Aspiring filmmaker Lizzie Lockard ’12 soon will begin studies in one of the world’s leading cities for cinema.

The Cedar Falls native has been accepted into the London Film Academy, where she will study under working professionals while pursuing a filmmaking diploma during the coming academic year.

“Lizzie is an artist,” said Dr. Bill Withers, professor of communication arts. “She looks at the world differently, which will translate beautifully to her graduate work at LFA.”

Lockard, who spent the Fall Term of her junior year in the English capital, was intent on again “studying across the pond” and is “thrilled” to have made the cut at LFA.

“There are only 20 people tops accepted into the filmmaking program each year,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity, and small enough so that we’ll get individualized attention, and I’ll be able to know my peers and colleagues.”

It will be the next stop on a journey that started as a filmmaking major at the University of Colorado, but shifted to Wartburg after only one semester. Although Wartburg doesn’t have courses in filmmaking, it offered other hands-on outlets to develop her craft.

“I did get into TV prod (production) during my freshmen year,” Lockard said. “I thought that was so much fun. It’s a little more creative than broadcast journalism.”

Her ability to take a unique slant on subjects is evident in a commercial she created to promote a nonprofit agency in a TV production course. The “Vogel Library Rap” stars fellow students and library staff: 

Hey there students at Wartburg school,
Don’t procrastinate on papers, cuz you know it ain’t cool
Instead, get a jumpstart and get that paper done.
Hit up the Vogel Library, you know it will be fun.

They’ve got books aplenty and computers too,
If you need some info, don’t just sit there like a fool,
Go ask a librarian, cuz they ain’t super wack,
If it’s info you need, they can find you a stack.

From Ipac, to ebsco, and knightowl too,
These librarians are sick, and they can help you.
So next time, dawg, when you get some writer’s block
Hit up the library cuz one of them is on the clock.

Her LFA application included a storyboard, featuring her father, Cedar Valley developer Ken Lockard (a member of the Wartburg President’s Advisory Council); younger brother, and some high school friends in a tale about an employee with a daydream about role reversal rather than finishing a report.

Lockard is convinced, though, that she punched her ticket to LFA with her critique of the Coen Brothers’ cult classic, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” “I really do love that film,” she said.

“O Mother” may have been an influence as well. Amy had reviewed films for KWWL TV and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

“Whenever we see a film, she has to critique it,” Lizzie said.

Mom, though, acknowledges the torch has been passed.

“The girl is an expert on film. She’s seen more movies than I knew were out,” Amy remarked, adding, “I think she’s really going to love this experience. She’s really creative. She likes to write, she likes photography, and she likes to design. It’s going to combine a lot of her skills.”

Lizzie is hoping that the LFA experience will open doors for her.

“I would take anything to start out, including getting coffee for someone, but, hopefully, a little higher than that,” she said. “I know I’ll have to work my way up. I would love to have a job in producing, directing or editing.”