Bringing Untold Stories Into Focus Through Film Studies

Published April 3, 2026 | Request Information

For Shelsea Deravil, filmmaking isn’t just a career goal – it’s a calling she discovered almost by accident.

Today, the Johns Hopkins MA in Film and Media student – the oldest of four children born to Haitian immigrants – is writing and directing her capstone project, a short narrative film titled The Baptism.

The film explores identity, faith, relationships, and generational tensions within a Haitian American community, informed by her years growing up in in the First Haitian Church of God in Trenton, New Jersey. It tells the story of two closely connected nine-year-old cousins as one of them prepares for a baptism. The choice to participate in this deeply significant and vibrant cultural ritual may sever their relationship. Like future films that she hopes to create, The Baptism leaves space for interpretation.

“I like stories that spark conversation,” she said. “I want audiences to leave asking questions.”

The story of Deravil’s journey to the director’s chair began years earlier, when she was a studious introvert still figuring out her path.

While participating in track and field, she wrote for the school newspaper and pursued media and communication studies at Ursinus College. It was in a film studies classroom that everything changed.

“I had an epiphany,” said Deravil. “I was sitting there thinking, maybe I’ll be a film critic someday. And then it hit me – maybe I could make films. Not just watch them.”

That moment reshaped her ambitions. Ideas for movies and specific scenes – many inspired by her upbringing in a disciplined household shaped by faith and cultural tradition – began to take shape. She jotted down concepts related to identity, expectations, and belonging in a notebook, ideas that now influence the stories she wants to tell.

“I always loved music and movies,” she said. “But I also knew that I had this unique view of life because of how I was raised. I like to think of myself as a champion for the underdogs, because I’ve felt like one myself.”

After several years of internships and retail work following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Deravil pursued the MA in Film and Media program and decided to honor her calling and accept a new challenge.

“I came to Johns Hopkins because I wanted to grow,” she said. “The timing was right. I was ready. I told myself I was starting at ground zero, and that in every class I took, I was going to learn everything I possibly could.”

The program pushed her technically and creatively. She mastered advanced editing software, learned to manage professional film equipment, and gained experience in production logistics – from scriptwriting, call sheets, and budgeting to directing actors on set. She will graduate in May 2026 with a portfolio that includes two short films, a commercial, and experience garnered through film gig opportunities where she honed skills in gripping and production.

“If I had tried to enter the film industry without this program. I would have been crushed,” she said. “I didn’t have to wait until after graduation to get this work and experience. This program gave it to me. It shows you what your professional life in film and media will look like. Now, I feel prepared. Hopkins has allowed me to speak my truth and use my voice.”

Deravil hopes to build a career that spans multiple roles – writing, directing, editing, and producing – with the long-term goal of owning her own studio and equipment. And she hopes to create films that will resonate with audiences who rarely see their experiences reflected on screen.

She draws inspiration from filmmakers across generations and around the world, including Elia Kazan, Martin Scorsese, John Woo, Raoul Peck, and Ava DuVernay. She also loves international cinema, independent films, and ensemble storytelling.

“Once I finish a film, it’s no longer about me,” she said. “It’s for people who haven’t healed yet, people who need to feel like someone understands them. I like movies where everyone has their own story and somehow it all connects.”

It’s that desire for connection, rather than fame or glamour, which draws Deravil to the industry.

“I’ve heard too many stories about people chasing fame and falling apart,” she said. “I’m doing this because I have stories to tell. I know this is my purpose and that film is my creative lane. I want to make films that help people be seen and maybe begin conversations that lead to deeper understanding.

“I am glad that I have this unique story,” she continued. “I was raised to believe that everything we do is by faith. I don’t believe in luck. I believe in blessings and miracles. I took my mustard seed of faith and applied to Johns Hopkins. I got into this very respectable university, and I haven’t looked back. I am doing the work. When I reflect on this time, I know it will be one of the highlights of my life and career.”