given dream. Before she even knew she wanted to work in the film industry, she aspired to land a position at Pixar. Fueled by an experience at the studios when her younger brother auditioned for the character Russell in the film Up, she was hooked. 

“The electric creative atmosphere at Pixar made a big impression on me and showed me the value of company culture paired with storytelling,” said Chu. “It helped shape my aspirations to work in animation and tell stories that were for everyone, full of whimsy and heart and imagination.”

During the production of Disney and Pixar’s most recent release Elio, Chu served as the Senior Assistant to the Producer of the film, while previously serving as the Assistant to the Producer and Directors of Pixar’s first long-form episodic streaming show, Win or Lose. She is currently the Senior Assistant to the Director on Disney and Pixar’s upcoming feature film Gatto, which releases in 2027.

“I partner with the director and other key roles on the film (producer, associate producer, production manager, VFX supervisor, and producer’s assistant) on the administrative side to keep the film moving forward,” said Chu. “It’s a dynamic role that changes with the team composition, but responsibilities generally include handling day-to-day communication and scheduling for director reviews as well as braintrust screenings (Pixar’s creative milestones) and crew events.”

Before entering into the creative space at Pixar, Chu put in the work of gaining experience while working on various freelance and personal projects, including a Netflix show and shoots with Apple, Instagram and other corporate projects. Chu’s first job at Pixar was in the Pixar Studio Store, something she credits her experience as a student worker in the Biola University Campus Store as an unexpected résumé piece to get her foot in the door.

“You never know what God will use from your past to build into your future, in the best way,” said Chu. “My student job at the Biola [Campus Store] gave me the direct experience I needed to apply for the retail position with Pixar’s Studio Store — something I couldn’t have foreseen in my career path. By being faithful with that student job, I was able to obtain the references I needed to bring a strong application to my dream studio.”

On top of retail experience, the technical and interpersonal skills she learned while taking film classes for her screenwriting emphasis at Biola are what has stuck with Chu as she grows in her career.

“I learned many valuable technical skills at Biola about filmmaking, story structure and running a set, to name a few. However, the interpersonal skills, including teamwork, integrity and joy of the Lord, that I developed at Biola have been the most applicable in my career, especially as I’ve adapted to many different teams and roles within the entertainment industry,” said Chu. “Biola’s film program values collaboration over competition, and was the ideal place for me to learn how to dream big in storytelling and make those dreams a reality with a team of the best, which is everything I’ve prayed for in a job.”

While Pixar was always the dream, Chu was patient in the process of getting there and surrendered her dream to God, which is what she advises current students to do who dream of entering the film industry.

“My best advice is to do what I did: pray and surrender your dreams to the Lord,” said Chu. “He’ll do something wondrous that might take you by surprise — whether it’s your original dream or a new one.”

She also recommends finding outlets for creativity and mentorship as skills develop as a student.

“For film students, I would recommend reaching out and finding a creative community for peer feedback, inspiration, support, and networking while you hone your skills. Whether you connect virtually, in a class, at a conference, etc. — there are so many people who are willing to share their experience and invest in your growth if you make your career interests known,” said Chu.

The Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts is Biola’s fastest-growing school, evidenced by enrollment climbing every year and the construction of the new 45,463 square-foot studio facility. The school supports a “four screen” media program, equipping and educating students to be effective storytellers and leaders on the film screen, television screen, computer screen and a personal device screen. Learn more and apply today.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.