January Interim in Hollywood
Among the stars in Hollywood this January are bright, eager Bradley students studying public relations. Eight students in Dr. Ron Koperski’s entertainment seminar will go behind the scenes and into the audience of some of the world’s most famous television programs, film houses and awards shows. From industry insiders, the students will learn what it takes to make it in the city where dreams come true.
By Meghan Loy ’14
The end of the two-week Entertainment Industry Seminar is quickly approaching and one of our lasts stops was to DreamWorks Animation Studios. There, we met with Jed Schlanger, a BU alumnus and production manager of DreamWorks. The company creates high-quality, family entertainment, including computer-generated animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties. We learned that the studio produces two 3-D feature films a year and Jed is involved in the process. We also were fortunate to be guests at lunch in the commissary.
After our visit to DreamWorks we went to NBC Studios where we enjoyed VIP seating at “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” We were all really excited to hear the interviews with the guests. The first was actor Liam Neeson, who was there promoting his new movie “The Grey.” We were also fortunate so see columnist, author and blogger Meghan McCain and band Jack’s Mannequin.
After the show was over we had an incredible surprise. Doug Frank, BU honorary alumnus and music business entrepreneur, had arranged for us to meet with Rickey Minor, director of the “The Tonight Show Band.” He is the Emmy-nominated music director of American Idol and has worked with artists like Whitney Houston, Beyoncé Knowles and Ray Charles. We talked to Rickey for over an hour in his private office studio. He participated in a question and answer session with us and talked about how he got to where he is today. He even shared with us his inspiration for the show’s theme song and played it for us on his computer. We will all remember Rickey’s generosity and friendship for a very long time.
By Meghan Loy ’14
As we advance through the week we are encountering even more BU alumni. Today, we met with Roberta Perry, BU alum and vice president of business development at Edwards Technologies. The company creates audiovisual entertainment technology for retail stores, theme parks, corporate headquarters, museums and entertainment venues worldwide. Roberta talked with us about her involvement with the redesign of Disney retail stores, which have become much more interactive. With the push of a button an entire store can be transformed into a birthday party.
After discussing audiovisual entertainment technology with Roberta, it only seemed fitting that our next session be with Disney legend Marty Sklar. He is the only Disney employee who has participated in the opening of all 11 Disney theme parks around the world. Marty has served as president, vice president and vice chairman and principal creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. Our class was ecstatic to be sitting across from a man few college students have the opportunity to meet. We listened to many of his memories about the original opening of the Magic Kingdom and of his recollections of Walt Disney the man. We also got the chance to hear his speech “The Best Advice I Ever Heard!”
We ended the day with a trip to “The Price is Right.” Everything in the studio, including the music, was very retro. Everyone was screaming and dancing and having a great time. Our group had so much fun at the show. Some of us even felt we did so well we could have won a car! We also had a chance to meet host Drew Carey.
By Meghan Loy ’14
Our group was excited to start the second week of the seminar with a trip to Paramount Motion Pictures. We met with Bryce Ryan, vice president, and Lana Sanfilippo, manager, of Worldwide Marketing Partnerships. We learned about movie promotion and marketing and what goes into the pitching process. They arranged a VIP tour of the lot with a private escort after the session. We even got to walk around the set of two television shows, “Happy Endings” and “The Doctors.”
After leaving Paramount we headed straight to The Recording Academy. We met with Chief Marketing Officer Evan Greene and discussed one of the company’s biggest events, the Grammys. We learned about the brand and about what goes on behind the curtain.
After our session with Evan, our class met with Doug Frank, BU honorary alum and music business entrepreneur. He supervised the music on the “Batman,” “Harry Potter,” “Lethal Weapon” and Matrix series, as well as many more. He also co-wrote the musical “Marilyn: An American Fable.” Our class had a lot of fun with Doug, talking about music business. We learned so many valuable business lessons.
By Meghan Loy ’14
Week one of the Hollywood Entertainment Industry Seminar has come to a close. We have kept a very busy schedule and learned a lot of new and beneficial information. We were very fortunate to have met with Barry Adelman, senior vice president of Dick Clark Productions. His son Marc is a BU alumnus who twice served as student body president.
This is a very busy time of year for the company, which has just finished the “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” and has a short time to prepare for the “Golden Globe Awards.” Dick Clark Productions specializes in live television shows. The company also produces, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
During our visit we also learned about Barry’s unique and impressive background. He has written for Presidents Clinton, Bush and Reagan, including Reagan’s New Year’s Address to the Nation in 1987. We also heard the story behind one of Barry’s most unique accomplishments: He wrote the eulogy for Elvis Presley’s funeral.
Our group was so grateful that Barry was able spend his valuable time with us. So far our entire group is really excited about what we have learned and experienced during this seminar, and we are excited for even more opportunities to come.
By Meghan Loy ’14
As we walked into the “Big Brother” house I felt like I was walking into my own reality television show. Co-executive Producer Don Wollman and Jim Tanker, a Bradley University alum and the lead television director of the show gave us a tour of the whole house.
We learned about the functions of the cameras behind every window of the house and how they are focused on the residents 24 hours a day. The show is complete reality and no one from the outside ever intervenes as it unfolds. The residents are completely isolated. After leaving the house my eyes were opened and I realized competing on the show is a lot more difficult than it looks. During our meeting we also learned about the history of the show and how it originated in Holland and became extremely popular there in the winter of 1999.
The main business lesson I learned from the meeting was when Don Wollman and Jim Tanker talked about “golden moments” of opportunity. One must be ready to seize a good opportunity when it arises. If you’re not prepared, you just might miss the golden moment.
By Meghan Loy ’14
Seeing nine white letters spelling out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D was more than a dream for all of us in the 2012 Entertainment Industry Seminar class offered by Dr. Ron Koperski of the Department of Communication. The Hollywood sign is a symbol of success and ambition in the entertainment industry.
We were able to see this iconic sign from a distance at our very first stop of the trip, the Kodak Theatre, home to the Academy Awards, the American Idol finals and more. It is a for-profit theatre with a lot of history. During our visit we met with general manager Jay Thomas, who has helped develop the business.
When we entered the main theatre I couldn’t believe I was looking at a stage across which so many talented people have walked. We were unable to stand on the stage because of the set preparation for a Cirque Du Soleil show, IRIS, but the size of the stage was astounding. We learned a lot about the setup for each show and about the creative design of the stage.
The most incredible part of the session was when we took the “winners walk” through the back halls. Knowing that every celebrity who has ever won an Oscar has been escorted down these exact halls that I was standing in made me feel overwhelmed. It was absolutely breathtaking. This visit definitely set the bar high for the rest of our two-week seminar.
