
For Maddy Leja (BFA ‘25), what started as an interest in illustration has evolved into a full-blown passion for live-action filmmaking. Reflecting on their time as a student at the U-M Stamps School of Art & Design, they recount a transformative weekend spent shooting their original film In the Woods with a 20+ person crew of fellow creatives — an experience that crystallized their commitment to storytelling through cinema. With influences ranging from immersive lectures to hands-on coursework and a pivotal role in student production company Filmic Productions, their Stamps journey is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary exploration, community, and finding your creative calling in unexpected places.