Masterclass on the Secrets of Script Supervising

Campus Communications Staff / Feb 11, 2026

person holding a piece of paperMia Wicklund MAM '12
person looking at timer on phone while also looking at laptopStudents at Columbia College Chicago practiced timing scripts in the masterclass.
Veteran script supervisor Mia Wicklund MAM ’12 returned to Columbia College Chicago to help prepare students to confidently step onto set in a key film production role.

This February, Columbia College Chicago welcomed script supervisor Mia Wicklund MAM ’12 back to campus to teach the masterclass “The Secrets of Script Supervising.” Wicklund, who earned her master’s degree in Arts Management at Columbia, once taught at the college as an adjunct faculty member.  

The masterclass gave Film and Television students a close look at the craft of script supervision and the skills needed to step into the role on a working set. 

Supporting the Director’s Vision 

Wicklund has built a long career in film and television that began when she worked as a production assistant on “Home Alone 2.” She later worked as a location scout before focusing on script supervision. Her recent credits include “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Dark Matter,” “Emperor of Ocean Park,” and “The Chi,” a show she is currently working on.

“I really enjoy being a script supervisor because I love working closely with directors and supporting their vision,” Wicklund says. 

 

two people talking on set
Mia Wicklund on set with "Chicago Fire" actor Taylor Kinney. Photo by George Burns. 

 

Script Supervising: An Essential Role 

In the masterclass, Wicklund focused on demystifying the role, a position she described as a key support role in the filmmaking process. Script supervisors act as a bridge between production and post-production, tracking continuity, timing scenes, logging takes, and ensuring that a project can ultimately be edited together smoothly. Wicklund emphasized that script supervising sharpens a filmmaker’s overall understanding of set operations and storytelling. 

Wicklund guided students through script breakdowns, continuity tracking, and the detailed note-taking that supports editors in post-production. She emphasized that script supervisors must communicate with every department while managing the workload of a one-person team. 

The day’s activities included more than just listening; there were also hands-on activities including timing scripts, a fundamental skill that producers rely on to estimate the length of a project.  

By reading the script aloud and acting out action beats, the script supervisor estimates how long scenes will play on screen. If the script runs long, producers may revise or trim the script. 

Practical Experience and Tips 

Wicklund provided the kind of practical experience and tips that will ultimately give students an advantage on film productions, says Carolina Posse, associate director and associate professor in the School of Film and Television at Columbia. 

“What students learned today helps students get on set and then jump right in on smaller class productions and start practicing the skillset,” Posse says. 

For Wicklund, whose son also earned a degree at Columbia and is now a music composer for visual media, returning to Columbia to teach the masterclass was a joyful event. 

 “I love the business overall, and enjoy getting to know student filmmakers,” she says. “It can be difficult for students to find footing, and I hope to inspire them and support their efforts.” 

 

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